Why should we listen to classical music? Thoughts on its distinct traits and why we should make more time for it in our lives.
My childhood record player sampled amazing music from across the globe: Folk, Bluegrass, Cajun, Big Band, Rock n Roll, Jazz, Blues, Americana, Broadway, Classic Country, Pop, Classical—I loved it all, and am so grateful for the exposure to the rich variety of genres.
But even as a child, classical always held a different, revered place amidst the music genres.
This didn’t mean it was always my favorite - I often picked other more ‘fun’ genres over classical.
But I instinctively knew that classical took me to a sphere that no other genre could take me to. When we played a record of classical, I wanted to peer inside its waves of sound, to participate in the story it told.
In its cathedral of sound, I heard the full complexity of the human story organized into a majestic, cohesive whole.
It filled me with renewed wonder at the world both within and around me, and when I emerged from this space, I looked at the world differently, with more respect, and with a deeper awareness of its power and beauty.
As an adult, I’ve made it part of my mission to unpack and define what makes classical music different from other genres and why cultivating an appreciation for it in our life is important.
Here are 7 common characteristics of classical music, paired with the benefits we receive from these distinctions:
It Expresses the Full Spectrum of Emotions and Life Experiences:
In classical music it is very common to have one piece of music encompass a whole host of emotions, experiences, and subject matter, due to its complex use of textures, dynamic colors and key modulations.
Because of this, classical music offers the listener a more linear journey of complex harmonic progression and development.
There’s a Vast Repertoire of Vaguely Titled Instrumental works:
You may have wondered - why does classical music often have the most uncreative names? I mean - Symphony No. 1, Sonatina in G Major, String Quartet Op. 40…..come on! You’d think the creativity necessary for composition would extend to the title, right? But there is a profound philosophy behind this. By leaving the title essentially blank, the composer is honoring one of music’s greatest gifts - its ability to become something new in the minds of each listener.
You, the listener, are an essential part of its creation process.
It Features Highly Virtuosic Playing:
There’s no denying it - classical music requires extensive training and disciplined practice, and it’s truly awe-inspiring to witness the heights of excellence classical musicians reach.
When we listen to instruments played with such precision and grace, we glimpse the beauty of striving for excellence in our lives.
It Often Wanders Far From Home:
In classical music it is very common for a piece of music to journey very far from this “home base” and to take many detours through key modulations before returning to the original key.
This reflects the twists and turns of our lives, and the final homecoming offers profound catharsis.
It is Fully Notated:
Unlike the oral or improvisatory traditions of other music genres, one of the most defining traits of classical music is that it is fully notated. There’s still ample self-expression and at times improvisation (think cadenzas, the Renaissance and Baroque eras, and all the interpretative freedoms given to the performer), but it means that classical music is inherently very structured and detailed. Full notation allows the composer to construct a complex piece of musical architecture.
Just as setting words down on a page allows complex stories and character developments to come to life in plays, literature and poetry, setting notes down on a page allows a sonic piece of art to come to life and to live forever through the fresh interpretations of contemporary performers.
It Encourages More Active Participation:
Much of the music we pick throughout the day helps address specific needs and moods: Calm background music to provide the right ambience; loud music with a good beat to energize us; sacred music to instill a sense of reverence for prayer; etc.
Classical music certainly serves particular needs very well, too (I love playing Bach for a peaceful wakeup hour, Baroque concertos for a royal, celebratory brunch, Mozart for calm productivity, etc), and there is a great amount of repertoire that was written for specific occasions and purposes (pre-romantic era music was almost exclusively written for the Church or State).
That being said, the nature of classical music, with all its distinctions previously listed, invites a more active encounter with music as a living art form that has something to say; The complex harmonic and emotional soundscape prompt the listener to stay within its stream of sound and to actively participate in its musical narrative.
In an era of constant consumption, cultivating an art form that invites participation and enlivens our imaginations is essential!
Classical Music Offers a Vision of Hope and Resilience:
Each time we encounter a classical masterpiece, we glimpse a highly detailed, structured piece of sonic architecture that has taken the multitude of instrumental and harmonic variables to create a cohesive whole.
The sheer fact that mankind is able to create order and harmony out of life’s experiences is a testament to the power of art.
Classical music often doesn’t provide that instantaneous catchy beat or tune we crave in the moment. It often prompts greater participation than we want to give in the moment.
But if we make time for it, the payoff is great.
Just as we feel renewed after spending time in a great novel, a cinematic masterpiece, a live play, or gazing at a beautiful piece of art, coming away from a piece of great classical music can redirect our gaze to see more clearly the great wonder and beauty of life all around us.
These are the 7 characteristics I settled on, but if you think of one to add, please comment below! I’d love to hear from you.