“Music – that’s been my education. There’s not a day that goes by that I take it for granted.”- Billie Joe Armstrong, Greenday
Music has been part of everyone’s lives. Music has been with us even before the day we were born. It’s like our connection to other people, a hidden interest inside us that’s waiting to be discovered, to be uncovered as soon as we hear the first notes of a song. That’s why I believe that music is a universal language.
The birth of music is unknown. Some say that the earliest forms of music would probably be from percussions because “drum-like” objects such as sticks and stones, can be found anywhere, especially during the dark ages. Music back then is used to honor gods, and it is usually accompanied by certain rituals, such as killing animals as an offering. During that time, Flutes from animal bones are also used. One example of this is the Japanese shakuhachi. According to studies, India has the oldest musical tradition in the world, while China has the largest collection of Pre-historic musical instruments, dating back to 1400 BC. Music evolution was slow. During 4000 BCE, Egyptians were believed to have invented stringed instruments. As time goes on, more and more musical instruments are discovered or invented that are now being improved and created to be less complicated.
Just like the usual forms of art, such as painting, architecture, and sculpture, music is different on every era. Let’s start during the rise of ancient Greece.
Marriage, religious ceremonies, or even during funerals, music plays a vital role in every Greeks life during the ancient times. Theater performances and poem recitals are popular during ancient Greece, with the accompaniment of music, this gives even more entertainment and joy for the audience. Greek music was believed to be developed from their mythology. One popular story is about Orpheus, a legendary musician that is believed to calm wild beasts through his music.
Popular musical instruments during ancient Greece includes a Lyre, a stringed instrument usually made with tortoise shell frame. Kithara, a stringed instrument and more complicated than a lyre. A Hydraulis, a keyboard instrument. It is believed that the idea of the modern organ came from the hydraulis.
Next is the medieval ages. As we all know, during this era, Roman Catholicism was on the rise. This is where music started to be used during chants and songs inside the church, which are called as Gregorian chant. Liturgical, monophonic, and Polyphonic began to develop during this time. This era is where composers also became popular. popular composer during the medieval era includes Gillaume Dufay, Giovanni da Palestrina, Thomas Morley and Orlando de Lassus. Instruments during this time are mostly woodwind. examples of instruments during the middle ages are the following: flute, can be used as a side or end-blown instrument. A recorder, usually used during marriages and funerals. A gemshorn, made from the horn of a goat or other suitable animal.
Stringed instruments such as Lute, mandore, gittern, and psaltery are also introduced during this era.
The renaissance period. during this period, the printing press was invented, which made creating, and spreading music faster, spreading music to more larger areas. During this era, the number of choirs and musicians grew to a lager number. Church became the center of musical inspiration. The demand for musical entertainment and music for educational purposes increased, resulting to more musicians. more instruments from brass, strings, woodwinds and percussion were also introduced during this era. From the name itself, it is the period of rebirth, renewal, and invention of new things.
1600-1750, The era of baroque style. Music during this time was more developed and improved. Operas became popular and Contrapuntal music were introduced. Music forms such as the Sonata and Concerto were also introduced during this period. Popular music composers during this era includes George Handel and Johann Bach.
Music from the classical period, was inspired by the music from ancient Greece and Rome. it has more balance, and much more simpler form. Instrumental music became more popular during this era. Barque style of music, specifically as the concerto and sonata evolved. New musical forms such as String, Trio, String quartet, Divertimento, and Serenade were introduced. The most popular introduction during this period was the rise of public concerts, where Wolfgang Mozart and Ludwig van Beethoven was discovered and through their musical prowess, became gods of musical concerts in an instant.
Romantic music was introduced during the Romanticism era. Music became more expressive and emotional. Old musical genres, forms and styles were improved. Ballet was introduced and Opera was further developed. Musical comedy, another form of musical theater, together with operatta was introduced to the public. The number of orchestra members increased and operas, concerts, and other theater performances became part of the lives of the elite.
Music nowadays can be categorized into its genre and sub-genre. As time goes, more genres are created. There are so many genres today that you can’t identify what’s the difference between this genre from that genre, because they sound almost alike. Music is a vast collection of art. In my opinion, a human’s life span won’t even be enough to explore everything that involves music.
In this generation, from what I see, the most popular music genres are Rock (Pop punk, Alternative rock) Pop, and Hip hop. You music taste would even be your ticket to judgment from other people, or maybe even your own friends. Your music taste is now a requirement from gaining a circle of friends. This is where the “popular” quote enters, “If we don’t have the same taste in music, we can’t be friends”.
At an early age, my classmates would sing songs from boybands like Backstreet boys or N’sync, but not me. I’d rather headbang to Blink-182 and Sum 41. I may have a different taste in music, but this doesn’t give me a reason to downgrade other people. As I said, music is vast. Explore other forms of music. Do not limit yourself.
Charies Joy D. Junsay
Sources:
Wikipedia.org/wiki/Music
Google.com (Images)
MusicTheory.Org
cmc humanities 