Classical music over the centuries
Read Classical music over the centuries and check the IELTS Reading answers. The production of any great art form, and classical music is no exception, does not usually occur in a society dominated by the basic material demands of food and shelter. Art and music have flourished in those periods of…
Passage preview
The production of any great art form, and classical music is no exception, does not usually occur in a society dominated by the basic material demands of food and shelter. Art and music have flourished in those periods of history, and those parts of society, in which the luxury of free time and material wealth has allowed such a culture to take precedence over more material matters. In the medieval European world, it was thus primarily in the closed communities of the church and monastery, and royal courts that music, literature and learning were able to flourish.
Vocabulary from this passage
11 words worth learning before you sit the test, each with the sentence it appears in.
- definitive adjective
Serving as a final or conclusive example; providing a firm and trusted basis for a field of study
A definitive aspect of the classical music tradition is its reliance on precise musical notation.
- displace verb
To take the place of something; to cause something to be moved from its proper or usual place
Digital audio files rapidly began to displace physical formats like CDs in the early twenty-first century.
- dissemination noun
The action or fact of spreading something, especially information or technology, widely among a large group of people
The dissemination of recording technology revolutionized the way diverse musical genres reached a global audience.
- flourish verb
To grow or develop in a healthy or vigorous way, especially as the result of a particularly favorable environment
Classical music was able to flourish in societies where the ruling class had significant material wealth and leisure.
- inherently adverb
In a permanent, essential, or characteristic way; existing as a natural part of something that cannot be removed
Attending a live concert was viewed as an inherently significant social experience for the 19th-century middle class.
- musical notation noun
A system used to visually represent aurally perceived music through the use of written symbols
The development of musical notation allowed composers to share their works across different generations and geographic locations.
- refine verb
To improve something by making small changes, in particular to make an idea or theory more subtle and accurate
Advanced systems of notation allowed later composers to rework and refine their complex symphonic ideas.
- repertory noun
The collection of plays, dances, or musical items that a company or performer knows or is prepared to perform
Before notation existed, monastic singers had to memorize a massive repertory of chants for daily religious services.
- take precedence noun
To be considered more important than something else and therefore be dealt with first or given more priority
In periods of economic instability, basic material demands like food and shelter often take precedence over artistic endeavors.
- ubiquity noun
The state of being everywhere at once or appearing to be present in all places simultaneously
The ubiquity of recorded sound has made it difficult for modern listeners to appreciate the rarity of live performances.
- viable adjective
Capable of working successfully; feasible or able to survive and remain relevant over a long period
The tradition of classical music has remained viable for centuries due to the preservation of written scores.
Answers with explanations
- 14. iii
Paragraph A explains that art and classical music cannot flourish in societies dominated by basic material demands (like the need for food and shelter). This central idea directly matches heading iii: "A focus on survival limits the practice of classical music."
- 15. ii
Paragraph B discusses how the rise of an independent middle class allowed the general public to buy tickets for concert halls, opening up classical music beyond royal courts. This aligns perfectly with heading ii: "More people gain access to live music."
- 16. v
Paragraph C catalogs various technological advances over the last century, including the phonograph, wax cylinders, CDs, MP3s, and digital storage, which revolutionized how music is disseminated. This directly supports heading v: "A range of scientific advances brings music to a wider audience."
- 17. vi
Paragraph D focuses entirely on the era before recording, explaining that hearing music required people to go to a specific venue to hear musicians create a live, one-off event. This matches heading vi: "Listening to music being limited to live performances."
- 18. i
Paragraph E describes how modern digital formats free music from specific venues, allowing people to enjoy it instantly in diverse scenarios like commuting, exercising, or shopping. This points directly to heading i: "Music comes to be enjoyed in a large variety of situations."
- 19. vii
Paragraph F argues that the most definitive aspect of classical music is its written nature (notation), which allowed it to endure and develop over the past thousand years. This supports heading vii: "How classical music has managed to survive for centures."
- 20-21: CE
Option C is correct because the text notes that people keep vast amounts of music **stored on their phones or computers** (electronic storage). Option E is correct because the passage states the CD was popular, but **just a decade later** MP3s displaced it, making the CD's dominance a **relatively brief period**. The distractor about wax quality is unsupported.
- 22-23: BD
Option B is correct because the text explicitly states early notation was intended to help singers **remember** chants (**memory aid**). Option D is correct because the text claims classical music has **remained viable over the years because it was written down**, strongly implying it could not have survived without it. Other options are contradicted or absent.
- 24. audience
The summary blank requires a noun that sits parallel to "location," "occasion," and "group of musicians." Paragraph E confirms that music "is no longer restricted to a particular **audience** or group of musicians," which fits the grammatical and semantic requirements perfectly.
- 25. halls
The blank requires a plural noun denoting a musical venue alongside "opera houses". The text discusses how digital formats dissolved the need for performances defined by "concert **halls** and opera houses", making "halls" the exact word needed.
- 26. soundtrack
The blank needs a singular noun explaining how people incorporate music into their "daily activities." The passage states that digitized music can become any person's "**soundtrack** for activities such as commuting, exercising or shopping", making "soundtrack" the correct answer.