3 Periods of Past Music

Middle Ages 450-1450
In the middle ages, church served as an important patron of the arts, specifically music. Music was integrated into Christian worship. Notating music was a difficult and time consuming process, so it was not until about the ninth century that a basic system of notation was developed. Cathedrals and monasteries are the only places where notating music can be done on a regular basis. The daily liturgy provided innumerable text, all set to music in the style known as Gregorian chant. The practice of polyphonic singing dates back to the ninth century as well. From the thirteenth century on, the primary focus of composers was polyphony and its development.

Renaissance 1450-1600
During the renaissance period, music moved from the science of number to an expressive art viewed as an equal to rhetoric and the arts became an important measure of learning and culture. In this time period music printing was rapidly rising which increased the availability of music and books on music. Travel and the resulting musical exchange became a driving force for the creation of a more international musical style.

Baroque 1600-1750
Composers of the Baroque period experimented with ways of creating impressive effects. Musicians also believed that music could move the listener in a real and physical way. New instrumental forms, such as the concerto and sonata developed and these new and extravagant styles served as a rich adornment to religious services in both catholic and protestant traditions.

Works Cited:
"Essentials of Music."www.essentialsofmusic.com.2001.21 June 2009<http://www.essentialsofmusic.com> (Under Musical Context)

Influence of Music on Self and Society

Throughout history the language of music has exerted powerful influences on individuals and societies. “Felix Mendelssohn once remarked that music is more specific about what it expresses than words written about those expressions could ever be.” There is no question as to whether music has the power to express, convey and illicit powerful emotions. In fact, most music is written based on a person’s emotions. The artist usually conveys their emotions in their lyrics. “Ancient cultures held strong beliefs in the moral and ethical power of music and as such it was imperative for artists within those cultures to exercise a certain moral and ethical responsibility in their creative endeavors.” David Eaton feels that “any thinking, caring, probing musician should seriously contemplate a series of questions regarding music's origins, its spiritual, religious and mystical properties, its moral and ethical power, its transcendent qualities, the role of the arts and artists and the importance of art in general, and music in particular.”

Works Cited:

Eaton, David. "The Influence of Music on Self and Society."www.tparents.org. July 2003. 20 June 2009<http://www.tparents.org/library/unification/talks/eaton/eaton_influence.htm>

The American Jukebox Listening Experience

The jukebox was extremely important in America’s music listening history. ‘Juke’ came from the African American term ‘jook’ or to dance. Juke boxes provided music and endless entertainment for years in burger joints or places of public gathering. You’d ‘drop the nickel in the jukebox’, punch it the appropriate code for your song, and it’d be playing in seconds. In 1950, jukeboxes began playing 45 rpm records, rather than 78 rpm. Wall boxes eventually became popular at diners, small devices for customers to have private selection of their own songs.

1937 Wurlitzer Jukebox

http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/history-of-the-jukebox-579733.html
http://www.history-of-rock.com/history_of_the_jukebox.htm

Instrument Development

From Primitive to Ancient, from Medieval to Renaissance, and Colonial to Contemporary musical; instruments have changed and transformed along with the civilizations and musicians who play and enjoy them. Some intresting examples of past instruments are lyres and pan pipes in Greece, Egyptian harps made out of tortoise shell, exotic Indian sitars, didgeridoos in aboriginal Australia and handmade banjos made by hands of African American slaves from garden gourds. People were inventive to create new and fresh sound.

Three instruments which especially permeate American music today are important to consider their pasts. The piano, guitar and drum.

Piano - The first piano, or stringed keyboard instrument as we know it today, first appeared in the early 18th century in Italy and was created by Bartolomeo Cristofori.

Guitar- The guitar has Spanish origins, although to begin it only had four strings. The five string guitar with the standard tuning of A D G B E is not seen until the Italian Renaissance.

Drums- Drums are ancient instruments which had varying uses other than creating music, communication and ceremonial. Primitively they were made out of hollow logs with animal hides and sinew stretched across. West Africans used “talking drums”, waisted drums that could be beaten for communication between tribes. Drums were used in war, like seen here a Civil War drum and fife band.

http://www.guyguitars.com/eng/handbook/BriefHistory.html
http://www.essentialvermeer.com/music/musicimages/egypt.jpg
http://www.geocities.com/cwfifedrum/

A Brief History of Audio Recording

Remember that sound is the movement of vibrations in air. To fully understand the transition of musical technology one must consider the scientific history of audio recording.

Exploring the Past, Present and Future of Music Technology

Music, like everything evolving along with man, is on a constant course of change. But lately, the traditional music industry and recording have been shifting in an alarming way as things are becoming increasingly, and to some, overwhelmingly digital. As music drifts further from the real, live musician to listener experience and closer to solely the computer screen and iPod ear bud, it will influence musicians, the recording industry, listeners and hopefully not, the music itself. To fully understand the transition of musical technology one must consider everything including musical history, instruments, recording industries, etc.

Join us in our blog to analyze the science, art and societal influences in the technological transition of MUSIC. Exploring the past, present and future, we hope to embrace both music and technology.

(Posted by Chelsea Pursell)

Final Three Eras in Music History

The other three eras in the history of music are labeled as Classical, Romantic and 20th Century.
"Although the Classical Era lasted for only 70 years, there was a substantial change in the music that was being produced. Classical music placed a greater stress on clarity with regard to melodic expression and instrumental color. Although opera and vocal music (both sacred and secular) were still being written, orchestral literature was performed on a much broader basis. The orchestra gained more color and flexibility as clarinets, flutes, oboes, and bassoons became permanent members of the orchestra."
"The Romantic era was a period of great change and emancipation. While the Classical era had strict laws of balance and restraint, the Romantic era moved away from that by allowing artistic freedom, experimentation, and creativity. The music of this time period was very expressive, and melody became the dominant feature. While new instruments were constantly being added to the orchestra, composers also tried to get new or different sounds out of the instruments already in use."
" With the coming of the 20th century another evolution in the musical world emerged. While some of the early 20th century music can be seen as extensions of the late Romantic style, much of 20th century music can be seen as a rebellion. Composers did not look to build on what was standard but again created music freely and used sounds that went against the current grain. Twentieth century music can be described as being more refined, vague in form, delicate, and having a mysterious atmosphere."