Post by teophrastusbombastus on Aug 3, 2022 20:50:15 GMT
First of all, there is no universally accepted partition of Classical Music in time.
No wonder, upstream from that the term "Classical", applied lato sensu, isn't consensual either.
Some prefer to call it "Educated" and even more to call it "Erudite".
Among those. some point out that the term "Classical" is very close to universally accepted to designate one of the specific periods.
As such they don't see much sense in risking confusion between the two uses of the same word.
The definition of time period boundaries has generally to do with the occurrence of major changes.
But what is a major change - of enough significance to justify call it a boundary - depends on individual analysis.
And subsequent individual choice.
So, there is some variety of time period classifications based on varied personal criteria.
The one currently being used here comes from music publisher Naxos plus first and last periods added by myself.
www.naxos.com/classicalmusichistory
As an example of how varied criteria may be Naxos sets "Medieval" as beginning in 1150.
This has to do with the fact that it was around 1150 that the first examples of (nearly) modern notation appeared.
There was musical notation before that but the information contained in it is not enough for a musician to be sure of what he/she is playing.
All interpretations of music from before that "boundary" are more or less educated guesses for that and other causes.
But as the medieval period, in history, starts way before 1150 there are those who ignore the issue of notation and consider the year 500 as the beginning.
hellomusictheory.com/learn/classical-music-eras/
Some just skip Medieval.
www.google.com/search?q=periods+of+classical+music&client=avast-a-2&ei=IsXqYuHYD8OOlwSC9oSoCQ&ved=0ahUKEwjh8Zf0rKv5AhVDx4UKHQI7AZUQ4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=periods+of+classical+music&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBggAEB4QBzIGCAAQHhAHMgYIABAeEAcyBggAEB4QBzIGCAAQHhAHMgYIABAeEAcyBggAEB4QBzIICAAQHhAPEAcyBAgAEEMyBQgAEIAEOgcIABBHELADOgQIABANOggIABAeEA0QBToKCAAQHhAPEA0QBUoECEEYAEoECEYYAFD9CFiTD2DsFWgBcAF4AIABaogB5gSSAQMyLjSYAQCgAQHIAQPAAQE&sclient=gws-wiz
A very evident problem with Naxos timeline is their inclusion of Beethoven as a "Classical" composer.
Ludwig van was a transition fellow, having produced classical music (stricto sensu) in his early years but his most significant work is markedly romantic.
Not all set 1830 as the end of "Classical" and beginning of "Romantic".
Some even use precisely the turning point in Beethoven's output as the boundary and set it at 1812.
A few don't mind overlapping periods as some composers continued the "old ways" for some time, and some "new waves" took more time than others to submerge the past.
Even among specialists, or maybe more among them, not much importance is given to the subject.
I happen to have a book on the history of western music which seems to use some of the usual time period designations but more as references.
The actual names of the chapters do not tie much with the nomenclature that has become "classical".
They are more tied to technical matters, specific musical "schools", genres, particular composers.
There isn't a clearly outlined timetable in the book.
Book overview: vdoc.pub/documents/a-history-of-western-music-6lsj0c2nida0
So, bottom line, all time period boundaries are circa and some composers lived period transitions.
After all, listening to the music is the most important and the whole timeline system should be considered as fluid and somewhat difuse...
No wonder, upstream from that the term "Classical", applied lato sensu, isn't consensual either.
Some prefer to call it "Educated" and even more to call it "Erudite".
Among those. some point out that the term "Classical" is very close to universally accepted to designate one of the specific periods.
As such they don't see much sense in risking confusion between the two uses of the same word.
The definition of time period boundaries has generally to do with the occurrence of major changes.
But what is a major change - of enough significance to justify call it a boundary - depends on individual analysis.
And subsequent individual choice.
So, there is some variety of time period classifications based on varied personal criteria.
The one currently being used here comes from music publisher Naxos plus first and last periods added by myself.
www.naxos.com/classicalmusichistory
As an example of how varied criteria may be Naxos sets "Medieval" as beginning in 1150.
This has to do with the fact that it was around 1150 that the first examples of (nearly) modern notation appeared.
There was musical notation before that but the information contained in it is not enough for a musician to be sure of what he/she is playing.
All interpretations of music from before that "boundary" are more or less educated guesses for that and other causes.
But as the medieval period, in history, starts way before 1150 there are those who ignore the issue of notation and consider the year 500 as the beginning.
hellomusictheory.com/learn/classical-music-eras/
Some just skip Medieval.
www.google.com/search?q=periods+of+classical+music&client=avast-a-2&ei=IsXqYuHYD8OOlwSC9oSoCQ&ved=0ahUKEwjh8Zf0rKv5AhVDx4UKHQI7AZUQ4dUDCA4&uact=5&oq=periods+of+classical+music&gs_lcp=Cgdnd3Mtd2l6EAMyBggAEB4QBzIGCAAQHhAHMgYIABAeEAcyBggAEB4QBzIGCAAQHhAHMgYIABAeEAcyBggAEB4QBzIICAAQHhAPEAcyBAgAEEMyBQgAEIAEOgcIABBHELADOgQIABANOggIABAeEA0QBToKCAAQHhAPEA0QBUoECEEYAEoECEYYAFD9CFiTD2DsFWgBcAF4AIABaogB5gSSAQMyLjSYAQCgAQHIAQPAAQE&sclient=gws-wiz
A very evident problem with Naxos timeline is their inclusion of Beethoven as a "Classical" composer.
Ludwig van was a transition fellow, having produced classical music (stricto sensu) in his early years but his most significant work is markedly romantic.
Not all set 1830 as the end of "Classical" and beginning of "Romantic".
Some even use precisely the turning point in Beethoven's output as the boundary and set it at 1812.
A few don't mind overlapping periods as some composers continued the "old ways" for some time, and some "new waves" took more time than others to submerge the past.
Even among specialists, or maybe more among them, not much importance is given to the subject.
I happen to have a book on the history of western music which seems to use some of the usual time period designations but more as references.
The actual names of the chapters do not tie much with the nomenclature that has become "classical".
They are more tied to technical matters, specific musical "schools", genres, particular composers.
There isn't a clearly outlined timetable in the book.
Book overview: vdoc.pub/documents/a-history-of-western-music-6lsj0c2nida0
So, bottom line, all time period boundaries are circa and some composers lived period transitions.
After all, listening to the music is the most important and the whole timeline system should be considered as fluid and somewhat difuse...