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Reviewer Evolution of Music

The document outlines the evolution of music from the Medieval period (450-1450) through to the Modern period (1900-present), highlighting key characteristics, styles, and notable composers of each era. It discusses the transition from monophonic Gregorian chants to polyphony in the Medieval era, the creative freedom of the Renaissance, the ornamentation and complexity of Baroque music, the structural innovations of the Classical period, the emotional expression of the Romantic period, and the technological advancements in 20th-century music. Each section includes examples of significant works and instruments that defined the respective periods.

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4 views8 pages

Reviewer Evolution of Music

The document outlines the evolution of music from the Medieval period (450-1450) through to the Modern period (1900-present), highlighting key characteristics, styles, and notable composers of each era. It discusses the transition from monophonic Gregorian chants to polyphony in the Medieval era, the creative freedom of the Renaissance, the ornamentation and complexity of Baroque music, the structural innovations of the Classical period, the emotional expression of the Romantic period, and the technological advancements in 20th-century music. Each section includes examples of significant works and instruments that defined the respective periods.

Uploaded by

sharia.liao22
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Evolution of Music

❖ Medieval Period (450-1450)

➔ During the Medieval period in history (450-1450), Christianity was the


focal point of culture in Europe so almost all music was about God and
worship.
➔ At that time, music was mostly made up of one melody line with no
background music.
➔ These songs from the medieval period are referred to as Gregorian
Chants, named after Pope Gregory, who was the leader of the
Christian church from 590-640 A.D.
➔ During the later stages of the medieval period, music evolved to where
two melody lines were heard at the same time that were sung or played
in harmony.

★ Medieval Music

➢ Monophony
➔ The simplest of musical textures consists of a melody.

➢ Gregorian Chant
➔ The central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of
monophonic;
➔ Unaccompanied sacred song in Latin of the Roman Catholic
Church.

➢ Polyphony
➔ A type of musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous
lines of independent melody.

★ Examples of Medieval Music

➢ Deum Verum
- By Foy Porter
❖ Renaissance Period (1450-1600)

➔ The Renaissance period (1450-1600) was a time of great change in


music. People had a renewed interest in things like art and music and
musicians had more freedom to be creative and show individual style.
➔ Sacred music, or church music, was still the most popular type of
music.
➔ New musical instruments such as the clavichord and the lute were
invented and became very popular. Also, new printing technology
developed during this time that allowed written music to be available to
more people.
➔ The famous Mona Lisa by Leonardo da Vinci belongs to this time
period.

★ Renaissance Instruments

➢ Clavichord
➔ The clavichord is a stringed rectangular keyboard instrument.
➔ Historically, it was mostly used as a practice instrument and as
an aid to composition, not being loud enough for larger
performances

➢ Flute
➔ In the Renaissance era, the lute was the most popular
instrument in the Western world.
➔ It became the symbol of the magic and power of music.
➔ The lute was the instrument of kings and queens, playing the
sublime music of great composers.

★ Renaissance Music

➢ O Magnum Mysterium
➢ Mille regretz
➢ Mass for Five Voices
❖ Baroque Period (1600-1750)
➔ Baroque (ba-roke) is a word used to describe a style that followed the
Renaissance in European music between the years 1600 and 1750.
The word baroque means “strange” or “excessive”. individual style.
➔ Baroque music is characterized by: long flowing melodic lines often
using ornamentation (decorative notes such as trills and turns) to
contrast between loud and soft, solo and ensemble. a contrapuntal
texture where two or more melodic lines are combined.
➔ Recorders, still in use today, were the most popular instrument during
the Baroque period

★ Baroque Music

➢ Secular Music (Non-Church Music)


➔ At this time this type of music was becoming popular and the
orchestra and opera were invented.

➢ Orchestra
➔ Is a group (ensemble) of instruments playing music together.

➢ Opera
➔ Is a story with drama representation that is set to music.

