Music starts in prehistory – before humans started to write things down. It is also closely tied to the development of different cultures. When you go to music college, you are likely to take numerous classes in the history of music. Below is a brief synopsis of music over the past few hundred thousand of years, giving you a little taster of what you will learn about.
A Brief History of Music
The earliest recorded data on music is some 4,000 years old and was found in India’s Sama Veda. This was where a cuneiform from Ur was found. Interestingly, however, any writings about music and its history focus almost solely on that of the western civilization. Important periods in the history of music include:
- The 20th century.
- Romanticism.
- Classical.
- Baroque.
- Renaissance.
- Medieval.
There is a degree of knowledge on “world music”, but that is a field in its own rights, known as ethnomusicology. This field is becoming increasingly popular and academics are looking into the information these experts are coming up with. It looks not just at the influence of music from western Europe, but also from the Asian countries, African communities, and more.
Every culture has its own type of popular music, and this changes depending on the time period as well. Some cultures placed a focus on certain techniques, others on certain elements. Wherever you go, however, music has always been a form of entertainment, communication, and ceremonial procedures.
Cultures from all over the world have, in the grand scheme of things, only been in close contact with each other for a relatively short period of time. Yet this has already given rise to new styles. Looking, for instance, at this country, it is known as a “multi-ethnic melting pot society” and for good reasons. The influences on music truly come from all over the world and every level of society.
Classifications and Genres of Music
Because music is so vast, a host of different classifications have also been developed. Because of this, it is very difficult to create a true definition of music. There is also a question about whether anything other than classical music can be classed as “art”. Commercial music, such as pop, country, and rock ‘n roll, is, by many, seen as entertainment only. And then there are styles such as jazz, world music, and folk, that seem to fit in neither of those two categories.
Next, there are the genres. They are defined by presentation, tradition, and the actual music. Classical music, by and large, is acoustic and performed by groups or individuals. That said, today, certain pieces known as “classical” are created using mechanical tools. Other works, like Rhapsody in Blue by Gershwin, are both classical and jazz.
So what is “real music”? It is likely that nobody will ever agree on that. Some feel that Eminem is real, others believe that only the likes of Beethoven truly got it. Music is an art and, like all arts, it is subjective.