Historical Context of the Oldest Music
It is hard to pinpoint the earliest form of music since music has been around for so long. It is most likely that music existed before written language, and that oral traditions of music existed as early as humans were able to produce sounds. Written language, however, did not flourish until the invention of cuneiform, Sumerian, and Egyptian hieroglyphics. These early forms of writing were not meant to store information but instead were solely for their aesthetic purposes. Written words were arranged on clay tablets to create a sense of order and rhythm. The earliest known form of music is found in the ancient cultures of Mesopotamia and Egypt. The earliest known form of music, however, was not the sound of an instrument or a song but the sound of people clapping their hands and making rhythmic sounds with clay vessels. These early people created a beat not to create music but for order in their daily activities.
Ancient Chinese Music
Chinese music dates back thousands of years to the very birth of the Chinese language. This ancient Chinese music is called yue which means “music of the ancient Yue people.” The ancient Yue people of China created a complex system of music based on the sounds of nature. The Chinese did not invent musical instruments and instead used the sounds of nature as the basis for their music, including the sound of wind chimes, waterfalls, and even thunder. The Chinese also used musical instruments like drums and flutes, but they were not meant to produce human sounds. These instruments were used to create animalistic sounds to accompany poetry and prose.
Traditional Music of Native Americans
There is no one single form of music associated with American Indians, but instead, the term “traditional Native American music” refers to many different types of music with roots in the early days of the native people. Many of these traditional Native American musical styles are still played today. Many of these musical styles come from the Plains and West Coast cultures, with the majority coming from Native American tribes of the Northwest. There is also a large population of immigrants from the Northwest who have made their traditional Native American music a part of their new American culture. One of the most popular traditional Native American music is the flute. The flute is played by flutists who have advanced to the point where they can make music that is both beautiful and complex.
Ancient African Music
African music dates back thousands of years to the time when humans first settled on the continent. While there are many places in Africa that were settled by different tribes, the majority of African music comes from the soukous music of the Central African Republic, the Bambara music of Mali, and the griot music of Senegal. The soukous music is based on local African rhythms, while the Bambara music is based on the sounds of the Niger River. The griot music is considered to be the music of the people and is passed on from older generations to younger ones. It is this type of music that has helped keep many African traditions alive.
Ancient Greek Music
The ancient Greeks had a long and rich history of music, and it can be traced back to the earliest days of human civilization. These early Greek songs and music were played on instruments like the aulos, a double-reed instrument that is still used in modern-day music. The ancient Greek music that has survived to the modern era is mostly music played on string instruments, such as the lyre, an instrument known for its soothing and gentle sounds. There was also a form of music that was performed at the theatres, and this type of music could be considered the first sort of pop music. This music was performed using musical accompaniment and lyrics, and it was considered the forerunner of modern music.
Medieval Music
These early songs were based on poems and sung in various forms of poetry. Some of these poems were translated from Latin and Arabic, while others were written in the newly created vernacular languages. Song and poetry were an essential part of medieval music, and the most common type of poetry used in medieval music was the sestina. Each sestina was a short poem composed of six lines, and it was often used in music for six-line stanzas. There was also a form of music known as the motet, which is a type of song that is traditionally performed as a sacred chant. The motet was based on sacred chant and was meant to be performed in a religious setting like a church or cathedral.
Renaissance Music
The Renaissance era was a period in Europe when many of the arts, including art, architecture, literature, music, and philosophy were greatly influenced by the rediscovery of classical antiquity. This meant that music during this period was heavily inspired by the music of ancient Greece and Rome. This music was played on instruments such as the lute, the vihuela, the guitar, the viol, and the organ, and it was typically accompanied by a singer. These early types of Renaissance music are known as secular music because the lyrics were often about love or other worldly topics. The most common type of Renaissance music, however, was sacred music, and it was typically performed in a church.
Baroque Music
Baroque music is characterized by a prominent use of counterpoint, a complex rhythmic structure, and rich, extended melodies. During this period of music history, composers experimented with many different types of music, including music for ballet, orchestra, and solo instruments. Baroque music is also characterized by a lead-in rhythm that is maintained throughout the music. This rhythm is usually divided into two parts, the first part being the main melody and the second part being the leading rhythm. Baroque music was popular during the 18th century and is still considered to be some of the most creative and innovative music ever created.
