History Of Music
Historical studies of music are for example concerned with a composer's life and works, the developments of styles and genres (such as baroque concertos), the social function of music for a particular group of people (such as music at the court), or the modes of performance at a particular place and time (such as the performance forces of Johann Sebastian Bach's choir in Leipzig).
In theory, "music history" could refer to the study of the history of any type or genre of music (e.g., the history of Indian music or the history of rock). In practice, these research topics are nearly always categorized as part of ethnomusicology or cultural studies, whether or not they are ethnographically based.
The methods of music history include source studies (esp. manuscript studies), paleography, philology (especially textual criticism), style criticism, historiography (the choice of historical method), musical analysis, and iconography. The application of musical analysis to further these goals is often a part of music history, though pure analysis or the development of new tools of music analysis is more likely to be seen in the field of music theory. (For a more detailed discussion of the methods see the section on "Research in Music History" below) Some of the intellectual products of music historians include editions of musical works, biography of composers and other musicians, studies of the relationship between words and music, and the reflections upon the place of music in society.
The first studies of Western musical history date back to the middle of the 18th century. G.B. Martini published a three volume history titled Storia della musica (History of Music) between 1757 and 1781. Martin Gerbert published a two volume history of sacred music titled De cantu de musica sacra in 1774. Gerbert followed this work with a three volume work Scriptores ecclesiastici de musica sacra containing significant writings on sacred music from the third century AD onwards in 1784.
In the twentieth century, the work of Johannes Wolf and others developed studies in Medieval music and early Renaissance music. Wolf's writings on the history of musical notation are considered to be particularly notable by musicologists. Historical musicology has played a critical role in renewed interest in Baroque music as well as medieval and Renaissance music. In particular, the authentic performance movement owes much to historical musicological scholarship. Towards the middle of the twentieth century, musicology (and its largest subfield of historical musicology) expanded significantly as a field of study. Concurrently the number of musicological and music journals increased to create further outlets for the publication of research. The domination of German language scholarship ebbed as significant journals sprang up throughout the West, especially America.
In theory, "music history" could refer to the study of the history of any type or genre of music (e.g., the history of Indian music or the history of rock). In practice, these research topics are nearly always categorized as part of ethnomusicology or cultural studies, whether or not they are ethnographically based.
The methods of music history include source studies (esp. manuscript studies), paleography, philology (especially textual criticism), style criticism, historiography (the choice of historical method), musical analysis, and iconography. The application of musical analysis to further these goals is often a part of music history, though pure analysis or the development of new tools of music analysis is more likely to be seen in the field of music theory. (For a more detailed discussion of the methods see the section on "Research in Music History" below) Some of the intellectual products of music historians include editions of musical works, biography of composers and other musicians, studies of the relationship between words and music, and the reflections upon the place of music in society.
The first studies of Western musical history date back to the middle of the 18th century. G.B. Martini published a three volume history titled Storia della musica (History of Music) between 1757 and 1781. Martin Gerbert published a two volume history of sacred music titled De cantu de musica sacra in 1774. Gerbert followed this work with a three volume work Scriptores ecclesiastici de musica sacra containing significant writings on sacred music from the third century AD onwards in 1784.
In the twentieth century, the work of Johannes Wolf and others developed studies in Medieval music and early Renaissance music. Wolf's writings on the history of musical notation are considered to be particularly notable by musicologists. Historical musicology has played a critical role in renewed interest in Baroque music as well as medieval and Renaissance music. In particular, the authentic performance movement owes much to historical musicological scholarship. Towards the middle of the twentieth century, musicology (and its largest subfield of historical musicology) expanded significantly as a field of study. Concurrently the number of musicological and music journals increased to create further outlets for the publication of research. The domination of German language scholarship ebbed as significant journals sprang up throughout the West, especially America.
Basic Types Of Music
Classical
Why start with classical? Well, I guess that’s where people expect you to start. Many people think that music was pretty much perfected several centuries ago and everything since is crap. Well those people are crap. Classical music is complex and layered and beautiful but it is not spontaneous. Spontaneity is very important in music I think.
Tribal
People always seem to think that music only goes back as far as classical music, but obviously tribal music has been around for much longer. In many ways it is the best music out there. It is spontaneous, emotive, danceable and easy to make. Go tribal music!
Hip Hop/Rap
Hip Hop is the newest form of music out there and so far we have only seen the tip of the iceberg in terms of its capabilities. People often call Jazz the only American Art form… I would tend to agree with this but Hip Hop is a close second place. Beats, Rhymes, Life… what else could you want? Some bling perhaps… well there is also plenty of that, but for real, who gives a F%#K about that stuff.
Blues
Bands that play the blues are usually not very good. The blues are a personal thing, and should usually be played by some guy who is very ugly and is half full of whiskey. Without this how can you have the blues… can good-looking people get the blues? They can, but they have to be on heroin.
Rock
It is very hard to argue with Rock & Roll. In many ways it is a lot like Christianity. It involves icon with long hair, and people have been predicting and attempting to initiate its demise since it began. But like Christianity Rock seems here to stay for a little while anyway. So every time a young man picks up a guitar and preaches the gospel of rock it will survive.
