David Pogue

The world of classical music becomes quite a bit less mysterious when you know the names and functions of all the musical instruments, and a basic timeline of the music itself. This Cheat Sheet will help you discuss classical music with confidence.Meet the classical orchestraLet’s meet the Classical orchestra.

Learning and practicing magic is fun and challenging and to keep it as stress-free as possible be prepared to coolly answer questions about your tricks and make a quick recovery when a trick goes wrong. Know the different types of people in your audience so you can deal with their sometimes offbeat behavior and study some key words you will use repeatedly as you continue on your magic career.

You may think that nobody writes classical music anymore — but they do! New “classical music” is being written all the time. Here are some of the most famous pieces of orchestral music, along with rough guides to the stylistic periods (Baroque, Classical, Romantic, or Modern) into which they fall.

In classical music, a ballet is a story that’s told in music and dance, with no speaking and no singing. In the old days of ballet, the dance was the only important thing. The composer’s job was to write music that let the dancers show off. Musical considerations such as drama, pacing, and even beauty of sound were secondary to the spectacle of the dance: young men and women with great legs.

What’s the difference between a violin and a viola in classical music? Size — the viola’s slightly bigger. But from the audience, seeing this subtle size difference isn’t easy. The sound of the viola is distinctive, however. Compared to the violin, the sound is breathier and throatier. The high notes on a viola sound less effortless than on a violin, and the low notes are powerful and rich.

The best Russian composer made significant contributions to classical music. He was a self-absorbed, neurotic, vulnerable, intense guy whose entire life consisted of suffering. So that’s gotta count for something. His name was Peter Ilyich Tchaikovsky (“chai-KOFF-skee”; 1840–1893). Credit: Source: Creative CommonsPeter Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the best of the Russian Romantic composers.

The word symphony has two meanings in classical music, and for the sake of your cocktail-party reputation, you’d better get them straight. Symphony usually refers to a musical work written in a certain form. But the term can also refer to a symphony orchestra, meaning a group of musicians who perform that kind of music.

Most audience members enjoy the entertainment and mystery of a magic show. But magic is an assault on every law of nature we’ve learned — making some people’s brains squirm. As you’re working through your magical career, here are some of the rarer magic spectators to watch out for: The Yellow-Bellied Grabber: This spectator can’t resist grabbing your props.