Style, like form, is another of those broad, general words — general but very necessary. The style of a tennis player is the particular way he or she reaches up for the serve, follows through on the forehand, rushes the net, hits the ball deep or short, and so on. A lifestyle means the whole combination of things one does and doesn’t do: the food one eats, the way one dresses and talks, one’s habits of thought and feeling.

The style of a work of art, similarly, is the combination of qualities that make it distinctive. One composer’s style may favor jagged rhythms, simple harmonies, and tunes to the exclusion of other types of melody. Another may prefer certain kinds of tone color or texture; still another may concentrate on a particular form. The type of emotional expression a composer cultivates is also an important determinant of musical style.

One can speak of the lifestyle of a generation as well as the lifestyle of a particular person. Similarly, a distinction can be made between the musical style of a particular composer and the style of a historical period. For example, to a large extent George Frideric Handel’s manner of writing falls within the parameters of the Baroque style of his day. But some features of Handel’s style are unique, and perhaps it is those features in particular that embody his musical genius.