Examination Of Music History Term paper

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Examination of Music History

Essay submitted by Unknown

A verbal art like poetry is reflective; it stops to think. Music is immediate, it goes on to

become." - W.H. Auden. This quote best explains the complex art of music. Music is an

elaborate art form that will always remain ever changing. Music developed drastically

from it's beginning in the Prehistoric era to the 14th Century.

The exact origin of music is unknown. It is known that music was used in prehistoric

times in magical or spiritual rituals but no other use is known. This knowledge is borne

out of the fact that music still forms a vital part of most religious ceremonies today.

The history of Greek music is problematic. Although there are frequent references to

musical performance in Greek manuscripts, there are less than twelve fragments of

actual Greek music, including both vocal and instrumental music, that have survived. It

is impossible to fully understand the notation to make an authentic performance.

For the Greeks, music was of divine origin. According to Greek mythology, the gods

themselves invented music and it's instruments. Many of the early myths told of the

powerful effects of music. Music played an important part in both the public and private

lives of the Greeks. They believed it could deeply affect human behavior. Greek music

was built up of a series of distinct modes, each with it's own name. According to the

doctrine of ethos, each mode was so powerful that it gave music the ability to

influence human actions in a precise way. The Phrygian mode expressed passionate and

intimate emotions, where as the Dorian mode produced forceful, rigid feelings.

In later Greek history the doctrine of ethos was widely argued by the most philosophical

of men. Plato and Aristotle both had broadly different views on the power and

importance of music. The persocratic philosopher Pythagoras was even interested

enough in music to develop the numerical octave system that we still use today. The

Classical Greeks used music in much of their drama and by the time Greece was made a

Roman province, music dominated dramatic performances and social activities.

There is not a great deal of original Roman music. Most of the music that did come out

of the Roman era was derived from the Greeks. Despite this, there was definite musical

activity in the later Roman Empire. An ample amount of evidence survived for

instruments and a good deal of theory also. But by in large Greek music remained the

most popular in the Roman Empire.

Early Christian music drew off of Jewish sources. The custom of singing sacred verses

at services was an ancient Jewish tradition that goes back to Mesopotamian sources.

As the Church grew the music fell more into the care of professionals and it became

greatly complex. Soon the church officials became fearful that the music was

overpowering the worship and music was regulated in worship services.

The beginnings of Byzantine music was mainly based on Syraic and Hebrew music. Most

music of this time was written for religious purposes and was strictly regulated by

church officials. By 386 AD Saint Ambrose of Milian began the use of vernacular hymns

in the church worship services.

The development of the music of the Early Middle Ages was intertwined with the grow

the of the Christian church. Chanting of scriptures and prayers was practiced earlier.

By the sixth century AD modalchant, known as plainchant, had increased so greatly

that Pope Gregory I had it collected and organized, and it came to be called Gregorian

chant. The chant did not have a regular rhythm but was fitted to the natural accents

of the Latin words....

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