History of Music

Music has many definitions according to webster music is the art of sound in the time that expresses ideas and emotions through the elements of rhythm, melody, or harmony. There are many theories regarding when the music form. Studies show that there are six periods of music and that each period has its style (Estrella 2001). Music comes from ancient Israel before the common era. King David sang a song called the psalms. Some parts of them are written in the psalms. 

Music, as we know it today, has a structure and form has begun in the 10 century with Gregorian singing. They are organized and detailed with soloist and small group sing “distinctive parts”.  Our music is more common than it starts around 1200 and that’s after that. The “Folk” began to emerge in parts of Europe. The composer’s appearance makes music and the invention of the instrument like the piano and the lute (Ezine 2005).

1750-1820 was known as a classic period in which piano become a preferred instrument. Mozart wrote his first Beach Symphony. Many of the symphonies that we enjoy today were written in this century. In 1900, a man named Scott Joplin published “Maple Leaf Rag” as the beginning of the music we know today as popular music. After that new forms of music came into effect. Early 1930 Jazz, Big band music 1940 (Fommy Dorsey, Duke Ellington) and music rock-and- roll 1950. (Ezine 2005)

The three-period we focused on are Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic, Contemporary. It is known to us today as the Opera, R & B, Rock, Hip Hop, Soul, etc. Music has been there for years. People everywhere are making their musical style. Each genre, sound, the melody is different.

Medieval music is dealing with the most historical period of music “Saint Gregory” was a treasury of great songs developed during the first temples in church. The term is gregorian. It is a whole of 590-604 and the medieval era of 1400. The difficulty with studying music in the middle ages was that the system for recording rhythms began in the 12th or 13th century. The Gregorian song is monophonic, meaning that music consists of only one melody line without accompaniment. The beauty of singing lies in a calm, wavy form of melody.

The renaissance is reflected by changing the role of composers in society. The music treasuring began to develop significantly. Now instruments were invented, including Klavichord and Virginal and existing instruments. Instrumental work usually consisted of polyphony works or dancing music.

Baroque music is often “highly ornate colorful and textural work”. The opera was born in the baroque era around 1600. Its unique combine from combines poetry, theater, visual art,  and music. The major opera was “Orfeo by Claudio Monteverdi” in 1607. The word classic has a strong meaning mixed with art and philosophy of ancient Greece and Rome. The classical hero changed the direction of writing more simple music to be understood. New forms of composition were developed to accommodate transformation.

The romantic period was “Virtuoso’s” days with specializing in pianist, violinist, and singer alike have become very popular. Romantic is affecting our culture. This style of music is known as romantic. (Wagner 1999)

Dr. Lozanov’s system involving using certain classical music pieces from the Baroque period which have around 60 beats per minute pattern. He has proven that foreign language can be learned with 85-100% efficiency in only thirty days by using these Baroque pieces. The essay above discusses how the history of music not only helped human beings but impacted their lives greatly to where we learn better and think better.