Klassiek

Klassiek is the Dutch term for classical music, part of the Western art music tradition. It covers music composed for notated scores and performed in concert settings, spanning roughly from the medieval era to the present. In common usage, it refers not only to historical periods but to the broad canon of Western high-culture music.

A central historical focus is the Classical period (approximately 1750–1820), with composers such as Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven shaping form, balance and clarity. Earlier traditions include medieval and Renaissance polyphony; the Baroque period (roughly 1600–1750) introduced major developments in tonality, instrumental technique, and contrast.

Key genres include the symphony, concerto, chamber music, opera, and choral works. Performance practice historically relied on notated scores and specific forms—sonata form, ritornello, fugue—while later styles broadened structural experimentation.

In Dutch-speaking contexts, klassiek is an umbrella term for concert music performed by orchestras, ensembles and choirs, and it is taught in conservatories and universities. The field includes major festivals, period-instrument ensembles, and a tradition of scholarship in musicology.

Today, klassiek remains a living tradition. It coexists with contemporary classical music, and interest in historically informed performance has influenced interpretations of older works. The term continues to distinguish Western art music from popular, folk, or traditional music.