Classical Music

Classical music is art music produced or rooted in the traditions of Western music (both liturgical and secular). It encompasses a broad period from roughly the 11th century to the present day. The central norms of this tradition became codified between 1550 and 1900, which is known as the common practice period.

The Rest Is Noise: Listening to the Twentieth Century
The Classical Style: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven
Beethoven: Anguish and Triumph
Bach: Music in the Castle of Heaven
What to Listen for in Music
Absolutely on Music: Conversations with Seiji Ozawa
The Lives of the Great Composers
The Vintage Guide to Classical Music
The Violin Conspiracy
The Cello Suites: J.S. Bach, Pablo Casals, and the Search for a Baroque Masterpiece
Wagnerism: Art and Politics in the Shadow of Music
Johann Sebastian Bach: The Learned Musician
Piano Notes: The World of the Pianist
Fryderyk Chopin: A Life and Times
Mozart: The Reign of Love

Most Read This Week

Moscow Nights: The Van Cliburn Story-How One Man and His Piano Transformed the Cold War
Bach: Music in the Castle of Heaven
Beethoven: The Man and the Artist, As Revealed in His Own Words (Dover Books On Music: Composers)
Paul Robeson
Schubert's Winter Journey: Anatomy of an Obsession
Beethoven's Symphonies: An Artistic Vision
Beethoven: Anguish and Triumph
Annie's Song by Catherine AndersonHate by Tate JamesYour Wicked Ways by Eloisa JamesThe First Crush is the Deepest by Nina HarringtonLords of Mercy by Angel Lawson
Keys: Piano In Romance
49 books — 10 voters
The Cello Suites by Eric SiblinJohann Sebastian Bach by Christoph WolffCantatas of Johann Sebastian Bach by William Gillies WhittakerJohann Sebastian Bach by Maarten 't HartThe World of the Bach Cantatas by Christoph Wolff
Best of: Books on Bach
27 books — 4 voters

The Time of Our Singing by Richard PowersSymphony of Secrets by Brendan SlocumbRockstar by Zach  TaylorNatural Beauty by Ling Ling HuangBel Canto by Ann Patchett
Books inspired by ... music
32 books — 3 voters
Mozart by Paul  JohnsonMozart by Peter GayThe P. Craig Russell Library of Opera Adaptations, Vol. 1 by P. Craig RussellMozart's Women by Jane GloverMozart by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
History of Classical Music
131 books — 7 voters

Please Kill Me by Legs McNeilJust Kids by Patti SmithChronicles, Volume One by Bob DylanLife by Keith RichardsOur Band Could Be Your Life by Michael Azerrad
Best Non Fiction About Music
1,447 books — 1,351 voters
New Science by Giambattista VicoThe Contest for Knowledge by Maria Gaetana AgnesiBernini's Beloved by Sarah McPheeBernini by Franco MormandoMonteverdi's Voices by Tim Carter
Early Modern Italy (1600-1800)
55 books — 6 voters


Related Genres

David Hurwitz
Haydn was quite simply the greatest variation writer who ever lived.
David Hurwitz, Exploring Haydn: A Listener's Guide to Music's Boldest Innovator

Of course, in a sense, all opera is absurd.
Stephen Walsh, The Beloved Vision: A History of Nineteenth Century Music

More quotes...
Musicians and Classical Music Lovers of Goodreads Do you play an instrument? Do you LOVE classical music? Whether you're a newbie or professional,…more
41 members, last active 10 months ago
A Journey Through The World of Music A celebration of Music
1 member, last active 14 years ago
Cats and Classical Music It's a group about the love of cats and music. And books. And anything else that you can think o…more
14 members, last active 11 years ago
Girlboss(es) Book Club ☆ Welcome to GBC ! 🌱 A book club for girlies whose only goal in life is to live in a cottage surr…more
100 members, last active one year ago