HISTORY OF MUSIC
Musical Eras
Music History is divided into different periods or eras
Music History is linked closely with European History
Each Era or period in Music history has its own set of values – aspects of music that were most
important to the musicians and composers at that time.
The orchestra grows steadily through each Musical Era
There are Eras in Music History
1. MEDIEVAL 700-1400
2. RENAISSANCE 1400-1600
3. BAROQUE 1600-1750
4. CLASSICAL 1750-1820
5. ROMANTIC 1820-1900
6. MODERN 1900- present
(Technically, Music composed from 1990 to present is regarded as POST MODERN)
Medieval 700-1400
Monophonic style of music
Plain chants
Neumes- the earliest signs of notational system (Latin)
Three style of chants
Syllabic
Neumatic
Melismatic
Types of music:
Sacred music – church was thefocal point of social life, learningand the arts
Gregorian Chant- from Pope Gregory the Great
Secular music- stylistic, more diversified than plain song, it was stronger and utilized rhythm
RENAISSANCE
IT MEANS REBIRTH- ARTISTIC GROWTH,CULTURAL AWAKENING, GREAT INTELLECTUAL ACHIEVEMENT
AND SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY
KNOWN AS “ GOLDEN AGE OF VOCAL POLYPHONY” “ MANY SOUNDS”
Renaissance 1400-1600
Most of the music from this time is associated with either the church or the castle court.
Music from this time emphasizes the vocal parts
There were few instruments (NO orchestra)
Types of music:
Madrigals (a song for a choir)
Dances
Music for the Catholic Mass
ACAPELLA – VOICE WITHOUT ACCOMPANIMENT
GIOVANNI PIERLUIGI DA PALESTRINA-
ITALIAN COMPOSER
THOMAS MORLEY
“ THE FATHER OF ENGLISH MADRIGAL”
Renaissance – Listening Examples
Listen Carefully the following examples from Renaissance Music
1. Palestrina – madrigal
2. Instrumental music from a Medieval Castle Court
Baroque 1600-1750
Baroque is the word used to describe the highly decorative and extravagant style of artistry at this
time
In music, it marks the beginning of the orchestra
Music focused on harmony and was complicated and decorative
Instrumental music becomes more popular
Types of Music
Cantatas (for choirs and instrumentalists)
Concertos (for orchestra)
Overtures (for orchestra)
Ritornello Form (where a theme keeps returning in the music)
Oratorios – Large musical work for orchestra
Baroque – Beginning of the orchestra
COMPOSER
JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH
“FATHER OF GERMAN CANTATA” – SACRED OR SECULAR NARRATIVE SONG DELIVERED WITH
INSTRUMENTAL ACCOMPANIMENT
GEORGE FRIEDRICH HANDEL
GREATEST ORATORIO COMPOSER “THE MESSIAH”
Baroque – Listening Examples
Listen Carefully the following examples from Baroque Music
1. Hallelujah Chorus from Handel‟s Messiah
Classical 1750-1820
A time of new ideas and new ways of thinking
Music focuses on structure and precision, balance and control
Piano started to take over from the harpsichord
Music is neat, elegant with clear structures
Orchestra begins to develop and grow
Types of music
Symphony (music written for an orchestra)
Sonata form (music written for a solo instrument with three sections)
Opera (music drama written for voice and orchestra)
Classical – Growth of the Orchestra
1. Timponi 7. Double Basses
2. Flutes 8. Violas
3. French horns 9. Violins
4. Oboe 10. Conductor
5. Trumpets 11. Celli
6. Bassoons
Composer
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The Greatest Musical Genius of All Time
Franz Joseph Haydn
Father of Symphony Orchestra
Ludwig Van Beethoven
The Bridge to the Romantic Period
Classical – Listening examples
1. Mozart‟s piano concerto No 21 in C major
2. Haydn‟s 45th Symphony, first movement
3. A string quarter by Mozart
4. A song from Mozart‟s opera „The Marriage of Figaro‟
Romantic 1820-1920
Romantic composers reacted against the control of the Classics
Expression and Emotionare central to Romantic music
Rich harmonies Massive melodies that take over the music
Orchestra grows with more new instruments
Types of music
Programme music
Symphonies including
Choral Symphonies
Tone poem (music written for an orchestra based on a poem)
Art Songs (a poem set to music written for the voice and another instrument) including German
lied
Ballet and Opera develop
Romantic - expansion of the orchestra
Romantic Period Orchestra Seating Chart
1. Percussion 8. Oboes
2. Harps 9. Violas
3. French horns 10. Trumpets
4. Flutes and Piccolo 11. Trombones
5. Violins 12. Bassoons
6. Tuba 13. Double basses
7. Clarinets 14. Celli
Composer
1. Frederic Francois Chopin
2. Franz Liszt
3. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
4. Franz Peter Schubert
5. Giuseppe Verdi
6. Robert Schumann
Romantic – Listening Examples
Tchaikovsky‟s Romeo and Juliet Overture
Schumann‟s Lieder „Sanger‟s Trost‟
Modern – 1920 presents
Music from the Modern Era started to experiment with sound and mix all different
types of music together
Harmonies have clashing sounds called discords
Fragments of melodies (a reaction against the Romantics)
Unfamiliar sounds on orchestral instruments
Types of music
Impressionism
Expressionism
Neoclassicism
Unusual harmonies and rhythms
Listening examples: Modern Era
1. ‘The Rite of Spring‟ ballet by Igor Stravinsky.
When this was first performed there were RIOTS
outside the opera house because of its strange
harmonies and rhythms.
2. Cello Sonata by Kodaly
Modern Full Orchestra
Modern Music
This listening example is called „Red Shoes‟ by the Irish composer Marian Ingoldsby.
Post modern era
NEW STYLES OF MUSIC
ROCK N‟ ROLL
R N‟ B
NEW WAVE
COUNTRY MUSIC
HIP HOP
RAP
ACOUSTICS ETc.
