Classical Music Has Changed Over Time

Ninety years ago, the term “cellphone” just means a huge but portable block for making phone calls; today, as a result of more accomplished work done by human, it means much more of a light, fast, and smart device for communication, entertainment, and work. While “Cellphone” has an updated meaning over time, the term “Classical,” in its long historical frame that goes back to over two hundred years ago, gained many different meanings in both general and specifically musical contexts. As more perspectives added into the definition of “Classical,” the word is no longer closely associated with its original musical meanings.
In general context, “Classical” has three primary meanings in terms of period, value-judgment, and style . Classical period represents the ancient Greek and Rome time, as well as art associated with that time period. The term “Classical” is also used for ordinary things of high rank, exemplary qualities, and long-lasting influence, but not necessarily produced in the Greek and Rome time. As a style, the style characteristics of ancient Greek and Rome arts and any style appeared afterwards associated with the similar characteristics could be called “Classical.”

The concept of “Classical” gets complicated in the music world.

The Classical period, defined as a historical period for western music from the late eighteenth century to early nineteenth century, is controversial for the name itself. Ratner, stated clearly that “Classical” period in his work was only used for chronological purposes, because some of the meanings of “Classical,” such as austerity, purity of style, and lack of disturbing irregularities , didn’t correspond with the style of music composed in this time period. However, Webster argued that the name “Classical” for the period was created out of admiration to Haydn and Mozart, but was a misleading name as it denies its role of continuity as a transitional period between Baroque and Romantic

period.
Besides the name, it is also controversial whether the stylistic features of music composed at this time are “Classical” or otherwise. Weber pointed out that Haydn’s compositions showed little in unity, balance, or symmetry, which were the key features for Classical style. Both Ratner and Weber agreed that galant style is a better suitable term because it is broad enough to describe the elaborate style that music was composed in during this period, while the other suggestion, Viennese Classical style, is the most narrow way as Vienna was not yet the center of western music and was only a locale for the composers at the time of late eighteenth century and early nineteenth century.
In conclusion, just like “cellphone,” “Classical” had derived over time from a chronological term in history to a broad adjective for things with long-lasting influence. It’s hard to determine whether the expanded meanings were appropriate or not, because more works were accomplished with some common similarities that should not be ignore. However, from a strict musical point of view, the word “Classical” is no longer the best term for the style of Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven’s compositions. In this matter, “Classical” means no longer “Classical.”