"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 (ordered by culture) | Historical period when the musical tradition was developed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Afghan classical music (Klasik) | 19th century | |
| Andalusian classical music | Caliph of Córdoba | |
| Azerbaijani Mugham | ca. 9th - 10th century | |
| Cambodian ceremonial music (Pinpeat) | Khmer Empire | |
| 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, and sets of bells have been recovered from archaeological excavations, but little is known about how the early music sounded. |
| European classical music | Renaissance to Early modern Europe | This is the European tradition of music developed during early modern Europe which is associated with high culture (including works in this tradition in non-European countries). 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. Both forms date to the Vedic period. |
| Indonesian art music (Gamelan) | developed from indigenous traditions into their present form during the Majapahit Empire | |
| Persian classical music | Elamnite dynasties | |
| Japanese court music (Gagaku) | Heian period | |
| Korean court music | Joseon Dynasty | |
| Lao classical music | Khmer Empire | |
| Mandé art music (Griot) | Mali Empire | The tradition of the djeli |
| Ottoman classical music | Ottoman Empire | |
| Philippine art songs (Kundiman) | Late Spanish Colonial Period | |
| Scottish Pibroch (Ceòl Mór) | Renaissance to Early modern Europe | Played primarily on the Scottish Great Highland Bagpipe. |
| Thai classical music (Piphat) | Khmer Empire |