The expression "Serious" or "Classical music" has two meanings. The more common one is used to denote music from the artistic Europen tradition, or as serious, to differentiate it from popular music or jazz. This definition of classical music includes musical history form the Gregorian chants through Beethoven's symphonies to the composers of the modern era.

Musical history can be divided in different ways. These pages will divide music, at least as it relates to the Czech lands of Bohemia and Moravia, into six parts, into music of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern eras. Each part is briefly characterized, and completed with a list of the most important composers of the period. Important composers from other areas will be presented to put Czech composers of that era into context. Then a closer examination of the important figures in Czech music will follow.

Another useful classification is to show the links between different styles and techniques. This classification starts with canonical music - chants, then pieces for the organ, from which developed through the contribution of secular music into the "serious" genres of concertos, operas, and so on.

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