Just when you thought classical music was more accessible than ever, Apple announce they’re on the cusp of launching a purpose-built classical music app.
It’s rumoured to be called Apple Classical (not the most dynamic name, but it does the job), and we’re excited.
Unlike the already popular Apple Music, Apple Classical will specifically cater for classical music. Considering there are so many music genres out there, having the tech giant opt for a streaming app dedicated to classical pieces is pretty exciting.
We first heard about this in 2021, when Apple bought the classical music streaming app Primephonic. Their plan is to offer Apple Music subscribers Primephonic playlists and exclusive audio content.
What’s the point of a dedicated classical music app?
If you’re wondering why we need a dedicated classical music app, you’re not alone. That’s a fair thought. Apple Music and Spotify, as well as other smaller streaming services, already have millions of classical works available. Here’s the scoop…
Classical music genres are complex and convoluted. A single work can be recorded by hundreds of different orchestras or musicians, making it difficult (sometimes impossible) to find the version you want.
Additionally, older works are categorised in a different way. The repertoires of many composers are catalogued via the opus numbering system, which allows individual compositions to be identified. Good in theory, however, this system isn’t universal adopted. Lots of composers only use it for some of their work (great, thanks). Others, like Massenet, used ‘Opus 12B' instead of 'Opus 13' due to superstitions around the number 13, while many 20th century composers have ignored the system altogether.
On top of that, there are composers who were so prolific that they were given their own cataloguing system. For example, Mozart's compositions are ordered according to the Köchel catalogue, where each work was assigned its own K-number long after his death.
Exhausted yet? This is exactly why we need a dedicated app.
Help is at hand!
According to a press release from Apple, classical music fans with Apple Music will enjoy "the best features from Primephonic". This is set to include the ability to search by composer and repertoire, and more ‘fine print’ classical music metadata — the search functionality will be more comprehensive compared to their streaming success, Apple Music. These advanced search capabilities will lead to a significantly improved user experience.
What we know about the impending Apple Classical is limited, but we’re excited for its potential and will be back with another update when we know more. Stay tuned!