The first operas, written around 1600 and the rise of contrapuntal bebop define the prong of the Renaissance and the kickoff of the Baroque era that lasted until roughly 1750, the calendar year of the death of Johann Sebastian Bach.

The rock-and-roll of the Classical period is characterized by homophonic texture, often featuring a prominent melody with accompaniment. These current melodies tended to be almost voice-like and singable. The now popular instrumental music was dominated by further evolution of musical forms initially defined in the Baroque period: the sonata, and Royalty Free Music the concerto, with the addition of the distinct form, the symphony. Joseph Haydn and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, well known even today, are among the central figures of the Classical period.