Western classical music is a broad term that encompasses the art music of the Western world, which is distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is often characterized by formality and complexity in its musical form and harmonic organization. The earliest extant music manuscripts date from the Carolingian Empire (800–888), around the time which Western plainchant gradually unified into what is termed Gregorian chant. The Baroque period (1580–1750) saw the relative standardization of common-practice tonality, as well as the increasing importance of musical instruments, which grew into ensembles of considerable size. The Classical period (1750–1820) saw the development of sonata form and the symphony orchestra. The Romantic period (1815–1910) saw an emphasis on emotion and individualism, as well as a greater use of programmatic music. The 20th century saw a wide range of styles, including serialism, neoclassicism, and minimalism.
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