The first seven sessions of Music 100 has included an overview of what music is, its essential elements and the basic building blocks. During these sessions the class has had the opportunity to listen to several examples demonstrating a variety of forms and textures. In addition, the various wind, string, percussion, and keyboard instruments used in making music have been presented. We now turn attention to a historical review of music in culture with a particular emphasis on its development in the West.
For many years music appreciation classes have only covered what is loosely defined as "classical" or concert music. I suppose the reason for that is it envelopes the styles and variants that have been documented most often. In the last 25 years the trend has been to also present an overview of popular and folk music types in an academic setting. When that is done classical and popular/folk are usually presented as separate elements by first covering the history of one type and then the other. Presenting these separately can leave the impression that one is better than the other or that they are not related in some way.
Personally, I prefer to cover classical, popular and folk traditions in juxtaposition. After all, that's how they've existed throughout history. It also gives a contextual view when studying the different periods of cultural history. In essence, all of the arts are a byproduct of the predominant culture. This means it’s a development of the history of the people regardless of class or education. A culture's music is influenced by all other aspects of that culture including social, political and economic organization and experience as well as access to the existing technology. Examining music in light of these factors can prove to be more memorable because these music traditions will be taken in context.
Music History Eras (dates are approximate)
• Pre-Christian Era: before 475
• Medieval: 475 to 1400
• Renaissance: 1400 to 1600
• Baroque: 1600 to 1750
• Classical: 1750 to 1825
• Romantic: 1825 to 1910
• 20th Century: 1910 to 1985
• Neoclassical: 1985 to Present
The study of Western art can be divided into major periods much as can our concert and church music. For example, consider the outline of art history presented in the list below.
Western Art History
• Medieval
• Renaissance
• Mannerism
• Baroque
• Neoclassicism
• Romanticism
• Realism
• Modern
• Contemporary
The nine periods of art history in the West closely align to the eight periods of Western music history. In fact architecture, language, drama, and dance all share in the cultural development of humanity period by period.
The Pre-Christian Era (before 475 CE)
Music has been in existence probably since the beginning of civilization. In fact, one of the Psalms mentions the morning stars singing together at the creation of the heavens and the earth. All cultures, even remote tribal regions, have some type of music system.
So, how did it all begin? Actually we don't know. My own opinion is that melody was probably developed around what became Europe. Rhythm seems to have come from Africa. Somewhere in time, these elements came together with harmony developing almost simultaneously when the two merged.
Biblical writings indicate that a facet of ancient Hebrew worship included the use of musical instruments and singing. Jubal is said to be the inventor of musical instruments (Genesis 4:21). After the passage through the Red Sea, Moses and the children of Israel sang their song a deliverance (Exodus 15). David and Solomon lived during a prolific period leading to the development of much Hebrew music and poetry. Within the Hebraic system there arose also a class of professional singers with Solomon's Temple becoming the location for a school of music. In the conducting of its worship, groups of trained singers and musicians with instruments were always used. Even the Apostle Paul (Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16) wrote to members of the early Christian churches to speak, teach, and admonish one another using Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs.
Still, we haven't addressed the "scientific" beginning of music as we know it today. For this we turn to the ancient Greek writers who began our vocabulary for discussing and describing music. The basis for our understanding of pitch can be traced to the mathematical theories of Pythagoras (circa 580-500 BCE). Our fundamental understandings of pitch and the relationship of one pitch with another is based on his work. For instance, the division of an octave into twelve steps or tones forms the basis of what we call the chromatic scale. From this came the development of the "perfect fifth" and the system of mean tone tuning and modes.
Our modern system of the associated pitches can be traced to the time of Pythagoras. Though the Grand Staff and piano keyboard had not been developed during this early Greek period, the concepts presented then are present in the symbols of music we have used for hundreds of years.
As mentioned, a system of tuning was based on the relationship of the perfect fifth to a specific tone. For instance, if an A vibrates at 440 cycles per second, the fifth above it (an E) will vibrate at 660 cycles per second (a 3:2 relationship) and the octave (eight notes) above will vibrate at 880 cycles per second (a 2:1 relationship).
