Origin and History of Music

There are many theories regarding when and where music originated.

Many agree that music began even before man existed. Historiographers
point out that there are 6 periods of music and each period has a
particular style that greatly contributed to what music is today.

Here is a chronological introduction to each stage of music development

to help you better understand the history of music.

Medieval/Middle Ages

The Middle Ages, which encompasses the 6th-century to the 16th-

century, featured Medieval music. This Medieval Music Timeline shows
important events in Medieval music history, such as the beginning of
musical notation and polyphony.

During this time, there were two general types of music styles; the
monophonic and the polyphonic. The main forms of music included
Gregorian chanting and Plainchant. Plainchant is a form of church music
that has no instrumental accompaniment and only involves chanting or
singing. For a period of time, it was the only type of music allowed in
Christian churches.

Around the 14th-century, secular music became increasingly prominent,

setting the stage for the music period known as the Renaissance.

Renaissance

Renaissance means "rebirth". By the 16th-century, the Church's hold of

the arts was weaker. Thus, composers during this period were able to
bring about many changes in the way music was created and perceived.

For example, musicians experimented with cantus firmus, began using

instrumentals more and created more elaborate music forms that
included up to 6 voice parts.
Read the Renaissance Music Timeline to discover more historical
turning points between the 16th and 17th-century, and here is a more
extensive explanation of different Renaissance Music Forms/Styles.

Baroque

The word "baroque" comes from the Italian word "barocco" which
means bizarre. The Baroque period was a time when composers
experimented with form, musical contrasts, styles and instruments. This
period saw the development of opera, instrumental music as well as
other Baroque music forms and styles. Music became homophonic,
meaning a melody would be supported by a harmony.

Prominent instruments featured in Baroque period compositions

included the violin, viola, double bass, harp, and oboe.

The Baroque period in music history refers to the styles of the 17th and
18th-centuries. The High Baroque period lasted from 1700 to 1750,
during which Italian opera was more dramatic and expansive. Learn
about other periods and events of the time with the Baroque Music
Timeline.

Classical

The music forms and styles of the Classical period, which spans from
1750 to 1820, is characterized by simpler melodies and forms such as
the sonatas.

During this time, the middle class had more access to music, not just the
highly educated aristocrats. To reflect this shift, composers wanted to
create music that was less complicated and easier to
understand. The piano was undoubtedly the primary instrument used by
composers during the Classical period.

Browse through this Classical Music Timeline to learn about significant

events of this period, such as when Mozart wrote his first symphony and
when Beethoven was born.
Romantic

Historiographers define the Romantic Music period to be between 1800

to 1900. Music forms of this period used music to tell a story or express
an idea and the expanded on the use of various instruments including
wind instruments. Instruments that were invented or improved upon
during this time included the flute and the saxophone.

Melodies became fuller and more dramatic as Romantics believed in

allowing their imagination and intense emotion to soar through their
works. By the mid-19th-century, folk music became popular among the
Romantics and more emphasis was put on nationalist themes. Learn
about more turning points during the Romantic period with Romantic
Music Timeline.

20th-Century

Music during the 20th-century brought about many innovations on how

music was performed and appreciated. Artists were more willing to
experiment with new music forms and used technology to enhance their
compositions. Early electronic instruments included the dynamophone,
Theremin, and Ondes-Martnot.

20th-century music styles included impressionistic, 12-tone system,

neoclassical, jazz, concert music, serialism, chance music, electronic
music, new Romanticism, and minimalism