The transitioning period was the Baroque Era. Music composers started fusing embellishments with complex melodies as different instruments like the violin and cello came into being. Small orchestras started to form and two different forms of music arose-sonatas and concertos. Opera became popular as did new instruments like the pipe organ, harpsichord which added more depth to orchestras. Few of the best known composers of this period were Bach, Vivaldi, Handel, Corelli, Telemann, Couperin and Scarlatti.

Classical Era gave birth to most of the popular classical music where composers like Beethoven, Mozart and Haydn preferred balanced musical structures over the Baroque style.

Composers laid down framework for future musicians in clear organised musical compositions. The symphony was created, a four part orchestral piece and orchetsras became larger and more developed.

The piano became the popular keyboard instrument among many other instruments. People started thinking of themselves as artists and less as servants to the upper class. 

Opera became more modernised as did public concert halls to serve as the stage for orchestral performance.

Composers like Schubert, Rossini, Paganini are credited to have created some of the best known music alongside Beethoven and Mozart.

The last phase was the Romantic Era.

Composers became more idealistic and developed strong and intense emotions along with their compositions. The orchestra doubled in size as did musical pieces in duration. Traditional tonal patterns were modified and as did the music theory. Ballet became popular over opera. Composers like Tchaikovsky, Chopin, Wagner, Schumann, Debussy etc., became the runners of modern orchestral music.

Classical music transformed after this period into many different forms as music spread to different cultures. Classical music became a side step to the modern music as people's interest in classical music diminished. It does exist in the 21st century but having lost its former glory it is more commonly seen used in movies and TV shows. Two of the most famous composers of the 21st century are John Williams and Hans Zimmer.