List of classical and art music traditions
"Classical music" and "art music" are terms that have been used to refer to music of different cultural origins and traditions. Such traditions often date to a period regarded as the "golden age" of music for a particular culture.
The following table lists music styles from throughout the world and the period in history when that tradition was developed:
| Style | Historical period when the musical tradition was developed | Notes |
| Afghan classical music | 19th century | |
| Andalusian classical music | Caliph of Córdoba | |
| Azerbaijani Mugham | ca. 9th – 10th centuries | |
| Cambodian ceremonial music | Khmer Empire | |
| Burmese classical music | Myanmar | |
| Chinese traditional music | Tang Dynasty | The Chinese invented a form of notation called Gongche in the Tang Dynasty. Chinese literature has references to music going back to the Zhou Dynasty, revealing that it both had a ritual function and was prized as an independent art form. While instruments are described and sets of bells have been recovered from archaeological excavations, little is known about how the early music sounded. |
| European classical music | Middle Ages to present | This is the European tradition of music developed during early modern Europe which is associated with high culture. This style of classical music is commonly referred to as simply "classical music" in the English language. |
| Indian classical music | Vedic period to present | Within Indian classical music, there are two distinct traditions, Hindustani and Carnatic. They originate in the Sama Veda of ~1200BC, share ancestry in the Natya Shastra and Puranas, and began to diverge in the 12th century CE. |
| Indonesian art music | developed from indigenous traditions into their present form during the Majapahit Empire | |
| Classical music of Iran | Median Empire | |
| Japanese court music | Heian period | |
| Korean court music | Joseon Dynasty | |
| Lao classical music | Khmer Empire | |
| Mandé art music | Mali Empire | The tradition of the djeli |
| Ottoman classical music | Ottoman Empire | Now known as Turkish Art Music or Turkish Classical Music |
| Philippine art songs | Late Spanish Colonial Period | |
| Scottish Pibroch | Renaissance to Early modern Europe | Played primarily on the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe. |
| Sri Lankan Kandyan dance | Kandy, Sri Lanka | Sri lankan hill country drums are unique instruments,they have lot of percussion instruments only exists in sri lanka.this traditional style of playing use for various styles of kandyan dancing |
| Thai classical music | Khmer Empire | |
| Vietnam imperial court music | Trần Dynasty |