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A Short History Of Music
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Published: September 1, 2006
When a certain song comes on the radio, perhaps you relate directly to the lyrics. Or maybe you shut your eyes, tilt your head back and let the melody carry you to a certain moment in your past. Either way, this expression of emotion has been vital throughout the history of music.
"Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other because rhythm and harmony find their way into the secret places of the soul," the ancient philosopher Plato once stated.
Everyone enjoys listening to some form of music, whether classical or country. But where does this personal connection with music come from?
The history of music probably dates as far back as our primitive ancestors. Imagine cavemen beating sticks together and tapping rocks against the ground, creating rough melodies. Music has come a long way since this primitive beginning and is constantly evolving.
The modern history of music began in the medieval era, which dates from 800 to 1400. This is the longest and most remote period in the history of music, lasting almost 1,000 years. For the majority of the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church was the focal point of most people's lives. It shaped society's learning behaviors and artistic expressions.
St. Gregory, pope from 590 to 604, developed chants used during the first centuries of the Christian Church. These chants were later called Gregorian Chants. The Gregorian Chant is monophonic, which means it has one melodic line without an accompaniment. These serene chants were similar to today's folk music.
The earliest notations used in medieval music were known as neumes. Neumes were small marks placed above text to represent the shape" of the melody. Later in this period, music evolved to the use of two or more melodic lines, called polyphony. Polyphony was more difficult to arrange because a composer had to combine multiple melodic lines, creating harmonious sounds. Secular song was another important style of the era. Secular song was monophonic and stylistically diverse. It was strong, utilizing regular rhythms, and had short rhythmic patterns. However, only the important songs of the era were preserved for the history of music, such as melodies by Guillaume Dufay, the first known composer of the medieval era.
The name Renaissance, meaning rebirth, is descriptive of the period following the medieval era. Western music began during the Renaissance era, dating from 1400 to 1600. The musicians of this time were freer with their artistic expressions, casting aside the strict rules of the medieval era. Since new printing techniques were being developed, the music could be distributed and preserved. Sacred and secular music alike were important throughout this period in the history of music.
During this time, new instruments were invented. Two keyboard instruments, the clavichord and virginal, accompanied existing instruments, which were continually being enhanced. Renaissance polyphony was more harmonious than it's the rough medieval predecessor. Composers began utilizing imitation methods to make elaborate music more coherent. Imitative polyphony, which provided a sense of musical arrangement, was so important it became a cornerstone of the Baroque period.
The term Baroque comes from a Portuguese word meaning "a pearl of irregular shape." This describes the history of music between 1600 and 1750. Baroque music is often seen as ornate, textured and intense. This period has many unique characteristics, including the use of the basso continuo, a practice of creating accompaniments from bass notes and improvised harmonies. The period's belief in the doctrine of the affections allowed composers to freely express emotions. Baroque music placed strong emphasis on the contrast of volume and pacing. The opera and the orchestra both began during the Baroque period.
The early 1700s reflected a musical style known as Rococo. This romantic period allowed for greater freedom, experimentation and creativity. Artists began using their music to express cultural identities. They continued experimenting with new instruments, as well as figuring ways to get new sounds out of existing instruments. This style served as a transition from the Baroque to the Classical Era.
The Classical Period, from 1750 to 1820, caused a substantial shift in the history of music. In this period, composers stressed the clarity of music in regard to melodic expression. Orchestras, which emphasized the strength of instruments, became more interesting and flexible with the use of clarinets, flutes and oboes.
Music of the 20th century had a dualistic nature, fluctuating between neo-romanticism and neo-classicism. Currently, musicians are free to express themselves any way they would like through music. Today's artists use different mediums to create music; they lyrically rap, play the guitar and even utilize electronically-created sounds.
Over time, music has gone through many transformations, reflecting both the artists' and the listeners' musical tastes. Some like folk music while others enjoy listening to R&B. Throughout history, music has impacted many lives and it will continue to evolve, keeping up with the ever-changing demands of society. The history of music, however, would not be the same without those passionate individuals who fostered its change along the way.
