Questions about the music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music during a broad period from roughly the 11th century to present times.
Not to be confused with the Classical period, which was from 1750 to 1830.
Questions tagged [classical-music]
393 questions
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Why isn't there a classical composer like Beethoven, Chopin or Mozart today?
Why there aren't composers writing in a classical style today?
Why don't we hear of classical composers today like we do of Beethoven, Chopin or Mozart?
My question may be strange, but I am really curious.
Hajin
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Appreciating the music of J. S. Bach
I have been learning piano for many years and am able to really enjoy the music of Beethoven and Chopin. However, when it comes to Bach, I must shamefully admit, I can't see why he is held in such high esteem.
To me - his work just seems like…
gigahari
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Why is the key included in classical music titles?
I was always curious why classical composers use names like this Étude in E-flat minor (Frédéric_Chopin) or Missa in G major (Johann Sebastian Bach). Is this from scales of this songs? Weren't they blocked to ever use this scale again? Why didn't…
teodozjan
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How do classical composers write music?
I am starting to learn about music theory and today it hit me how do classical composers such as Mozart and Beethoven are able to write music for instruments they don't play, such as (for example purpose) timpani or trumpet.
Is it all music theory…
Rick Rhodes
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How did composers "test" their music?
How did composers "test" their music, especially in multi-instrument works
(eg. chamber, orchestra) or in pieces for instruments they didn't know how to play?
Did they really have an orchestra (for example) next to them?
Now, we have DAWs and…
Stevineon
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28
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Classical music theory notation for chord inversions (figured bass)
In classical music harmony analysis, we see the chord inversions notated like I6/4, I6, V4/3.
Examples:
What are those numbers? How do they define the inversion? What's the theory behind using those specific numbers?
NPN328
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27
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Where do musicians draw their melodies from?
It has been in my head for so long.
I am a visual artist, animator, I do motion graphics, 3D artwork and most of my work is done visually.
I am puzzled by this question.
Visual artists, they draw their inspiration from everyday life. their vision.…
Ted
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Did baroque composers think of ritardando on their compositions?
I've been always told that whenever I play any baroque piece on the piano, I should take special care when attending to, for example, the amount of right pedal I should use. It sounded perfectly normal when it was explained to me, because there was…
user314159
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What is Voice Leading?
In both classical music and jazz, we often encounter the concept of voice leading. What is it?
NPN328
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Classical examples of a 'fifth voice' or 'ghost soprano'
There is an interesting phenomenon in choral (and perhaps also instrumental?) singing in which typically four voices are arranges in such a way that a 'fifth voice' or 'ghost voice' can be heard. It is not terribly well documented, but Barbershop…
Yellow
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"The intervals considered dissonant have changed since the 'Middle Ages'"; How so?
In reading my new book 'Complete Classical Music Guide', I understand the following:
If two notes are separated by a consonant the sound is pleasing to the ears. If they are of a dissonant interval they clash with each other. Therefore they have…
cmp
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How could I get my Classical Music Compositions published and known?
I'm a first timer on this site. Have patience and mercy with me. For years I've been a professor, performer and Conductor. I'm a composer, not that many would know, I'm on my 711th opus. All classical music. Piano concertos, chamber ensembles,…
Maestro Desdichado
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Can one play acoustic/classical music with an electric guitar?
I've once got a very cheap acoustic guitar when I was very young. I later replaced it with an electric guitar, because I disliked its quality, and I didn't know what I was doing when I was young.
Can acoustic music or classical music be played with…
Tamara Wijsman
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Progression path from an apprentice to a guru in music theory?
I am a computer science major and have been practicing music (as a hobby) for the past 4 years now. I started digging into the basics of Music Theory a year ago and now wish to advance my knowledge so as to better understand and analyze the works of…
Kasahs
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Why aren't chord names written in classical sheet music?
When I see classical sheet music I don't see the chords named, were chords not used back then? And if they were, do the notes that are under a bass clef generally outline the shapes of chords?
I only see chords when I look up a classical song on…
user34288