List of classical music genres

This is a list of musical genres organized according to the eras of Classical music. The form of a musical composition refers to the general outline of the composition, based on the sections that comprise it or on specific details that are unique to a certain type of composition. For example, a rondo is based on alternation between familiar and novel sections (ABACA); a mazurka is defined by its meter and rhythm; a nocturne is based on the mood it creates, required to be inspired by or evocative of night. This list summarizes these broadly defined forms and genres within the musical periods that they arose or became common.

Medieval

• Ballade
• Ballata
• Canso
• Conductus
• Estampie
• Geisslerlied
• Gregorian Chant
• Lai (poetic form)
• Lauda (song)
• Madrigal (Trecento)
• Motet
• Organum
• Planctus
• Saltarello

Renaissance

• Ballade
• Canzona
• Carol
• Chanson
• Fantasia
  • Chromatic fantasia
• Galliard
• Intermedio
• Lauda
• Litany
• Madrigal
• Madrigal comedy
• Madrigale spirituale
• Mass
  • Cyclic mass
  • Parody mass
  • Paraphrase mass
  • Cantus firmus mass
• Motet
• Motet-chanson
• Opera
• Pavane
• Ricercar
• Sequence
• Tiento
• Toccata

Baroque

• Allemande
• Bourrée
• Canary
• Canon
• Cantata
• Chaconne
• Concerto
  • Concerto grosso
  • Solo concerto
• Courante
• Fugue
• Galliard
• Gavotte
• Gigue
• Loure
• Mass
• Minuet
• Opera
  • Opera buffa
  • Opera seria
• Oratorio
• Partita
• Passacaglia
• Passepied
• Pastorale
• Prelude
• Rigaudon
• Sarabande
• Sinfonia
• Sonata
  • Flute sonata
  • Trio sonata
• Suite
• Sonatina

Classical + Romantic

• Arabesque
• Bagatelle
• Ballade
• Ballet
  • Classical ballet
• Caprice
• Carol
• Concerto
  • Cello concerto
  • Clarinet concerto
  • Double bass concerto
  • Flute concerto
  • Oboe concerto
  • Piano concerto
  • Trumpet concerto
  • Viola concerto
  • Violin concerto
• Dance
• Divertimento
• Étude
• Fantasy
• Impromptu
• Intermezzo
• Lied
• Mass
• March
• Mazurka
• Music hall
• Nocturne
• Octet
• Opera
  • Ballad opera
  • Opera buffa
  • Opéra comique
  • Opera seria
  • Operetta
  • Overture
    • Concert overture
    • Symphonic poem
  • Singspiel
  • Zarzuela
  • Concert Aria
• Oratorio
• Polonaise
• Prelude
• Quartet
  • Piano quartet
  • String quartet
  • Oboe quartet
• Quintet
  • Piano quintet
  • String quintet
  • Wind Quintet
• Requiem
• Rhapsody
• Rondo
• Scherzo
• Serenade
• Sinfonia concertante
• Sonata
  • Bassoon sonata
  • Cello sonata
  • Clarinet sonata
  • Flute sonata
  • Piano sonata
  • Violin sonata
  • Viola sonata
• Song cycle
• Symphony
  • Program symphony
  • Choral symphony
• Suite
• Waltz

20th and 21st Century

• Ballet
  • Neoclassical ballet
  • Contemporary ballet
• Burlesque
• Cabaret
• Concerto for Orchestra
• Electronic music
• Experimental music theatre
• Film score
• Moment form
• Minimal music
• Musical theatre
• Opera
• Soundtrack
• Trio
• Vaudeville

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