eras of music

A glance at music’s history

Eras of Music

There are 7 well-known eras of music history:1. Ancient (Prehistoric time – 200 AD)2. Medieval (200 – 1400 AD)3. Renaissance (1400 – 1600 AD)4. Baroque (1600 – 1750 AD)5. Classical (1750 – 1820 AD)6. Romantic (1820 – 1900 AD)7. 20th Century (1900 – Present day)

The Seven Eras

Music Development: Rhythms were imitations of human

movement – chanting, clapping, stomping, etc.

Imitations of Nature – birds, ocean, rain, caves, etc.

Spontaneous vocal expression of emotion – anger, fear, anguish, joy, etc.

Communication – drums, trumpets, horns, bones

Ancient Music (Prehistoric-200AD)

Proof of Music:Cave drawingsInstruments have been found – whistles,

drums, bones, sticksOral and written stories have been

passed down from generation to generation


Why Music Was Created:Accompany rituals or ceremonies –

dances, births, deaths, hunting, marriage, religion, etc.

Tells a storyExpresses emotion and communication Magical powers – thought to affect

character, life and well-being


The Greeks:They developed one of the first notation systemsCreated first music festival in 586 B.C.The words “music”, “rhythm”, “harmony”, and

“cymbal” are all Greek wordsProven instruments by Greeks: Lyre and the

Kithara (small harps), Syrinx (panpipes), Tympanon (timpani), and Hydraulus (water organ).

Oldest complete piece of music in history: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KRnAKzFMhk&feature=related http://www.amaranthpublishing.com/SongOfSeikilos.htm


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KRnAKzFMhk&feature=related

http://www.amaranthpublishing.com/SongOfSeikilos.htm

General Facts & Historical Events:Civilizations become more distinct and

established1209 – St. Francis of Assisi forms order of

brotherhood1271 – Marco Polo begins journey to the Orient1337 – Beginning of the 100 year war between

France and England1347 – Black Death: 75 million people died.

(1/3 of the world population!!)1364 – Aztecs build capital city of Tenochtitlan

Medieval (200 – 1400 AD)

Music Facts:We begin to divide into different styles

of music according to different locationsWestern music (Europe) develops

around 300 ADThe music of the Roman church

becomes the basis for Western music.


Chant Music:600 AD Pope Gregory I collected chants and arranged

them in the order they are sung today.Chant was also known as “Plainchant”It was notated by Guido d’Arzzo (who also created

Solfege). Then, the staff had 4 lines and square note heads.

Chant was A Cappella and sung in unison It was sung in Latin, which was the text from the BibleNo printing press, only one large song book for

everyone900 AD music became more elaborate and 2-part

developed.


Sacred vs. Secular (Religious music vs. Non-Religious music):Common themes in secular music:

Emotions – loveDaily life – farming

How music was used:To express emotionsFor entertainmentTo praise God.


Composers:AnonymousPerotinLeonin


Instruments:Use of instruments:

To imitate voices (Sacred)Used for dances (Secular)

Instruments:Lutes – early guitarsHarpsStrings (cellos, violin)RecordersDulcimer [a Zither, played with lightweight

hammers or sometimes by plucking the strings]


*CLASS ACTIVITY* You will create your own notation system with a partner: You live in a time when music has never been written down You must create your own notation system; you can’t use the staff or notes

that we use today. The symbols that you choose should be based on the theme for your song. Please provide a title for your made-up song. You will NEATLY draw your form of music notation.RUBRIC (50 points):10 points – display long/short note values10 points – high/low pitches10 points – artistry & legibilty5 points – display a Key that defines the symbols 5 points – rests 5 points – originality5 points – title


Historical Events:1431 – Joan of Arc burned at the stake1455 – Printing Press was invented1475 – Michaelangelo was born1492 – Columbus discovers America1500 – First pencil was invented1517 – Martin Luther posts 95 theses1553 – Violin began to further develop1564 – Shakespeare was born

Renaissance (1400 – 1600 AD)

General Facts:After the Dark Ages, this was the period

of enlightenment [clarification, discoveries]

