The movement in mindset toward reason and progress during the eighteenth century culminated in questioning the power of social and religious structures. This shift in perspective resulted in a focus on development and the notion that rational thinking was the best foundation for human behavior. The middle class fought for their rights in opposition to the entitlements of the aristocracy and clergy (Kamien & Kamien, 2021). This resulted in significant cultural changes, which affected the evolution of music. Classical music was distinguished by its simplicity and clarity, concentrating on pleasant tune and unpretentious rhythm rather than a rigid polyphonic resemblance.
The lives of the Classical period’s three prominent composers, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven, mirror these cultural transformations. Mozart’s burial was in an unblemished common tomb in a bag, representing the trend away from costly religious rites. Haydn worked for the Esterházy family, who gave him a steady job and allowed him to focus on his work. Beethoven had a long-term problem with hearing loss and interpersonal relationships, which may have influenced his music. These composers may have changed cultural perceptions of music by defying established genres. Haydn, for example, is credited with inventing the symphony and string quartet forms (Kamien & Kamien, 2021). Overall, Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven’s lives and works represent the significant sociopolitical transformations of the Classical period.
The twentieth century’s technical advances tremendously influenced the expression and transmission of music. Due to advancements in recording technology, such as recording tape, music was made and sold on a big scale, making it easier to get to broader listeners (Hua, n.d.). This resulted in the birth of new genres, such as jazz, blues, and rock & roll, which would have been impossible to promote if recorded music had not been available.
The emergence of rock & roll, the discovery of the electric guitar, and the invention of multi-track recording are among the twentieth-century events and technology that have had the greatest enduring effect on music history, in my opinion. They transformed the way music was generated and played. The appearance of rock and roll gave birth to new musical styles and genres. At the same time, the introduction of the electric guitar and multi-track recording encouraged greater creativity and melodic inventiveness.
References
Hua, J. (n.d.). The impact of technology on the musical experience. The College Music Society. Web.
Kamien, R., & Kamien, A. (2021). Music: An appreciation. McGraw-Hill Companies.