Classical Music Through the Ages
Baroque, Classical, Romantic and modern – the great periods of Western music.
In everyday English, "classical music" means the tradition of Western concert music from about 1600 to today. Many of its greatest composers came from Germany and Austria – which makes it a perfect topic for German-speaking learners.
The Story
Musicians divide the history of classical music into periods. The Baroque period (about 1600–1750) brought the first operas, rich ornamented music and composers such as Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel and Antonio Vivaldi. Bach worked for many years in Leipzig, writing music for church services.
The Classical period (about 1750–1820) preferred clear, balanced music. Joseph Haydn developed the symphony and the string quartet, and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, born in Salzburg in 1756, wrote operas, symphonies and concertos of amazing beauty. Ludwig van Beethoven, born in Bonn in 1770, built a bridge to the next age – and kept composing even after he lost his hearing.
In the Romantic period (about 1820–1900), music became more personal and dramatic. Composers such as Schubert, Clara and Robert Schumann, Brahms, Wagner and Tchaikovsky wrote about love, nature and national identity. In the 20th century, composers like Stravinsky broke the old rules – the premiere of "The Rite of Spring" in Paris in 1913 famously caused a riot.
Timeline
The key dates at a glance.
- c. 1600The first operas are written in Italy.
- 1685Bach and Handel are born in Germany.
- 1756Mozart is born in Salzburg.
- 1824Beethoven's Ninth Symphony is first performed in Vienna.
- 1876Wagner's festival theatre in Bayreuth opens.
- 1913Stravinsky's "The Rite of Spring" causes a riot in Paris.
Key People
The musicians who shaped this story.
Johann Sebastian Bach
1685–1750Baroque master of church music, the organ and counterpoint.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
1756–1791Composed over 600 works, including famous operas.
Ludwig van Beethoven
1770–1827Born in Bonn; his Ninth Symphony includes the "Ode to Joy".
Clara Schumann
1819–1896One of the great pianists of her time and a composer.
Key Words
Ten essential words with their German meaning and an example sentence.
| English | German | Example |
|---|---|---|
| composer | Komponist(in) | Beethoven was a German composer. |
| symphony | Sinfonie | Haydn wrote over a hundred symphonies. |
| orchestra | Orchester | A symphony orchestra can have over eighty players. |
| concerto | Konzert (Solokonzert) | Mozart wrote many piano concertos. |
| concert | Konzert (Veranstaltung) | We went to a concert last night. |
| movement | Satz | A symphony usually has four movements. |
| string quartet | Streichquartett | A string quartet has two violins, a viola and a cello. |
| piece | Stück | It's my favourite piece by Bach. |
| premiere | Uraufführung | The premiere took place in Vienna. |
| score | Partitur | The conductor studies the score. |
Useful Phrases
Language for talking about music and its history.
Talking about periods
- This piece dates from the Baroque period.
- It's typical of the Romantic era.
- He was ahead of his time.
- It marks the beginning of…
Watch out: false friends
- "Konzert" (event) = concert.
- "Konzert" (for a soloist) = concerto.
- "Satz" in music = movement, not sentence.
- "Stück" = piece, not "stick".
Talk About It
Answer these questions aloud, write a short paragraph, or discuss them with a partner.
- Which classical composer do you like best, and why?
- Why do you think so many great composers came from Germany and Austria?
- Have you ever been to a classical concert? What was it like?
- Is classical music still relevant for young people today?
Test Yourself
Click a question to see the answer.
1. In which city was Beethoven born?
Bonn.
2. What is a "Solokonzert" in English?
A concerto.
3. What happened at the premiere of "The Rite of Spring" in 1913?
There was a riot in the theatre.
Explore More
More from the Music History series.
Every song has a history.
Learn the story, learn the words – and share what you discover in English.
Centuries of music, still alive.