classical music

/ˌklæsəkəl ˌmjuzɪk/

/ˈklæsɪkəl ˈmjuzɪk/

Definitions of classical music

1. noun

   traditional genre of music conforming to an established form and appealing to critical interest and developed musical taste
   synonyms: classical, serious music

   types:

   chamber music

   serious music performed by a small group of musicians

   opera

   a drama set to music; consists of singing with orchestral accompaniment and an orchestral overture and interludes

   cantata, oratorio

   a musical composition for voices and orchestra based on a religious text

   concerto

   a composition for orchestra and a soloist

   fugue

   a musical form consisting of a theme repeated a fifth above or a fourth below its first statement

   rondeau, rondo

   a musical form that is often the last movement of a sonata

   sonata

   a musical composition of 3 or 4 movements of contrasting forms

   bouffe, comic opera, opera bouffe, opera comique

   opera with a happy ending and in which some of the text is spoken

   grand opera

   opera in which all the text is sung

   musical drama

   opera in which the musical and dramatic elements are equally important; the music is appropriate to the action

   concerto grosso

   a baroque composition for orchestra and a group of solo instruments

   piano sonata

   a sonata for piano

   sonatina

   a short and simple sonata

   symphonic music, symphony

   a long and complex sonata for symphony orchestra

   type of:

   genre, music genre, musical genre, musical style

   an expressive style of music