The History
Yes, it is time to discuss the classical music sub genre, Classical. Starting in the Mid-Eighteenth Century, Classical emerged from new philosophies brought on in the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment was the belief in natural law, in which people have individualized faith and rights, that practical morality reigns supreme over religion, that nature is cool and that everyone should get an equal share. Hmm, sounds familiar, don't you think? (This is me wildly gesturing to today's society). Church music, in no small part due to the Enlightenment, took a backseat. It began following music trends instead of being the frontiers.
The changes make sense in this context: music wasn't just for the rich anymore! A growing middle class began learning music as a leisure skill, not seen during the Baroque. With amateurs on the rise, so too demands for sheet music for keyboard, chamber ensemble, or voice. Keyboard music was very in vogue, especially with the new contraption, the pianoforte. Until this time, the only keyboards that were available were harpsichords, which plucked the string instead of hitting it, making it impossible to play with changes in volume, or "dynamics." That's actually where the name comes from: "pianoforte," literally meaning "soft loud." But now we just call it a piano.
"Dynamics! Hooray for me!!"
Along with these new thoughts of being green and socialist, people also were becoming more scientific. The belief that one stayed in a particular emotion until forcefully moved to another was debunked with their new understanding of the human psyche and philosophy. Emotion, they believed, is fluid, and that it's not only safe to move from emotion to emotion quickly but also healthy. And so, music became more gritty with raw emotion, and far less frill. They called the musical style galant (one "L"), which had become a catchword for things that were modern, chic, smooth, and sophisticated. If Baroque was a peacock, classical was a penguin.
We're so galant!
Unlike in the Baroque where you had to attend royal court to hear professional performances, the classical era gave birth to the public concert. It was so expensive though that it was usually just the elite who could go anyway, but it's the thought that counts, right?
What's it like?
If you're going from Baroque to Classical, you'll be quite happy for the changes. Since it comes from an culture similar to ours today, it sounds more familiar. That and you're going to come across plenty more music you've probably heard over and over again in your life. This is the era of Mozart, for cryin' out loud! Tunes like "Twinkle Twinkle," "A Little Night Music," "Figaro," and of course that squeaky aria from "The Magic Flute" will all be familiar music. It's going to be much easier to listen to and will keep your attention. It can be fun, it can be beautiful, it can be engrossing.
So... when should I listen to it?
Classical music has many modern-day equivalents. Having some friends over that are bored? Instead of playing a YouTube video on your snazzy new iPad, play them Eine Kleine Nachmusik on your snazzy new pianoforte! Want to go out for a night on the town? Instead of catching a movie, catch an opera instead!
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