The music industry has in recent years witnessed tremendous growth especially following the advancement of technology and globalization of trade. The history of music dates back to the dark ages and has transformed itself over the years and its effect on society is currently being felt far and wide. This paper will discuss the history of music about the timeline and its effect on people and music.
The history of music
Medieval Era
This is the earliest time when music was composed also referred to as the middle age, characterized by the dominance of the Christian church which was the main influence of social life, learning, and work of art. It is also the period following the collapse of the Roman Empire, mostly regarded as the primitive era when the first monophonic notation codified by Saint Gregory was developed, which came to be called Gregory Chant (Sherrane para. 1).
Being a time when society was beginning to move away from naivety, determination led to the birth of polyphonic melody which was more rhythmic and pleasing to the listener. Although this era may not be significantly considered to have influenced the current state of music, it is the source of secular music that was preferred then due to its stylistic rhythm and notation. Moreover, only a few of the composers of this music have been recorded in history. Indeed, the only genres of music at the time were plain songs, secular music, and polyphony music which is regarded as the best achievement of the birth of music.
Renaissance Period
As the name suggests (rebirth), this is the era between 1400-1600 AD which is characterized by the awakening of human beings from the dark ages and the time when social life began to take shape. Creativity in the composition of songs was enhanced with both the sacred and secular music gaining popularity with the birth of secular madrigals being the main achievement. The rediscovery of artistic ideals enhanced the use of polyphonic styles to produce music that was more harmonious and imitative thus giving the listener a feeling of organized repertoire. It is during this time that social use of music such as in celebration was being given a facelift. The combination of both instrumentals and vocals brought about rhythms that not only changed the cultural inclinations but also the reforms to the application of art as noted by the contributions made by the then composers Bryd and Josquin. One characteristic difference with the medieval era is the preservation of the history of the development of music.
Baroque Age
The music of the current generation may be claimed to have stemmed from this era which is characterized by changes in the composition of music to address the emotions and feelings of the listeners and also the advancement in the use of volume, texture, and tone contrast in music. The 1600-1750 period of baroque showed deviation from the prior eras by producing music that was more intense, more melodic, and rhythmic and involved a lot more dancing. Both sacred and secular music was enhanced by the sophistication of instrumentation which included the use of keyboard and brass instruments. The era is also famous for its being the origin of opera and orchestra music both of which are still common today. Unlike the earlier periods, this era may be considered to have the most significance in the transformation of the culture through the work of art.
Classified period
The period between 1750 -1820 has been characterized by the production of music that emphasized on clarity of melodic expression and the broader use of instrumentation, increased use of homophonic tones, and further development of orchestra music. The concentration of development of music in this era was in Vienna where standard music that addressed the cultural ideologies of Europe was codified. The main developments in the music of this era were witnessed in the musical structures which involved shorter phrases and more compact and diatonic melodies. It was that was meant to strengthen the music developed in the baroque era to include a more elaborate sense of sentimentality and expressiveness
Romantic Era
In this period of 1820-1900 AD, music took a different direction from the one seen in classical music by establishing the element of subjectivity and freedom to the composers with emphasis on experimentation and creativity that required presentation of music that portrayed a romantic tone or style (Hurry and Day, p. 10). The elaborate use of dissonance, symphonic tone, and instrumental color gave leeway to the production of romantic music that not only comprised of meaningful themes but also music that was emotionally influenced the listeners. It is during this time that the themes of the day including politics, patriotism, religion, and other observable events were expressed musically, allowing the composers to use fantasy in their compositions (Music History para. 5)). Indeed, musicians became more intense and passionate in their performances to move the audience. The combination of passion and instruments like pianos, violins, keyboards, and percussion instruments gave changed the perception of the audience on music to a more entertaining perspective.
Twentieth Century
The 20th-century music as seen today is complex and hard to define with finality. Many transformations in society since the turn of the 20th century have occurred which have reshaped the use and composition of music. Although the current music may be claimed to be more refined and elaborate, it is more or less freestyle with richness in expression and instrumentation. Moreover, the social life of the current generation has been greatly advanced by music especially during the social revolution periods of the mid 20th century. Technology has also enhanced the composition and application of music with recordings and instrumentations being currently done in real-time. Finally, the current trend in music is not only showing enhanced entertainment and sacred usage, but also the positive transformation of the society in terms of peace brokering, economic empowerment, and behavioral adjustment. Moreover, according to Weissman, Jermance, and Desantis, Perkins, and Wangler (2003 p 10), the music industry has witnessed the most successful in the recent times with broadcasts and recording taking a global outlook.
Works Cited
Huray, Peter Le and Day, James. Music and aesthetics in the eighteenth and early-nineteenth centuries. CUP Archive. 1988.
Music History. “Music History.” Think Quest. 2009. Web.
Sherrane Robert. “Music History; a Guide to western composers and their music.” IPL: The Internet Public Library. Web.
Weissman, Dick et al. Navigating the music industry: current issues and business models. NY, Routledge. 2003.