When Did Classical Music Start?

If we’re talking very broadly, Western classical music traces its roots back to the early Middle Ages, around the 9th–10th century, with Gregorian chant. This was sacred music written down for the first time using early notation, which is a huge deal because it allowed music to be preserved and developed over generations.

However, when most people say “classical music,” they’re usually referring to a long tradition that includes several major periods: Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque (think Bach and Vivaldi), Classical (Mozart and Haydn), Romantic (Beethoven, Chopin), and even modern and contemporary classical music. In that sense, classical music isn’t a single starting point but an evolving tradition that spans over a thousand years.

To make things even more confusing, the “Classical period” specifically refers to a narrower time frame, roughly 1750–1820. That’s just one chapter of classical music, not the whole story.

So when did classical music start? If you mean the tradition as a whole: over a millennium ago. If you mean the Classical era: mid-18th century. Context matters—and that’s part of what makes the history of classical music so fascinating.