The History of Western Music, the idea of western music’s history in its entirety is an immensely broad subject that has captured the attention of many. Music has changed a lot in the past couple millennia and I will argue that that often the changes that occur, are a response to previous ideas and musical norms. Also, taking note that the changes come with the culture at the time and the culture from the previous time. So let us briskly walk from the Middle Ages all the way to the present era and see just how music has changed and influenced the human race as a whole just as it has empowered and influenced individual people throughout history.
By far the Longest musical era was the Middle Ages. …show more content…
The years (1450-1600) marked beginning the Renaissance. In the Renaissance, many instruments were added to the musicians toolbelt of expression; Instruments such as: the rebec, shawm, sackbut, and the cornetto. Also, Imitative Polyphony made an appearance in contrast to the middle ages’ non-imitative polyphonic music. Artists such as Susato, Palestrina, Arcadelt, Farmer, and Josquin des Prez made their debuts in the renaissance and Susato brought to the world Three Dances, a ronde that was published 1551. Originally this piece was made as a country piece, however it was later that it was introduced in the courts. What makes the Three Dances so unique for the time is the fact it was dance music and not written just for the courts or a church it is an upbeat duple meter work that has Repeated sections where the band playing could add artistic embellishments that made the urge to dance to this music difficult to …show more content…
A large leap from the Baroque era, Classicism brought forth a time of musical discipline and emotional restraint. Perhaps this magnanimous change in pace can be accredited to the philosophical movement that took place in the later 1700s known as the Enlightenment. The Enlightenment boasted a completely new way of thinking about the world and life itself, highlighting order, logic, and reason above all else. Though it may seem leaving behind the old ideas of emotional exuberance and so-called superstition of the previous eras. Though one would think this might provide a less interesting verity of music, it added and very firm foundation for music and compositions as we know them