Introduction

The expression "Serious" or "Classical music" has two meanings. The more common one is used to denote music from the artistic Europen tradition, or as serious, to differentiate it from popular music or jazz. This definition of classical music includes musical history form the Gregorian chants through Beethoven's symphonies to the composers of the modern era. Musical history can be divided in different ways. These pages will divide music, into six parts, into music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern eras. Each part is briefly characterized, and completed with a list of the most important composers of the period.