History of western music- blog on blogger.

 History of western music.

What is western music?

Western music is defined as music that that originated in a western country, and outlines organised instrumentation and vocal compositions which have a specific Western nationality of origin. Western schools of thought refer primarily to countries in Europe  and North America such as France, Germany, England, Canada, and the United States. In contrast, Eastern schools of thought refer to Asian countries such as China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India. The origin of western music can be traced back to Ancient Greece, which produced the invention of the lyre, the lute, and the poetic character of Orpheus, who could control the laws of nature with his singing. Philosophers such as Plato and his contemporary Aristotle explored the various ways in which music influenced the emotions of the human soul.

Ancient Greece was eventually conquered by the armies of Rome in the first century A.D and many styles of thinking (including music and science) were adopted by the Roman people. The early Roman Empire was the dominant force in Europe until its fall in the fourth and fifth centuries which led to the Medieval Era, also known as the Dark Ages. When considering the history of Western Music, scholars have divided it into five main eras- the Medieval era, the Renaissance era, the Baroque era, the classical era, and the Romantic era.

The medieval era.

The medieval period of music history began around the fall of the Roman empire in 476 AD. It progressed into the sixth century and lasted through the end of the fourteenth century, when it gave way to Renaissance music. Medieval-era music centred around the church. There are four notable Medieval Composers whose works have survived up to date. One was Leonin, a French composer famous for pioneering polyphonic composition, or the simultaneous combination of many tones. 

Perotinous Magnus, better known as Perotin, is remembered by  his works Salvatorishodie and Magnus liber organi. Two other composers, Hildegard von Bingen and Guillaume de Machaut are also known for shaping Medieval music.

The Renaissance era.

The Renaissance era of classical music spans from approximately 1400 to 1600. It saw the growth of polyphonic music, the rise of new instruments, and a plethora of new ideas regarding harmony, rhythm, and music notation. One of the most prominent features of the Renaissance period was increased risk-taking-early Renaissance music, like that of Guillaume Dufay, maintained the harmonic rules of Medieval music from the late Middle Ages. But as new styles emerged over the course of the sixteenth century, Renaissance music began pushing boundaries and introducing moments of dissonance. 

The renaissance period saw a mix of new musical instruments and holdovers from earlier music. Common Renaissance instruments included the harpsichord, clavichord, viol, lute, rebec, lyre, guitar, recorder, cornet, trumpet, trombone (known at the time as sackbut), tambourine, and the transverse flute.