The concept of chord progression was presented in the previous class. The more simple and frequently occurring chord progressions are also based on this concept of fifths. If a tune has the home tone of C, the most simple and direct progression is to go to the chord base on the tone a fifth above C. In this case, it would be G. The song would conclude with a cadence of G back to C. If three chords are used in a typical song, the tune can involve the use of F, a fifth below C, and resolve by going to a G chord before a cadence to G. A third and common option is to go from C to a chord based on D while working back to C through a G chord. (See the illustration below.)
Medieval (475 to 1400)
Music within this enormous span of time was extremely diverse. It encompasses multiple traditions across a wide geographic area. Several of the cultural groups out of which medieval Europe developed had musical traditions that existed for many years of which little is known today. The unifying structure of these cultures during the Middle Ages was the Roman Catholic Church. Its music served as the focal point for musical development for the thousand years of this period. Very little non-Christian music from this period has survived due to its suppression by the Church as well the absence of music notation for use by the common person as we know it. What was preserved was the music of the Roman Catholic Church because it was the only organization that focused on preserving the aspects of religion through some method of documentation.
It was under the influence of Pope Gregory that the Gregorian calendar was developed and adopted. Likewise, the system of liturgy and chants (music merged with text) developed and flourished under his authority. Hence, we have Gregorian chant which is characterized by step-wise movement, free rhythms and monophonic texture. In fact, the predominant musical style was that of the chant and other styles developed apart from influence of Gregory. In fact, Pope Gregory may not have actually composed any of the chants. Instead, a dedicated group of priests and nuns may have actually made the creative contribution to this aspect of the liturgy over a period of several years.
A contemporary group, Psallentes, has excellent examples of chant for listening while watching the prose and notation of the chant. The chant (link provided below) is an example of a style based on the pure, Gregorian style. Try to follow the notation as the singing is presented. Notice, also, the highly adorned (illuminated) music and the fact that the notes aren't placed on a standard staff of five lines and four spaces. Notice also that there appears to be only two styles of notes; a square shape and a diamond shape. Notice also that there is no indication of rhythm nor what should be the duration of each note.
See and hear an example of Gregorian Chant on YouTube.
Pope Gregory wasn't the only person to influence the music of the time. Hildegard von Bingen, a theologian, musician and scholar, also left her mark. Around 1151 she composed an allegorical morality play which can be defined as liturgical drama. It is the only Medieval musical drama recorded to have had both music and text. The drama, Ordo Virtutum, provided a way to present a story while teaching about the various virtues. In addition to this early work, Hildegard also wrote a cycle of more than 70 songs. More information about Hildegard and the allegory is accessible at Wikipedia.<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ordo_Virtutum>.
The Close of the Medieval Period
By the end of the Medieval period, two composers were preparing the way for the musical developments that would happen during the Renaissance. The two composers were were Léonin and Pérotin. They were employed in succession to serve as teachers, composers and choirmasters at the Notre Dame Choir School in France. Later this school became know as the school of polyphony.
Léonin is the first known significant composer of early polyphonic music called organum. He was probably the earliest member of the Notre Dame school of polyphony. He composed music for two voices (parts).
Pérotin lived around the end of the 12th and beginning of the 13th century. He was the most famous member of the Notre Dame school of polyphony. He was one of very few composers of his day whose name has been preserved, and can be reliably attached to individual compositions. He composed music for four voices (parts) which had never been done before. His music was not well accepted at first. The organum of both Léonin and Pérotin was the earliest type of polyphonic music. As you will recall from the previous session, to this point in time Gregorian and other types of chant had been monophonic in texture. Léonin and Pérotin, and their early use of music notation made the development of polyphony possible. This led the way for what was to happen in the Renaissance.
By the time the Medieval period closed a genre appeared that was called the motet. It was music with a sacred text for four or five voices. The melody line, called the cantus firmus, was frequently taken from a chant.
In Summary
The beginnings of the Western musical tradition are traced to the ancient Greek writers who began our vocabulary for discussing and describing music. The beginnings of the repertoire coincide with the establishment of the religious ritual in the Roman Catholic Church. The predominant style of music was the chant. Hildegard von Bingen created a church drama that used music as a means of conveying the message.
Prof. Songer
JCTC - Downtown
JCTC - Downtown
