classical. Term which, applied to mus., has vague rather than specific meaning: mus. comp. roughly between 1750 and 1830 (i.e. post-Baroque and pre-Romantic) which covers the development of the classical sym. and conc. mus. of an orderly nature, with qualities of clarity and balance, and emphasising formal beauty rather than emotional expression (which is not to say that emotion is lacking). mus. generally regarded as having permanent rather than ephemeral value. ‘classical music’ is used as a generic term meaning the opposite of light or popular mus.