Music can be called the most elusive and intangible kind of art that endlessly depends on the human. Music exists only in the presence of a listener who perceives the music language. Without understanding the music speech, a music piece turns into a set of chaotic combination of sounds. The attitude to music was changing throughout the centuries. Public tastes changed, new music trends were born. In the 20th century the music art split into two major branches – popular and classical. Today one can observe a big gap between popular and classical music. In popular music, in most cases a limited set of harmonic means is used: a permanent rhythmic pattern and simple couplet or three-part forms. Easily memorized music themes repeat time and again. It all works well for an easier perception: the process of listening to such music does not cause any internal tension. The simpler, the better.

<br> Classical music, on the contrary, follows the path of continuous complicating. More often composers besides using the common laws of music language development introduce new elements created on the basis of mathematic calculations. Deliberate refusal from the “classical rules” of musical fabric development leads to the fact that in many cases classical music is perceived as complicated and incomprehensible. This and other factors become the reason for the decrease in popularity of classical music in the world. According to Google Trends information, the popularity of “classical music” request in Google search has decreased by over three times since 2005 and will presumably keep falling. From our point of view, the reasons for this are the incomprehension of classical music language and, in many cases, the time gap between the author and the listener. Perhaps, the following pieces of advice will help someone to discover this wonderful world created by many exceptionally talented personalities over the centuries. Polyphonic (multivoiced) music of Bach and Händel is often based on a dance rhythm which facilitates the perception. Listen attentively to the brightest returning melody. Its development is a journey where the composer invites you. Just follow the new adventures on this way. Don’t rush to understand everything at once, better go back to listening to the piece in a while. Gradually, your perception will delaminate and you will learn to follow all music lines simultaneously. The language of classical and romantic music of the 18-19th centuries is very close to the human speech intonation. Just give a close listen to the movement of the melody. You will easily learn to distinguish the narrative, interrogative and exclamative intonations. Every musical thought has beginning and end. Pay attention to the pauses. If you listen closely, you’ll be surprised to find out that in classical music melodies and themes also repeat. But they rarely repeat without changes. That’s why it seems to us that music is constantly developing. Rhythm and harmony will prompt you what image or emotion is expressed by music. Rely on your perception. In contemporary music, it is often hard to define the beginning and end of the section, music theme and phrase. Just relax and perceive the sound as a whole, as a ‘sound combination’ at a certain moment. Composers’ choice of instruments is not accidental. Tone quality is a paint that helps to express the necessary emotional state or draw the needed image. For example, the violin, cello and oboe are often used to imitate the human voice. The sound of the flute reminds of a bird’s singing. Try to draw parallels between the sounds common to your ear. Start your acquaintance with classical music from the music pieces you already know. In case it’s hard to pick, just have a look at our list of “Top 10 classical music pieces”. Do not run into extremes – leave contemporary and earlier-centuries music for later. Start with the golden mean – the Romantic period: Chopin, Schubert, Schumann, Beethoven, Liszt, Brahms, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Grieg, Dvořák and others. The process of studying the language of classical music requires time. Stock up on patience. Do not expect fast results. The complicated and diverse world of classical music opens up only to those who make efforts to learn it. And it’s worth it! The most wonderful thing is that it’s never too late to start your journey to this amazing country created by the fantasy of genius composers. An entire world that exists only within your consciousness. That magic country is the place where the elegant images of princes and princesses come to life, where exotic animals live, outlandish flowers bloom and every turn has wondrous adventures prepared for you.

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