Early History of Music

EARLY HISTORY OF MUSIC
By: Romuel Joseph Pacba

Humanities 3: ART APPRECIATION
Music is found in every known culture, past and present, varying widely between times and places. Since
all people of the world, including the most isolated tribal groups, have a form of music, it may be concluded
that music is likely to have been present in the ancestral population prior to the dispersal of humans around
the world
 Pre-historic Music
 Ancient Music
 Medieval Music (476 – 1400)
 Renaissance Music (1400 – 1660)
 Baroque Music (1600 – 1760)
 Classical Music (1730 – 1820)
 Romantic Music (1815 – 1910)
PRE-HISTORIC MUSIC
Prehistoric music, once more commonly called primitive music, is the name given to all music produced in
preliterate cultures, beginning somewhere in very late geological history. Prehistoric music is followed by
ancient music in different parts of the world, but still exists in isolated areas. However, it is more common
to refer to the "prehistoric" music which still survives as folk, indigenous or traditional music.
ANCIENT MUSIC
The prehistoric age is considered to have ended with the development of writing, and with it, by definition,
prehistoric music. "Ancient music" is the name given to the music that followed. Ancient music is music
that developed in literate cultures, replacing prehistoric music. Ancient music refers to the various musical
systems that were developed across various geographical regions such as Mesopotamia, India, Persia,
Egypt, China, Greece and Rome. Ancient music is designated by the characterization of the basic notes and
scales. It may have been transmitted through oral or written systems.
MEDIEVAL MUSIC
Medieval music consists of songs, instrumental pieces, and liturgical music from about 500 A.D. to 1400.
Medieval music was an era of Western music, including liturgical music (also known as sacred) used for
the church, and secular music, non-religious music. Medieval music includes solely vocal music, such as
Gregorian chant and choral music (music for a group of singers), solely instrumental music, and music that
uses both voices and instruments (typically with the instruments accompanying the voices)
RENAISSANCE MUSIC
Renaissance music is vocal and instrumental music written and performed in Europe during the Renaissance
era. As in the other arts, the music of the period was significantly influenced by the developments which
define the Early Modern period: the rise of humanistic thought; the recovery of the literary and artistic
heritage of Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome; increased innovation and discovery; the growth of
commercial enterprises; the rise of a bourgeois class; and the Protestant Reformation. From this changing
society emerged a common, unifying musical language, in particular, the polyphonic style (this means
music with multiple, independent melody lines performed simultaneously)
BAROQUE PERIOD
Baroque Music is a style of Western art music composed from approximately 1600 to 1750.[1] This era
followed the Renaissance music era, and was followed in turn by the Classical era. Baroque music forms a
major portion of the "classical music" canon, being nowadays widely studied, performed, and listened to.
The Baroque period saw the creation of tonality, an approach to writing music in which a song or piece is
written in a particular key (tonality continues to be used in almost all Western popular music). During the
Baroque era, professional musicians were expected to be accomplished improvisers of both solo melodic
lines and accompaniment parts.
CLASSICAL PERIOD
The music of the Classical period is characterized by homophonic texture, or an obvious melody with
accompaniment. These new melodies tended to be almost voice-like and singable, allowing composers to
actually replace singers as the focus of the music. Instrumental music therefore quickly replaced opera and
other sung forms (such as oratorio) as the favorite of the musical audience and the epitome of great
composition. However, opera did not disappear: during the classical period, several composers began
producing operas for the general public in their native languages
ROMANTIC PERIOD
Romantic music is a period of Western classical music that began in the late 18th or early 19th century. In
the Romantic period, music became more expressive and emotional, expanding to encompass literary,
artistic, and philosophical themes.

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What are the different periods of music discussed in the passage?

What characterizes music of the Classical period?

EARLY HISTORY OF MUSIC

By: Romuel Joseph Pacba

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