Preclassical

Preclassical is an informal, descriptive term used chiefly in the study of Western art music to denote works and styles that precede the Classical period. Since the Classical period is typically dated to roughly the mid-18th to early 19th centuries, preclassical refers to music that falls outside that mature style: late Renaissance and Baroque music, as well as transitional forms that prepared the Classical idiom, such as the Galant and empfindsam styles and the Sturm und Drang movement. It covers composers whose language predates Haydn, Mozart, and early Beethoven, including J.S. Bach, George Frideric Handel, and their contemporaries. Because the boundary is not fixed, estimates of the temporal span vary—some scholars place the start in the early 17th century, others closer to the 1730s to 1750s.

Outside music, preclassical is used less systematically. In archaeology and literature, it may label phases of a culture before the tradition that scholars call classical, or signify earlier forms that anticipate a later classical canon. In all uses, it is a broad, contextual term rather than a formal period, and its precise meaning depends on the field and author. When employing the term, the scope and dating should be clarified to avoid ambiguity. See also Classical period; Baroque; Rococo; Galant; Sturm und Drang.