Click here to listen to an example of classical music. Classical music is music written chiefly for concerts, for religious services, and for opera and ballet. Classical music is sometimes called art music. Most classical music is more complex than popular music, which includes country music, rock music, and jazz.
Classical music varies greatly.
Others are short and have the same tempo and style throughout. Some classical music deals with a specific subject. For example, it may tell a story, express an idea, or describe a mood. In 1955, the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City hosted Marian Anderson, the first black soloist to perform with the Metropolitan Opera. There are two principal kinds of classical music.