Overview of Music History

 History of Music Periods - Dates


- The Middle Ages (Medieval) - (500- 1400)
Medieval music pieces were considered as Western style compositions with looty instruments such as the Flute, which is still around today. However, some instruments that were previously played do not exist today, for example  a gemshorn (A recorder-like instrument) This genre of music was developed after the collapse of the Roman Empire, 5th Century AD.

- The Renaissance - (1400-1600)

- The Baroque Age - (1600 - 1760)

Baroque - A broad range of styles from several European Regions

This era follows the Renaissance and was introduced just before the Classical Period. Baroque Music is a different style of Western Music consisting of more advanced instruments such as harpsichords (a Piano/keyboard like instrument). Examples of Baroque composers are Henry Purcell (10 September 1659- 21 November 1695) and Antonio Vivaldi (4 March 1678 - 28 July 1741) . Also, this genre of music consists of ornaments (additional eccentric but elegant trills) 




(Above - Harpsichord)






- The Classical Period - (1750-1830)                                                                                               
- The Romantic Era - (1815 - 1910)

- The Twentieth Century - (1900 - 2000)


A ‘ground bass’ is a short bass line (usually 4 to 8 bars long) which is repeated continuous throughout a piece.  While the bass stays the same, the melodic voices develop and change above it.  A good ground bass piece will have a clear, simple bass line, with a development of the upper parts. 

Notes


The Birth of Opera (Baroque)


Opera,in a basic form, is a play in which it is sung. There are not times where there is no form of speaking, it is only communicated via song.The most famous composer who developed his music into this style of operatic music is Henry Purcell. Music within the opera  can be categorised into various groups 


(Recitative (Half Spoken, have sung. In a speech rythmn), Aria (A solo piece), Chorus (Choir- like, singing together) Dance (Instrumental Sections - No singing!), Duets (2 people) and Trios (3 people) These are all accompanied with an orchestra.