Jazz
As was mentioned before, Jazz is the only true American art form. Improvisational, cool, sexy, angry, sad, happy, jazz has it all, and nobody can touch jazz for its amalgam of styles and variations. If music is alive jazz is the air that music breathes.
Alternative/Rn'B
What is alternative anyway. Basically it’s whatever will be popular after what is popular now, is no longer popular. So the next time you go into a club and see some gay vegetarian pressed up against a microphone pushing buttons ironically just think that you are looking at the future.
Dance
Dance music is music for people who don’t know anything about music. This is perfectly all right though, because dance music is for dancing, not for contemplating. A good dance track gets into your core and possesses you. A bad dance track is what they play when you are waiting to get into hell.
Country
Country gets a bad rep, but there isn’t a more humble, fun loving and sincere brand of music out there. Basically it is story telling and if you don’t like a good story you probably have no soul. And if you have no soul, enjoy your bad dance music.
Folk
Folk is supposed to be the music of the people. Something that everyone can relate to via some sort of common experience. Lately this meaning has been perverted to mean that one has to play an acoustic guitar to play folk. This is crap. If you have something to say and you want to put music to your thoughts, that is folk.
Nu Metal
Nu metal, sometimes referred to as aggro metal or aluminum, is a relatively new music genre that some consider to be a subgenre of heavy metal music. In the 1990s, many bands began to mix rapping and other new techniques with traditional heavy metal guitar and drum sounds. As a result, fans and music journalists needed to differentiate between the more traditional heavy metal music and this "new breed" of bands who were using samples, DJs, raps and drum machines in a way that made their music distinct.
Techno
Techno is more of a dancing type of music, it sometimes expresses feelings inside, and most of the time used at raves, or dances. Techno has come a long way, and has grown more popular over the ages, more people are listening to techno then dance. Techno is the "new feeling" for some people around the world.
Why start with classical? Well, I guess that’s where people expect you to start. Many people think that music was pretty much perfected several centuries ago and everything since is crap. Well those people are crap. Classical music is complex and layered and beautiful but it is not spontaneous. Spontaneity is very important in music I think.
Tribal
People always seem to think that music only goes back as far as classical music, but obviously tribal music has been around for much longer. In many ways it is the best music out there. It is spontaneous, emotive, danceable and easy to make. Go tribal music!
Hip Hop/Rap
Hip Hop is the newest form of music out there and so far we have only seen the tip of the iceberg in terms of its capabilities. People often call Jazz the only American Art form… I would tend to agree with this but Hip Hop is a close second place. Beats, Rhymes, Life… what else could you want? Some bling perhaps… well there is also plenty of that, but for real, who gives a F%#K about that stuff.
Blues
Bands that play the blues are usually not very good. The blues are a personal thing, and should usually be played by some guy who is very ugly and is half full of whiskey. Without this how can you have the blues… can good-looking people get the blues? They can, but they have to be on heroin.
Rock
It is very hard to argue with Rock & Roll. In many ways it is a lot like Christianity. It involves icon with long hair, and people have been predicting and attempting to initiate its demise since it began. But like Christianity Rock seems here to stay for a little while anyway. So every time a young man picks up a guitar and preaches the gospel of rock it will survive.
Jazz
As was mentioned before, Jazz is the only true American art form. Improvisational, cool, sexy, angry, sad, happy, jazz has it all, and nobody can touch jazz for its amalgam of styles and variations. If music is alive jazz is the air that music breathes.
Alternative/Rn'B
What is alternative anyway. Basically it’s whatever will be popular after what is popular now, is no longer popular. So the next time you go into a club and see some gay vegetarian pressed up against a microphone pushing buttons ironically just think that you are looking at the future.
Dance
Dance music is music for people who don’t know anything about music. This is perfectly all right though, because dance music is for dancing, not for contemplating. A good dance track gets into your core and possesses you. A bad dance track is what they play when you are waiting to get into hell.
Country
Country gets a bad rep, but there isn’t a more humble, fun loving and sincere brand of music out there. Basically it is story telling and if you don’t like a good story you probably have no soul. And if you have no soul, enjoy your bad dance music.
Folk
Folk is supposed to be the music of the people. Something that everyone can relate to via some sort of common experience. Lately this meaning has been perverted to mean that one has to play an acoustic guitar to play folk. This is crap. If you have something to say and you want to put music to your thoughts, that is folk.
Nu Metal
Nu metal, sometimes referred to as aggro metal or aluminum, is a relatively new music genre that some consider to be a subgenre of heavy metal music. In the 1990s, many bands began to mix rapping and other new techniques with traditional heavy metal guitar and drum sounds. As a result, fans and music journalists needed to differentiate between the more traditional heavy metal music and this "new breed" of bands who were using samples, DJs, raps and drum machines in a way that made their music distinct.
Techno
Techno is more of a dancing type of music, it sometimes expresses feelings inside, and most of the time used at raves, or dances. Techno has come a long way, and has grown more popular over the ages, more people are listening to techno then dance. Techno is the "new feeling" for some people around the world.
Types Of Instruments
- Flute
- Saxophone
- Trumpet
- Guitar
- Piano Keyboards
- Rhythm Machines
As you can see, there are numerous different types of musical instruments, and there may be a lot more to come!
