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2.6.4A Classical Music Definition Beyond the European Classical Music Period
You could define classical music ultra-narrowly as the music of an era, the period of European art music of ca. 1750 to 1825 (Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven) that followed the baroque era and preceded the romantic. Or you could define classical music broadly as formally-notated art music, starting with some of the music of the Greeks, 2,500 years ago. In which case, the bar second from the top in Figure 4 above would need to stretch to the left about 4.8 feet (1.5 metres). Not a long time compared with folk music, but much longer than the genres of popular music with which we’re familiar today.
Historically, racism prevented music from crossing cultural lines. For centuries, Europeans and white Americans considered African music “primitive” and inferior to music of European origin, especially the music of the baroque, classical, and romantic composers of the common practice period (1600 - 1900). People with classical music backgrounds have historically tended to value melody and harmony over rhythm and rhythmic lyrics. The European aristocracy of the common practice period who patronized composers actually believed they were fostering the “progress” of music.
At classical music concerts, audiences were (and still are) expected to sit quietly and listen to The Music. No nodding to the beat (or nodding off), no tapping, clapping, or (horrors) singing or dancing. Pretty much the exact opposite of, say, a hip-hop or rock concert.