Art music facts for kids

Art music is a special kind of music. It includes classical music and other serious modern music. People sometimes call it "serious music" or "legitimate music." It's different from pop music or folk music because it usually has a written musical score.

What is Art Music?

Art music is a type of music that is often seen as serious and important. It usually has a long history and is written down by composers. This means musicians play it exactly as the composer intended. Think of it like a carefully planned painting or a detailed sculpture.

Why Do We Call It "Art Music"?

The term "art music" became popular around the time of the modern movement in the arts. Before this, most serious music was simply called "classical music." But then, composers like Schoenberg started creating new kinds of music. This music was very serious, but it didn't sound like the older classical music from composers like Bach or Beethoven.

For example, Stravinsky wrote music that mixed classical ideas with new sounds. Some of his music even used African-influenced syncopation (rhythms that are off-beat) and dischords (sounds that seem to clash). So, music experts and teachers started using terms like "art music" or "modern music" to describe these new, serious styles.

How is Art Music Different?

Art music is often defined as serious music that has a written tradition. This means the music is written down in sheet music. This allows it to be studied, performed, and preserved over many years.

A musicologist named Philip Tagg described music in three main groups: 'folk', 'art', and 'popular' music. He explained that each group is different based on certain rules. In the Western world, the main type of art music is usually called classical music. Art music is often compared to popular music and traditional or folk music. These other types of music might not always be written down in the same detailed way.

Images for kids

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  Beethoven's own sketch for his Piano Sonata No. 28, Movement IV. He finished this piece in 1816.

See also

In Spanish: Música culta para niños