Two terms which I understand were actually used by people of the 18th century were galant and learned. Galant referred to what we might call early classical music. 

What was classical music called during its time?

But the Classical (big C) era specifically refers to music composed between 1750 and 1830. Classical era music is sometimes even referred to as ‘Viennese Classicism‘. The city was a bustling hub of musical activity at the time, home to Gluck, Haydn, Salieri, Mozart, Beethoven and Schubert.
 

When was the term classical music first used?

The term “classical music” first began to appear in the early 19th century, and gained popularity among music lovers who regarded the period from Bach (technically, a Baroque composer) to Beethoven as a shining era in music history.
 

What was before classical music?

Early music generally comprises Medieval music (500–1400) and Renaissance music (1400–1600), but can also include Baroque music (1600–1750). Originating in Europe, early music is a broad musical era for the beginning of Western classical music.

What is classical music history?

Classical music is understood as any composition that emerged during classicism, which includes the years 1750 to 1820. This musical style was born as a form of rupture against the strict rules of baroque music characterized by their horizontal structure where several melodies overlapped at the same time.

What was the first music called?

“Hurrian Hymn No. 6” is considered the world’s earliest melody, but the oldest musical composition to have survived in its entirety is a first century A.D. Greek tune known as the “Seikilos Epitaph.” The song was found engraved on an ancient marble column used to mark a woman’s gravesite in Turkey.
 

Why is classical music so called?

‘Classical’ seems to work as a catch-all term of Western art music genres because it evokes this Classical, ordered era of Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven in which so many instrumental, chamber, orchestral and operatic forms we still hear regularly today were established.
 

When was the Classical Era in history?

The Classical Age (500-336 BC) The Classical Period of ancient Greece was a time when the Greeks achieved new heights in art, architecture, theater, and philosophy. Democracy in Athens was refined under the leadership of Pericles.

What are the 4 periods of classical music?

Classical music is broadly divided into 4 main periods:

• Baroque.
• Classical.
• Romantic.
• Contemporary.

What are the 3 eras of classical music?

The term usually spans roughly two-and-a-half centuries, encompassing the Baroque, Classical, and Romantic periods.

What are the 5 periods of classical music?

7 Eras of Classical Music

• Medieval (c. 1150-c. 1400)
• Renaissance (c. 1400-c. 1600)
• Baroque (c. 1600-c. 1750)
• Classical (c. 1750-c. 1830)
• Early Romantic (c.1830-1860)
• Late Romantic (c.1860-c.1920)
• 20th and 21st century (c. 1920-present)