Renaissance means “Rebirth” There was more artistic freedom


Instruments:Violin was developedLute was at the height of popularityBagpipes were created and played on

Scottish battlefieldsClavichord was developed (early piano)Instruments were used for dance musicInstruments began to improvise


Vocal Music:Chant was still used in church and by monksMass was created (the sung parts of our Mass –

Eucharistic Liturgy)Motets – are Italian sacred piecesChansons – are French secular songsSecular music began to sing about courtly love

(which was a new idea in music)Women made music outside of church and

were gradually allowed to sing in church. Men’s voices imitated women’s (they sang with

Falsetto)


Composers:William ByrdGiovanni GabrielliGiovanni PalestrinaJohn Dowland


Ars Nova (“New Art”):CreativityImprovisationComposers emphasized human emotionsMusic became more lively and up-beatPolyphony was developed (music with multiple

melodies)


Historical Events:1609 – Galileo made the first

observations with a telescope1620 – Mayflower arrived in America1705 – Virginia Act established public

education

Baroque (1600 – 1750 AD)

General Facts:People were either really wealthy or

really poor (there was no Middle Class)Lifestyles became more elaborate

(fancy)There was a rise in drama, theater,

painting, architecture, and music (entertainment)

Baroque (1600 – 1750 AD)

Music Facts:Sharp dynamic contrastsThe livelihood of musicians started to come

from the publicOpera was inventedMusic became ornateMusic expressed emotion (even in Church

music)Piano was invented, but wasn’t yet popularOpera and other performances became

accessible to the general publicBrass instruments used more often

Baroque (1600 – 1750 AD)

Composers: J.S. Bach

Composed for the church Played the organ and violin Wrote music for organ and keyboards Had 20 children, 5 became musicians Composed “Toccata and Fugue in D Minor” and “Jesu, Joy of Man’s

Desiring” Antonio Vivaldi

Ordained priest Nickname – “The Red Priest” due to his bright red hair Wrote 40 operas, and 500 concertos Played the violin Primarily wrote music for strings (violin solos) Wrote “The Four Seasons”

George Frederic Handel Played clavichord Composed for the church Wrote for orchestra and choir Composed “Messiah” (3 sections depicting 3 events of Jesus’ life) Wrote “Water Music” (was written for King George I)

Baroque (1600 – 1750 AD)

Instruments:Harpsichord and strings are the most popular

instruments Instrument families were combined to form smaller

groupsComposers wrote solos for instrumentsDance music was popular (Gigue – lively tempo . Waltz –

slow, stately tempo)Type s of Keyboards:

Organ, Harpsichord, and ClavichordTypes of Works:

Fugue – music for keyboardsChamber music – music for string instruments (mainly), or for

small orchestrasSymphony – music for large orchestrasOpera – solo singers and orchestra; Tells a storyOratorio – music for choir and orchestra. Tells a sacred story

Baroque (1600 – 1750 AD)

Historical Events:1750 – Benjamin Franklin discovers

electricity1765 – First steam engine 1773 – Boston Tea Party1781 – Revolutionary War ends1803 – Louisiana Purchase

Classical (1750 – 1820 AD)

General Facts:Rise of democracyHistory was officially recordedFirst vaccine is developedDiscovered Oxygen, Hydrogen, and

electricity


Music Facts:Melodies are strong and easy to hum or

sing along withPiano becomes popularOpera was very popularTrumpet has keys (valves)Austria and Italy become important

music centersMusic is light, elegant, and funBallet begins and becomes popular


Composers:Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Child prodigyBegan playing piano at age 3Began composing at age 4 and touring by age 7Composed an opera at the age of 12Wrote string quartets, 12 operas, and 41 symphoniesWrote “The Magic Flute” – comic opera“A Little Night Music” – sonata

Joseph HaydenComposed 107 symphonies“Farewell Symphony” – at the end, musicians left the stage one by

one“Surprise Symphony” – wanted to wake people up with

Ludwig van BeethovenHis music bridges the gap between Classical music and Romantic

music


Types of Works:Opera: comic and serious (has a full orchestra,

choir, and solos)Sonata: small ensemble with solo instrumentsConcerto: full orchestra with a main soloist Symphony: full orchestra (larger than

