The Classical era lasted rom 1750-1825. The term "classical" is used in different ways. When people refer to classical music, they usually mean just serious music, but when musicians use the term classical music, they should mean music written btween 1750 and 1825. The music in this era was elegant, formal, and restrained. At this time, instrumetal music was more important than vocal music. An important new musical form of music created in the Classsical era was the symphony, which was an extended work in several movements for orchestra. The symphony was a development of the sonata. However, in the symphony, there is no solo instrument.

Another Classical form of music that evolved from the sonata is the concerto. A concerto is a sonata for a solo instrument, accompanied by an orchestra. The Classical orchestra was very similar to today's orchestra, though smaller in size. Te instruments were also basically the same. The stringed instruments were identical to today's violins, violas, cellos, and stringed basses. The string section was the most important part of the Classical orchestra. Woodwind and brass instruments had also evolved and were similar to today's flutes, oboes, clarinets, french horns, trumpets, and trombones.

The organ was still an important instrument, but the piano replaced the harpsichord as the msot popular keyboard instrument.The piano could play louder than a harpsichord, so it could produce sounds from very loud to very soft. Musicians call this a wide dynamic range. This wide dynamic range was appealing to Classical era composers. In the Baroque era, musical works had contrasting sections, but there were no changes in tempo or dynamic level. In the Classical era, composers began to change the tempo or the dynamic level within a section. The changes could be gradual or sudden. Operas, oratorios, and cantatas still remained popular with Classicla composers.

Many Classical composers were employed or supported by aristocrats. This is called a patronage. The arsitocrat was a patron of the composer. he commissioned compositions from the composer and paid him for his musical creations. This gave the composer a continuing source of income, an outlet for his music, and the freedom to develop his craft. Composers of the Classical era could best described as fine musical craftsmen. Many composers traveled throughout Europe to perform their music and to hear the music of other composers. This resulted in a single style for music of the Classical era. It was a style that was elegant and formal, and which sounded the same in Rome, Italy, as well as Veinna, Austria.