<Tr> <Td> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> </Td> </Tr> <Ul> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> <Li> </Li> </Ul> <P> The dates of the Classical period in Western music are generally accepted as being between about the year 1730 and the year 1820 . However, the term classical music is often used in a colloquial sense as a synonym for Western art music which describes a variety of Western musical styles from the Middle Ages to the present, and especially from the seventeenth century to the nineteenth . This article is about the specific period in most of the 18th century to the early 19th century, though overlapping with the Baroque and Romantic periods . </P> <P> The Classical period falls between the Baroque and the Romantic periods . Classical music has a lighter, clearer texture than Baroque music and is less complex . It is mainly homophonic, using a clear melody line over a subordinate chordal accompaniment, but counterpoint was by no means forgotten, especially later in the period . It also makes use of style galant which emphasized light elegance in place of the Baroque's dignified seriousness and impressive grandeur . Variety and contrast within a piece became more pronounced than before and the orchestra increased in size, range, and power . </P>

When did the classical period of western music occur