Baroque’s symphony orchestra)String Quartet: made up of 2 violins, 1 viola,

and 1 cello


Historical Events:1828 – First passenger and freight railroad1835 – Mark Twain is born1836 – Texas wins its’ independence from Mexico1837 – Music Education begins in Boston1844 – YMCA founded1860 – Abraham Lincoln becomes president 1861 – Civil War begins1864 – Slavery ends1874 – First American Zoo in Philadelphia1876 – National Baseball League founded1900 – Radio waves transmit human voice/speech

Romantic (1820 – 1900AD)

General Facts:Difficult political times in Europe

(because of democracy)Pianos have become common in homesSlavery ends in AmericaNationality music becomes popularImpressionistic art becomes popular

(less detail, more mood/emotion)


Music Facts:Greater variety of instruments, especially

woodwindsMelodies are longerMusic becomes more dramatic and emotionalTempos and dynamics are more extremeProgram music becomes popular – music

portrays events or tells a storyOpera becomes very popularMusicals begin to be written (lighter version of

opera)France and Russia become strong music

centers


Instruments:Brass instruments have valves and

become more popularPiano becomes the dominant instrumentOrchestra gets largerNew woodwinds invented (oboe and

saxophone)Virtuosos became popular (exceptional soloists)


Composers:Ludwig van Beethoven: German; began going

deaf in his early 30’s; composed for piano and orchestras; composed “Fur Elise”, “Moonlight Sonata”, “9th Symphony”, and “5th Symphony”

Chopin: pianist Shubert: composed Art SongsRobert & Claire Schumann: married couple, both

were pianistsWagner: composed OperasTchaikovsky: composed Ballets and Symphonies.

Wrote “The Nutcracker” and “The


(Composers continued)Brahms: pianistVerdi: composed OperaFaure: composed Art SongsSousa: composed Marches


Types of Works:BalletOperaSymphonyConcertoSymphonic Poem (Program Music)Art Song – vocal solo, emphasis on the

story


Historical Events:1914 – World War I1920 – Women gain the right to vote1929 – Stock market crashes, Great Depression

begins1939 – WWII1959 – Alaska and Hawaii become states1961 – First astronaut in space1965 – U.S. sends troops to Vietnam1969 – Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin walk on

the moon1989 – Berlin wall was torn down2001 – September 11th attack on the World Trade

Center and Pentagon

20th Century (1900 – Present)

General Facts:Technology is created and advances

rapidly Light bulb (electricity)RadioTelevisionComputersPersonal computers


Global Communication & Transportation:TelephoneRadio & TelevisionComputers – email & internetAutomobileAirplane


Music Facts:World music is greatly influenced by global

communication and transportationSound recording industry createdGap grows between classical and popular

musicElectric instruments are created (main reason

for large gap between classical and popular music)

All sounds are possible – very experimental (no rules for composing music)

Dissonance is added in large amounts to classical music

America and Britain become a strong music influence


Instruments:Player pianoElectric guitarElectric keyboards (piano & organ)Synthesizers (electric keyboards that imitate

multitudes of sounds)Electric woodwindsMixers


Composers:Scott Joplin: father of ragtimeGeorge Gershwin: took jazz to the concert hallAaron Copland: classical, orchestral, and folk musicLeonard Bernstein: orchestral, jazz influencedDuke Ellington: father of swing music Igor Stravinsky: classical, orchestral musicRogers & Hamerstein: musicals, musical theater

production John Rutter: choral musicAndrew Lloyd Weber: musicals (Phantom of the Opera,

Cats, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamcoatElvis: blues, early rock


(composers continued):Beatles: rock n’ rollMichael Jackson: rock/popMadonna: popU2: rockRolling Stones: rockB.B. King: bluesPearl Jam: grunge


Styles of Music:OrchestralChoral & vocalOperaRevolutionaryFolk (tells a story)Blues (African American)Gospel (African American Christian)Rock N’ RollJazz (African American)Country


eras of music

Documents

secular music

adchant music

adthe music

words music

music festival

ad proof of music

everyone900 ad music

bonesancient music prehistoric