AKARSH SHEKHAR
The Most Fascinating
Periods of Music History
Music encompasses culture, art, emotion, and ideology. As society evolves, so does the style and sound
of the music, and what emerges is a diverse tapestry that represents the time period in which the music
was created as well as the people who created it. When we step back into the past periods of music
history, we see how they have undoubtedly influenced the music of today.
Medieval Music Classical Music (approx. 1700-1810s)
During the medieval era, the music of the times
was deeply influenced by the growing power of
the church. The church had begun to wield its
power, and notations were reintroduced into the
musical repertory which brought major changes
from earlier songs. As expected with many relics
of this period, much of the music would have been
destroyed if it wasn't for the liturgical pieces from
Roman Catholic Church. The Gregorian Chant
is one of the most famous pieces from this era. Harmony truly defines the Classical era. During
the 1700 to 1810s, composers brought components
together in harmony, creating distinct chords
with a melody and accompaniment. Some
unforgettable pieces emerged during this era
that aren't comparable with anything before like
Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony. The composer
Mozart was notably one of the most influential
composers of the time, along with Beethoven
and Richter during the classical era.
Renaissance Music Romantic Music (approx. 1810s-1900)
The Renaissance era of music introduced a
clearer, more voice-centric melody. Songs of
this time fused balanced polyphony, and created
pieces that people could sing with ease. Chords
were more flexible, making pieces easy to adapt
according to the style of the artist. Then, the
advent of the printing press made the most
significant contribution of all, giving respective
artists and people who were just beginning
to learn music new resources to expand their
talents and passions, not to mention notations. The Romantic period like the name suggests,
brought an increase of emotion and meaning into
the musical art form. This period started around
1830 and ended around 1900, as compositions
became increasingly expressive and inventive.
During this time dramatic operas, virtuosic
piano music and expansive symphonies took
inspiration from art and literature. Famous
Romantic music period composers include
Tchaikovsky, Brahms, Mahler, and Verdi
among many other legends. From Schumann
to Chopin to Wagner, compositions became
ever-more complex, as is symbolized by some
dramatic pieces like Siegfried by Wagner.
Interestingly, John Taylor who was an
ocular surgeon, botched up the vision of
two giant composers, Bach and Handel.
Despite this ocular error, both were still
musical visionaries of the Renaissance.
Baroque Music
In lieu of the Renaissance, the Baroque period
ushered in a surge of instrumental musical
revelry, and secular music became more
prevalent than ever before. Counterpoint (the
use independent, polyphonic melodies) was
a strong influencer on the music of this era,
giving pieces a richer flavor. Composers even
introduced improvisation into their design, and
the bass and keyboard allowed for the expansion
of possibilities to stretch across all keys.
It was during this time when Mozart
created some of his most outstanding
work on the fly…and hungover!
26
The
Score Magazine
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20th Century Music
With the invention of a square box called the
radio, music as we know it, changed forever.
Towards the 19th and early 20th centuries,
technological advancements like recording
and reproduction devices were revolutionary.
This is not to forget the television and music
videos that also influenced the era. This
boom helped to bring music to the masses.
It’s manifested by the fact that every decade
of the 20th century ushered in a new sound
and a new hunger for something different.
Music has always managed to stay relevant and
fascinating, surviving the vicissitudes of time.