Pre-1600 Styles in European Art Music The "old" European attitude, and the attitude that attracts many modern performers to early music, is exactly the opposite of the modern attitude: 1. Music is a strictly local expression, rich in variety since each culture expresses affective differences through art, 2. Music is a poetic process--complex, vague, and irrational--based upon borrowed traditional musical materials (melodies, rhythms, forms, etc.), 3. Music is for a religious, elitist-class performer who can understand and appreciate its mysterious nature and power, 4. Music is played softly in intimate gatherings, 5. Music making is the activity of Everyman, exacting the talents of variously trained amateurs who, with industry and practice, decorate their recreation and leisure in moments of social intercourse. In terms of the technical differences between the art music of early times and that of the modern period (i.e., after 1600) we can identify five specific features that make post-1600 styles in music sound more or less "familiar." 1. Wide-ranging, dynamically expressive tonal melodies are played in equal temperament and generated from logical tonal harmonic progressions. 2. A simple, isometric, and restricted rhythmic range is used. 3. The texture is homophonic, that is, a principal melody line with accompaniment. 4. Clear periodic formal structure is favored. 5. The instrumentarium is restricted and standardized. On the other hand, the pre-1600 styles in European art music are based upon the following features: 1. Narrow-ranging, dynamically restrained modal melodies are played in a variety of tuning temperaments that generate an "illogical" modal harmonic succession. 2. An unrestricted range of multimeters, polymeters, and complex rhythms are used. 3. A texture of two or more independent and equally important melodies accompany one another (i.e., polyphony). 4. The formal construction is often vague and unclear. 5. The instrumentarium is unrestricted and nonstandardized. Early music is chamber music par excellence. Superstar conductors, dramatic symphonic music, and large-scale virtuosic genres such as the concerto, opera, oratorio, and ballet belong to a later period and a different aesthetic. Early music involves a decidedly intimate approach to music making: the performers are equal partners who understand the science of composition and do much more than merely interpret the music of others--they recompose it during rehearsals and performances. In this regard, early music may be considered performer oriented (similar to jazz or Indian classical music). The performer thinks of himself or herself as a "student" (a Liebhaber, i.e., "lover") of music, and must be able to play several different instruments as well as sing.
TitleAuthor/ EditorPublisherDate James Galways’ Music in TimeWilliam MannMichael Beazley Publishers1982 The Concise Oxford History of MusicGerald AbrahamOxford University Press1979 Music in Western CivilizationPaul Henry LangW. W. Norton and Company1941 The Ultimate Encyclopaedia of Classical MusicRobert AinsleyCarlton Books Limited1995 The Cambridge Music GuideStanley SadieCambridge University Press1985 School text: Western European Orchestral MusicMary AllenHamilton Girls’ High School1999 History of MusicRoy BennettCambridge University Press1982 Classical Music for DummiesDavid PogueIDG Books Worldwide,Inc1997
A cosmopolitan composer, John Dowland’s music displays elements of his Italian contemporaries madrigal style through his use of chromaticism in the lute songs.
Subotnik, Rose Rosengard. Developing Variations: Style and Ideology in Western Music. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1991.
Taruskin, R., & Taruskin, R. (2010). Music in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Music has shaped the lives of people throughout history. Even in its earliest forms, music has included use of instruments. One of the oldest musical instruments known is a variation of the flute; the original flute is thought to date back nearly 67,000 years ago. Tonight we are going to move throughout the eras with a history of instrumental music. This concert will begin with the Renaissance Era and continue through time until we have reached modern instrumental music.
From the Early Renaissance to the High Renaissance, there was a movement from vocal music to a combination of vocal and instrumental music (Brown, 1976). There are seven categories of instrumental music: 1) vocal music played by instruments, 2) settings of pre-existing melodies, 3) variation sets, 4) ricercars, fantasias, and canzonas, 5) preludes, preambles, and toccatas for solo instruments, 6) dance music, and 7) songs composed specifically for lute and solo voice (Brown, 1976). Italy dominated the stage for instrumental music at this time, and it was not until the last decades of the sixteenth century that English instrumental music became popular (Brow...
