What makes classical music different from modern day music?

Answer 1

If you're talking about the Classical period, early Classical era music shares some characteristics with the late Baroque period, but sounds more Classical than Baroque. Late Classical era music is seen in the late works of Haydn and Mozart, and the early works of Beethoven and Schubert. It shares some characteristics with the early Romantic period, but it is still recognized as Classical because it doesn't have the characteristics that Beethoven would later exemplify from his 3rd Symphony on.

Answer 2

The instruments and beat are different, also the rhythms and tempos are different. In fact, every possible element of music is generally different in some way to contemporary music. Of course, there are often overlaps.

______________

The term Classical Music can mean more than one thing. It can refer to a specific period of music composition roughly corresponding to the time of Mozart. It can also refer to the widest scope of music, prior to what is considered contemporary or modern music. The definition is fuzzy. If someone living writes an Opera, a concerto for solo instrument and orchestra, or a symphony, it would be considered by many to be in the category of 'classical', even though it is 'contemporary'. These compositions would appeal to a certain audience and would most likely be performed in certain kinds of venues where you might not typically hear current music performers. None of these statements is absolute.

This is one way to think about the differences: What we generally call classical music can be thought of as 'art' music, in the sense that it is usually written to explore and develop the beauty of sound itself, independent of lyrics. Young people might find a symphony by Beethoven close to unbearable, since there are no words in any of them (except one, the 9th, and the words are in German), and no driving, metronomic beat (at least not one good enough for 21st Century dancing). If one's approach to music involves verbal expression of today's culture, struggles, issues or glories, then it makes sense that many minutes or hours of wordless sound seems not only wordless but worthless.

Of course there is a huge heritage of song (with particular homage to Schubert) and opera, and these works are anything but wordless. But they are set pieces expressing sentiments connected with their times, and operas at least can be very lengthy.

One of the more important differences, particularly if you examine approaches to music prior to any radio or recording (R&R) technologies, was that all music was live. The world experienced time in a different way; people had no concept of 'sound bites', elevator muzak or 'rap'. There was an entirely different cultural musical language, and because many people could make live music at home with groups of family and friends, there was very likely a more common understanding of some of the technical methods, forms and styles of music making. Music was communal, actively made by many, and probably less imitative since you couldn't model your understanding of a piece after the composer's 'latest recording'. Music was more cerebral/interactive rather than functional/reactive.

Contemporary music is often more geared toward function rather than 'sound for its own sake'. Our fast-paced lives seem to go hand-in-hand with fast-paced, relentless, driving and interminable metronomic beats in preferred music. It is as if the music reflects our view of life itself. Prior to R&R, people were more sensitive to widely varying cadences and rhythms to life, reflected clearly in the different musics in history.

Answer 3

The general periods within the genre Classical Music are:

Baroque

Classical

Romantic

Modern