List of classical and art music traditions


"Classical music" and "art music" are terms that have been used to refer to music of different cultural origins and traditions. Such traditions often date to a period regarded as the "golden age" of music for a particular culture.
The following tables list music styles from throughout the world and the period in history when that tradition was developed:

Southeast Asian

StyleEarliest historical periodNotes
GamelanAt least 8th century AD.
PinpeatAt least 6th century AD.
MahoriAt least 14th century AD.
Piphat
Pinphat

Indic

StyleEarliest historical periodNotes
Carnatic musicAt least 6th century AD, split from Hindustani classical music in the 16th and 17th centuries.
Hindustani classical musicAt least 6th century AD, split from Carnatic music in the 16th and 17th centuries.
KlasikAt least 6th century AD, split from Hindustani classical music.The classical tradition of Afghanistan, ultimately a descendant of Hindustani classical music. Developed in the 19th century by Indian musicians in Afghan courts. Along with Hindustani music theory and instruments, Afghan classical music also uses local Pashtun elements, especially in its performance practices.
Odissi musicAt least 6th century AD.

East Asian

StyleEarliest historical periodNotes
Nanguan musicAt least 14th century CE.
Gagaku6th century CE.
Jeongak5th century CE.
Nhã nhạc13th century CE.
YayueAt least 2nd century BCE.

European

StyleEarliest historical periodNotes
Byzantine music4th century AD.
PibrochAt least the 17th century AD.
Western classical music6th century AD.

Middle Eastern

StyleEarliest historical periodNotes-
Persian classical musicAt least 3rd century AD, with drastic changes in the 16th and 19th centuries.-
Arabic classical music-
Andalusi classical music9th century AD.Likely practiced since the early 9th century, the musical tradition of Al-Andalus is notable for spreading Middle Eastern and North African musical instruments to Western Europe, where they would become staple instruments of Western tradition. Now practiced in North Africa in the form of the Andalusi nubah, this tradition has also had considerable effect on Ottoman classical music, especially in the Sephardic romance and Maftirim repertoire.-
Ottoman classical musicAt least 3rd century AD, emerged as a unique tradition in the 17th century.Now known as Turkish Art Music or Turkish Classical Music
Shashmaqam-