Music has evolved in too many different forms that we recognize today. We trace this development throughout time. Beginning in the middle ages, we have seen advancement from the Gregorian chant all the way to the Jazz of the 20th century. The current events, politics, religion, technology and composers can shape musical eras during time. Here I will be looking at the Classical through Post-Modern for a better understanding that can be reached to why, when, where and who are the reasons for musical evolution.
The Classical era was a time for order, objectivity, harmonious proportion, and noble simplicity. The switch between the ways of the old world and the beginning of the new world was what constituted the characteristics that shaped this era. Major changes were brought into the world; advances in science and ideas, the changing of aristocratic sovereigns in Europe, style of art and ways of thinking. However, a major part of the Classical era that changed was music. This new era brought with it a handful of new musicians and composers, such as Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert. These musicians practiced music in an era of experimentation and change, and paved the way for future musicians and composers. One of these musicians,
Wright, Craig M., and Bryan R. Simms. Music in Western Civilization. Boston: Schirmer Cengage Learning, 2010. Print.
Renaissance era or rebirth ear brought a new attitude towards music. It started in Europe, Italy to be exact, from the fourteen to the sixteen century. Italians wanted to bring “the rebirth of their past” (Kerman, p.65).This period brought the rebirth of humanism and acceptance of diversity of cultures.
Music is an art form that usually combines singing with different instruments and rhythms. Many genres of music aid in interesting different people and different moods, so that everyone can enjoy it. Music does two significant things for us; it increases stimulation in the brain, and assists in coping with difficult situations. It’s hard to ignore the fact that music exists and is constantly evolving because it’s everywhere; from our homes to our cars, our cars to our school, from out school to our jobs, it’s even taught and discussed in schools!
Elizabethan era music had a major effect on the time period. This music could only be made by the skilled or trained playing of the unique instruments of the time period. The music itself, much like any other time period, was divided into many different categories or genres. These genres included church music, court music, street and town music, and the theatre music. The sound, convenience, and atmospheres related to each type of music have some similarities as well as differences. Due to the variety in musical styles, the instruments of the time had to be able to cover a wide span of sound. The need for these sounds led to the large number of different types of instruments. Many of the instruments, during this time period fit into either
The Renaissance Era, spanning from 1450 to 1600 AD, experienced a growth in humanism and individualism among various forms of art, including music. In fact, the word “Renaissance” means “reconstruction” or “rebirth”. The increase in creativity and freedom gave artists the chance to stray away from the extremely controlled ideas of the Medieval Era. Much of the art produced during this time was rooted in ancient Greek ideas. Artists of the Renaissance were often recognized and praised during their lifetimes, rather than years after their deaths. As new printing methods were developed, music was more easily distributed to the people and could be preserved.
Society is obsessed with categorizing and finding order, to help reach an understanding of eras before our own. It comes as no surprise therefore, that even something as compassionate and prolific as music, is placed in boxes. We understand music through periods; baroque, classical, romantic, neo-classical, modern and post-modern. However, these musical styles can encompass many different features, nationalities, ideologies and composers. Joseph Haydn (1732-1809) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791) were both prolific composers of the classical era. Many would argue that these two individuals are archetypical classical composers but with increasing curiosity surrounding the music of our predecessors it is becoming evident that the archetypical
The general character of a society forms and functions can be directly or indirectly reflected in a society’s music. However, not proven music is a potential basis for social structure and a reflection of a society’s values. According to Western societies, music is usually considered as either popular or classical. Popular music has been considered as low brow or vulgar in contrast to classical music which is exalted and considered as art music. In this regard, popular music is disregarded and considered inconsequential while the classical music is upheld above the realm of every day’s life activities. With this in mind, music begins to emerge as a potential foundation for social activity.