➢ Vivaldi, composer of the Four Seasons Concertos, and J.S. Bach,


creator of many of today’s composing techniques, were two of the
most prominent composers of the time

★ Baroque Music Examples

➢ Tocatta and Fugue In D minor


➢ Spring from the Four Seasons
➢ Magnificant
❖ Classical Period (1750-1825)

➔ The classical period in music history lasted for only 70 years, between
1750 and 1825; however, there were many changes during this time.
➔ Important forms of the Classical period include the String quartet,
opera (including opera buffa and opera seria), trio sonata, and
symphony (traditionally written in sonata form). These musical forms
have several elements in common.
➔ Homophony, which is music that has one melody and background
music, became popular.

★ Baroque Music

➢ New instruments such as the clarinet, flute, and other instruments


were added to the orchestra, and new types of songs, or musical
compositions, were created to adapt to the new sounds.
➢ Two major composers of the classical era you may have heard of
are Haydn and Mozart.

➢ W.A Mozart
➔ Wrote hundreds of compositions even though he died at only 35
years of age, alone and broke.

➢ Joseph Haydn
➔ Considered the father of the symphony and string quartets and,
was the most influential composer of the era.

★ Baroque Music Examples

➢ Surprise (Symphony no.94)


➢ Sinfonia (concertante) in D
➢ Lacrimosa
❖ Classical Period (1825-1920)
➔ The Romantic period (1850-1920) reflected the political and social
changes that were taking place all around the world.
➔ Composers experimented with their music and showed much more
creativity.
➔ Melody became the dominant feature of the music and used melodies
to express nationalism (loyalty to a country or group of people).

★ Key Features of the Romantic Period

➢ Emotional expression – this became more important than formal structural


considerations as composers rebelled against the formal restraint of the
classical period

➢ A big expansion in the size of the orchestra and types of instruments.

➢ New structures/forms – rhapsody, nocturne, song cycle

➢ Increasingly elaborate harmonic progressions

➢ Longer melodies than the classical period

➢ Bigger range of dynamics

➢ Larger range in pitch (could be very easily expressed on the piano).

➢ Nationalism in music – some composers sought to use their compositions to


celebrate their countries e.g.Sibelius Finlandia

★ Romantic Music

➢ The opera and orchestra continued to be well-liked and


new sounds were added.
➢ Virtuosos (a very skilled performer) became very popular.
Singers, pianists, and violinists were the most admired virtuosos
of the period.
➢ It is said that Franz Liszt, a Hungarian composer, played the
piano with so much emotion that women in the audience would
faint while listening to him play.

➢ Beethoven
➔ Considered one of the greatest composers of all times

➢ Tchaikovsky
➔ composer of the famous Nutcracker ballet

★ Baroque Music Examples

➢ Swan Lake
➢ Prelude in E minor op 28 no 4
➢ Traumerei
❖ 20th Century to Modern Period (1900-present)

★ 20th Century Music

➢ The 20th century was the first century of recorded music. Swing
jazz in the 1920s and 30s aimed to make people move. The
music was rhythmic, repetitive, and danceable. Over time,
however, different sub-categories of jazz evolved into less
danceable music, such as bebop, cool jazz, and free jazz.

➢ Igor Fyodorovich Stravinsky


➔ Was a Russian composer. He is widely considered one of the
most important and influential composers of the 20th century
and a pivotal figure in modernist music.

➢ Béla Viktor János Bartók


➔ Was a Hungarian composer, pianist, and ethnomusicologist. He
is considered one of the most important composers of the 20th
century

★ Modern Music

➢ Technology has played a very important part in the evolution of


modern music. New styles of music were created around
instruments such as the electric guitar and keyboard.
➢ The use of computers has also had a huge influence on musical
styles by allowing composers and musicians to manipulate
sounds.
➢ Many styles were developed as an expression of a particular
culture. For example, hip-hop and rap music came out of inner-
city cultures. Country and Bluegrass music are a reflection of
people who live and work outside of big cities.

➢ Hans Florian Zimmer


➔ Is a German film score composer and music producer. He has
won two Oscars and four Grammys and has been nominated for
two Emmys and a Tony.
★ 20th Century and Modern Music Examples

➢ Oogway Ascends
➢ Rhapsody in Blue
➢ The Lady is a Tramp

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