"Musical training is a more potent instrument than any other because rhythm and harmony find their way into the secret places of the soul," the ancient philosopher Plato once stated.
Everyone enjoys listening to some form of music, whether classical or country. But where does this personal connection with music come from?
The history of music probably dates as far back as our primitive ancestors. Imagine cavemen beating sticks together and tapping rocks against the ground, creating rough melodies. Music has come a long way since this primitive beginning and is constantly evolving.
The modern history of music began in the medieval era, which dates from 800 to 1400. This is the longest and most remote period in the history of music, lasting almost 1,000 years. For the majority of the Middle Ages, the Catholic Church was the focal point of most people's lives. It shaped society's learning behaviors and artistic expressions.
St. Gregory, pope from 590 to 604, developed chants used during the first centuries of the Christian Church. These chants were later called Gregorian Chants. The Gregorian Chant is monophonic, which means it has one melodic line without an accompaniment. These serene chants were similar to today's folk music.
The earliest notations used in medieval music were known as neumes. Neumes were small marks placed above text to represent the shape" of the melody. Later in this period, music evolved to the use of two or more melodic lines, called polyphony. Polyphony was more difficult to arrange because a composer had to combine multiple melodic lines, creating harmonious sounds. Secular song was another important style of the era. Secular song was monophonic and stylistically diverse. It was strong, utilizing regular rhythms, and had short rhythmic patterns. However, only the important songs of the era were preserved for the history of music, such as melodies by Guillaume Dufay, the first known composer of the medieval era.
The name Renaissance, meaning rebirth, is descriptive of the period following the medieval era. Western music began during the Renaissance era, dating from 1400 to 1600. The musicians of this time were freer with their artistic expressions, casting aside the strict rules of the medieval era. Since new printing techniques were being developed, the music could be distributed and preserved. Sacred and secular music alike were important throughout this period in the history of music.
During this time, new instruments were invented. Two keyboard instruments, the clavichord and virginal, accompanied existing instruments, which were continually being enhanced. Renaissance polyphony was more harmonious than it's the rough medieval predecessor. Composers began utilizing imitation methods to make elaborate music more coherent. Imitative polyphony, which provided a sense of musical arrangement, was so important it became a cornerstone of the Baroque period.
The term Baroque comes from a Portuguese word meaning "a pearl of irregular shape." This describes the history of music between 1600 and 1750. Baroque music is often seen as ornate, textured and intense. This period has many unique characteristics, including the use of the basso continuo, a practice of creating accompaniments from bass notes and improvised harmonies. The period's belief in the doctrine of the affections allowed composers to freely express emotions. Baroque music placed strong emphasis on the contrast of volume and pacing. The opera and the orchestra both began during the Baroque period.
The early 1700s reflected a musical style known as Rococo. This romantic period allowed for greater freedom, experimentation and creativity. Artists began using their music to express cultural identities. They continued experimenting with new instruments, as well as figuring ways to get new sounds out of existing instruments. This style served as a transition from the Baroque to the Classical Era.
The Classical Period, from 1750 to 1820, caused a substantial shift in the history of music. In this period, composers stressed the clarity of music in regard to melodic expression. Orchestras, which emphasized the strength of instruments, became more interesting and flexible with the use of clarinets, flutes and oboes.
Music of the 20th century had a dualistic nature, fluctuating between neo-romanticism and neo-classicism. Currently, musicians are free to express themselves any way they would like through music. Today's artists use different mediums to create music; they lyrically rap, play the guitar and even utilize electronically-created sounds.
Over time, music has gone through many transformations, reflecting both the artists' and the listeners' musical tastes. Some like folk music while others enjoy listening to R&B. Throughout history, music has impacted many lives and it will continue to evolve, keeping up with the ever-changing demands of society. The history of music, however, would not be the same without those passionate individuals who fostered its change along the way.
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