Out of the six historical periods of Western Art Music, I felt most intrigued by the Classical Period (ca. 1730-ca. 1820). I was interested in this particular period because I have always enjoyed listening to classical music. This led to my curiosity in the origin of classical music and how it all began. During the Classical Period, many historical events occurred that I am familiar with and knowledgeable on such as the Enlightenment era and Industrial Revolution. There were many great changes, advancements, and new interests in these eras which eventually led to the birth of classical music. In the textbook, classical music is described as having similar style and taste of the Germans and Italians. Though opera was primarily involved during this time period, new instruments such as the symphony and strong quartet were introduced.

I chose to listen to Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto in A major K. The music sounded exactly like my expectations from the textbook and my own knowledge. I enjoy listening to classical music since it relaxes my brain and soothes me. I often listen to Hans Zimmer when my mind feels cluttered, so I had a pretty good idea what Mozart’s piece would sound like.