Ever notice how music now is so different from music decades ago? Ever see how we went from instrumental to hip-hop songs? This is what we call the evolution of music. Dated back in 1400 B.C, “The Hurrian Hymn No.6” is the world’s earliest melody. The 4,000-year-old Sumerian clay tablet inscribed instructions and tunings for a hymn. While The Hurrian Hymn No.6 is the earliest melody, the earliest music composition to be ever salvaged as a whole is “Seikilos Epitaph” in the first century A.D Greece. The music notation is found to be engraved on a marble column-shaped tombstone for marking a women gravesite in Turkey. One translation of the music notation is:
“While you live, shine
Have no grief at all;
Life exists only a short while
And time demands its toll.”
Medieval music (500-1400): Fast forward to the Medieval period, instruments like flutes, recorders, and lutes are capable of producing a variety of music. Vocals are often paired up with the instruments for a song together. Medieval music included liturgical music for the church and secular music. We recognize medieval music for having the adventurous mood the most. In the modern day, medieval music is still popular. We usually hear this type of music in adventure games set in medieval times.
Renaissance music (1400-1600): Polyphony (use of many independent melodic lines that are performed simultaneously) is one of the main characteristics of this music period. Other characteristics are music based on modes, the blend of melodic lines, and harmony that deals with a smooth flow of music and progression of chords. Instrumental music served a great purpose in accompanying dances and vocal music. Instruments like organs, brass, strings, percussion, and woodwinds were commonly used to produce music. Some of the instruments that belong in those categories have disappeared unfortunately while some survived till today. The lute was a popular instrument in the strings family. This instrument is similar to an acoustic guitar, which produces symphonic music. If you search up renaissance music, lute music is most likely to pop up.
Baroque music (1600-1760): Baroque music was prevalent in Europe around this time. Music composers increased the range and complexity in their pieces. Polyphonic contrapuntal music (the use of multiple, simultaneous independent melody lines) remains essential. Baroque composers write for small ensembles, which include strings, brass, woodwinds, choirs, and keyboard instruments. Several primary forms of music in this era are refined and evolved in the later periods. A famous song to refer to is “Toccata and Fugue” by J.S. Bach.
Classical music (1730-1820): Music in this period is described as homophonic, or an obvious melody with accompaniment. It is also less complex and lighter than Baroque music. Instrumental music is significant for Classical music composers. At this time, the central instrumental music types are a sonata, trio, string quartet, symphony, and solo concerto. The orchestra usually accompanies the solo concerto (a performer playing their solo work with an instrument). Even if classical music seems to overshadow other music, opera remains essential for many composers as well. A piano typically plays the music with bass instruments like violin, cello, double bass, viola, and therbo.
Romantic music (1780-1910): This is the time of music where it gets more emotional and expressive. Not only that, the music deals with the literary, artistic, and philosophical themes at the time. The famous composer, Chopin, we know of is one of the early Romantic composers. The size of the orchestra and the variety of instruments increased substantially in the late 19th century. Public concerts increased as well, allowing much more people to enjoy music. Music composers strive for complexity in music in this era too. If you are still curious, Romantic music is pretty much the classical music that we listen to in symphony today.
20th and 21st-century music (1890-present): The music that many of us are familiar with. Songs in this era are usually pop music, hip-hop, metal, rap, and rock music. As we advance closer to the present, lyrics became much more expressive to tell stories about ourselves and the world. Various music genres today create both a unique and exciting era. Today, most music is created with the help of technologies. We have new software, soundboards, apps, etc. that help us make the music we hear today. Also, the use of autotune became increasingly popular among many artists for enhancing their voice. Classical music remains a big part of our music world too. We often listen to classical music for moments of peace and for studying. Now that we rely on technologies a lot, what will music become in the next 20 years or so?