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Classical Music Overview

A first timer to the world of classical music may find the prospect of trying to learn the composers and works to be a daunting task. However, some of history's great musical names -- Bach, Mozart, Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Dvorak, Brahms -- can be found in the classical genre. Whether it's orchestral (symphonies and concertos), opera, or chamber music, the joys of classical music are very rewarding to the listener.

Classical music surrounds us, whether we realize it or not. The United Airlines commercials? That music comes from George Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue." The so-called "Lone Ranger" theme? That's the last part of Gioacchino Rossini's "William Tell" overture, kicking up all that dust. Remember all those great Bugs Bunny cartoons with Elmer Fudd you watched as a kid? You'll hear more musical snippets of Rossini, Felix Mendelssohn, Franz Liszt, Johann Strauss, and Richard Wagner ("What's Opera, Doc?").

The classical music tradition has continued into the 20th and 21st centuries as well, with composers such as Aaron Copland, Leonard Bernstein, John Adams, and Philip Glass, making lasting contributions to the repertoire. New works and even newer composers are coming onto the scene frequently, and great film scores also contribute to classical's distinguished legacy.