Music Theory
 
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Music Theory -

The first form of music was nothing more than cavemen hitting things with sticks and rocks and banging things together. This technically is not music because sound has to consist of both rhythm and melody before it can be classified as music. I felt this was relevant because this kind of behavior eventually led to music.

The first known music is unknown, sketchy at best. The ancient egyptions had there form of music as did the vikings and celtics. One of the first known music that is (loosely) recorded on a timeline is gregorian chanting. this started around the year 900 A.D. and didn't consist of anything more than a bunch of monks sitting on a hilltop somewhere on a sunny day while humming melodies in unison to one another.

The first Era of music came about in the year 450 A.D and spanned through 1450. This is known as the Middle Ages era and is the first of 6 eras of classical music. During the Middle Ages music notation was invented and progressed rapidly into a sophisticated system of reading music.

The 2nd era is the Renaissance Era, 1450 - 1600, which is known as the rebirth of classical learning.

The Baroque era, 1600 - 1750, is the 3rd era and an important intense scientific investigation of music occurred which led to experimentation and the development of important theory factors such as a metronome, standard concert pitch, and the recognition of intervals which are important for harmony pieces such as counterpoints. Music got to be about as complex as it could get during this time.

1750 - 1825 is the span of the Classical Era. The classical era saw a more simplification of music and more of a philosophical approach than in the Baroque Era did.

An Increasing importance of science and a new importance of the super natural plays a role in the Romantic Era of classical music. This era ranged from 1825 - 1900.

20th century spans from 1900 to present day with no projected end to this current un named era of music. Phenomenal changes in technology allow sound to be manipulated, recorded and amplified. With the decline of totalitarian societies, composers are largely able to write new music freely and to do as much experimentation as desired which eventually leads to endless styles and fusions of music. However, the downside to this vast new technology and freedoms creates a widening gap between art and popular music.

Middle Ages   450 - 1450

  • Renaissance   1450 - 1600
  • Baroque    1600 - 1750
  • Classical    1750 - 1825
  • Romantic    1825 - 1900
  • 20th Century    1900 - present





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