Ballet

Ballet music, which took off in the opulent courts of the Renaissance, is essentially the soundtrack for dancers in tights looking to make gravity their nemesis whilst pretending to be swans or fairies. Characterised by sweeping orchestral arrangements that range from delicately ethereal to boisterously dramatic, it's like listening to an entire symphony trying to outdo itself, often leaving the audience convinced they're witnessing a veritable ballet of emotions. Considered the height of theatrical elegance, it has the uncanny ability to make one feel extremely refined, even if the most strenuous thing you do is shuffle to the bar for another pint.