Did You Know?
The phrase “Classical music” is often used to loosely describe anything in the European or orchestral traditions - from Gregorian chant to modern film music. In reality, the Classical period of music was a short era in the latter half of the 18th Century. This website is dedicated to celebrating the short but wonderful period between 1750 and 1800.
Developments
A number of innovations changed the course of music history during this time period. Click on Developments to learn more.
Composers
1750 was the year that Johann Sebastian Bach died (and is generally considered the end of the baroque period). In actuality, the musical landscape had been shifting for some time, making it challenging to identify the end of the classical period. This time is memorable for two towering figures, Franz Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. There is also a whole generation of composers, such as Beethoven, that bridged the transition from the Classical to the Romantic era. Check out our Composers and Their Music page to hear some samples from composers from the Classical Era of 1750 to 1800.