Kinds of music through late 1700's-mid 1800s?

Answer 1

In Western Europe and America, most probably Baroque classical. 1700-1730: Bach, Purcell, Vivaldi, Handel; 1730-1775: Handel, Gluck, Bach, Mozart, Vivaldi; 1775-1790: Mozart; 1790-1810: Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn; 1810-1840: Schubert, Chopin, Weber, Schumann, Rossini, Mendelssohn; 1840-1850: Mendelssohn, Liszt, Verdi, Schumann, Wagner, Suppe. This was the current and popular music of the time. Also: traditional regional folk songs, religious hymns, Opera.

I believe many more people then, compared to today, would have trained in classical musical performance and literacy; both as means of entertainment and self-amusement; and would have been familiar with all the major composers I have listed above. High musical mastery and aptitude would have been regarded as a major social skill and/or necessity to some degree, dependent upon socioeconomic status. Opera training, on the other hand, I think would have been niche and limited; though, understanding the story lines of major operas and associated musical accompaniment would also have been a critical skill to master.

I think a typical evening party, in the late 1700s for instance, would have entailed listening to host/s or member/s of the party perform Classical Music; for background music to mingle against and/or dancing. A more formal affair would have entailed listening to professional musicians play in a band.

I think a key point to bear in mind is that the playing of recorded music was unavailable until around 1900. What we have today are compositions passed down through the ages; which one can accurately infer have survived via popularity.

Also, I am not familiar with Middle Eastern, Asian, African, South and Central American, and Mexican music for this period; I presume traditional regional folk songs were the dominant musical form. As well, colonial presences should be considered with respect to imported classical Western-styled music in these regions. From my experience with world music, my understanding is that certain traditional folk songs have remained popular and relatively unchanged stylistically from conception to now; popular trends only changing with introduction of new instruments. Much in the spirit of Greek oral history being passed down via music throughout the ages; so be it elsewhere. That is another topic of discussion, however.