Meaning and Definition of music | Concept and What is.
What is music?
In the following article, we will explore the meanings of music across time and cultures. Music has been a companion of humans since the beginning of its history. It is speculated that the beginning of his story is related to the imitation of nature sounds such as birdsong and the inner nature of man, for example the natural rhythm of the heartbeat; the latest theories concerning the beginnings of art give too much importance to this last point (perceived forms internally), referring to these influences as "entópicas" and relating them strongly with the work of shamans and their inner experiences.
Incredibly, recent findings confirm that the concepts of harmony (several notes played at once) already present in prehistoric music (eg music found in cuneiform with data of over 4,000 years in the city da Ur in Mesopotamia incorporated). During prehistory music was part of celebrations and rituals, which does not differ much from the uses given today. In fact, our nervous system is almost the same, so what excites the human being is universal in nature.
The theories of the ancient Greek philosophers agree with the speculations of scholars in medieval times, defined music as tones ordered a set of horizontally (melodies) and vertical (harmony). This order or structure must have a sound set to be called music is present in such assertions German philosopher Goethe when compared with architecture, defining the latter as "frozen music". Most agree the appearance of the structure, but some modern theorists differ in that the result should be pleasurable or enjoyable. To understand the development of this wonderful art form, explore their evolution in the West, both in the classical tradition or scholarly and popular forms.
As the culture was developing, musical forms were still dominant, ending music characterizing a certain era. This is how prehistoric forms of music we reached the medieval music, from 476 (fall of the Roman Empire) until 1450 (the Renaissance). The most popular form at this time are the famous monophonic Gregorian alone songs traditionally sung by monks, who even enjoy great popularity as a Christian music until today for their captivating and repetitive melodies that inspire a mystical air.
With the advent of the Renaissance, between 1450 and 1600, is a more common complex instrumentation and low base concept is introduced. One of the highlights period instruments is the viol (viola leg), which continued to be used until the Baroque; this type of violation is not as belonging to the family of violins (whose name is actually viola da braccio or arm), but something like a cross between a guitar (has frets or separations) and cello. This instrument was manufactured in various sizes, being the most popular bass, now immortalized in the movie "All the Mornings of the World", on the use of this instrument in the courts of France.
Then, between 1600 and 1750 we reached the Baroque, where the structure and overall interpretive "ornaments" of music is refined. It is in this era where it became popular and secured the opera as a musical form. The pipe organ and the harpsichord were standard keyboards of the time, and ancient violas da gamba were replaced by the instruments of the violin family, with a more powerful sound, suitable for classrooms and presentations larger. The featured musicians are JSBach (like not mention his Art of Fugue, the Partitas for Solo Violin and Matthew Passion), George Friederich Handel, Antonio Vivaldi (popular until today with its four seasons) and Claudio Monteverdi.
Moving along the timeline we reached the classical period, and at this point should stop and clarify an important concept: What is classical music? Strictly corresponds to the learned music composed between 1730 and 1820, but common usage and also accepted this name is for all the learned music from the Baroque on, even to this day with the compositions of learned musicians contemporaries (eg John Williams that we can recognize in his unforgettable sound track for Star Wars, really spectacular). In the classical period (1730-1820) as many conventions and style and form were established, and as for the instruments used, highlights the facilitation of piano (whose full name is "piano forte") against the harpsichord. The inevitable musicians of this era are Ludwig van Beethoven (in its first phase compositions) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Also include Joseph Haydn and Muzio Clementi.
During the Romantic period, between 1815 and 1910, were defined accurately fees and interpretation techniques and institutions for teaching and dissemination of music in Europe were formalized. For composers of the period, it was important to use emotion, feelings and intuition to express the deepest truths. Among the composers have to Franz Schubert, Rossini, the great pianist Franz Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn, Chopin and Berlioz. A whole line of awesome music. Besides being Robert Schumann, Giuseppe Verdi, Richard Wagner, and violin lovers have the greatest miracle of all time, Niccolo Paganini; such was the skill of the violinist, thought he was possessed of superhuman strength.
Modern music, between 1905 and 1985, is a consequence of the crisis and the breakdown of traditional values in the arts, global trend characterized by the belief in progress and science; the idea is basically to break the old molds and start something new. The truth is that classical music or learned from this point forward is not as accessible as the past, because of its abstract and intellectual air. Names that could sound the current auditor are those of Arnold Schoenberg, Igor Stravinsky (the Rite of Spring is quite popular), Alan Berg and Bela Bartok ..
Finally, what is the music we learned what is known as contemporary music of the twentieth century to the present. As mentioned, the general public is inclined to the romantic baroque periods, being more accessible and "nice" to audition. Fortunately, like really good music never gets old we always enjoy recreations of the compositions of these past.
Now, roughly delineate the not learned or popular genre, although the distinction between the two is not easy and the truth is that the division is rather for classification and study, but the music is. Again we must distinguish, because for popular music we refer to the subgenre of "pop" as well as all the music more accessible to the general public type styles.
As for the genre of pop, although it has always been present in all cultures, is in the most recent period which speaks of pop music itself, crowded by advances in the media and the recent globalization. The pop is rooted in folk music (modern style with traditional folk influences, as in the case of Bob Dylan) and black culture; adding this fashion or trends of an epoch translated into simple and catchy melodies give us results in pop. Stand for the genre in chronological order Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Carole King, Neil Diamond, Steve Wonder, the Beach Boys, the BeeGees, Billy Joel, Elton John, The Eagles, Michael Jackson, Madonna (of course), Abba and The Police. The most recent phenomena are the Spice girls, the New Kids on the Block, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears, an icon for teenage girls.
A genre of popular music that has had major influences in pop, jazz and rock, are the Blues, with roots in African rhythms and melodies of the "Spirituals" Afro-Americans. We can not forget to mention Robert johnson (Delta Blues icon originating in Mississippi) and BB King, both gifted guitarists. For the most fanatical movie "Crossroads" or in English "Crossroads" with Johnson's music and interpretations of contemporary guitarist Steve Vai is recommended.
On the other hand we have the jazz, also African American roots, considered the first original art form developed in the United States. Its characteristics are is use of syncopated notes, the "swing" and improvisation. You can find an article dedicated to this form on our website.
The rock and roll, which took input from all genres mentioned above was a revolution in its time and whose current rhythms and variations are known simply as rock. This debate on the first "pure" recording of this genre, but his home is indisputable that include Bill Haley & His Comets, the legendary Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard.
One of the most popular genres current corresponds to electronic music, which has its beginnings linked to the development of the synthesizer, an instrument that allows the generation of electronic sounds, providing alternatives beyond traditional instruments. In the 1970s, musicians such as Jean Michel Jarre and Kitaro laid the foundation for today's electronics, and other subgenres such as New Age, for example. Highlights this dance oriented versions as Techno, Trance and House form.
At present, the passion for music in humans has been fueled further by a series of technological innovations. Not to mention playback devices, storage technology has undergone an amazing revolution with the development of computing and especially the Mp3 format, which has become commoditized allowing individuals to keep in computers and specialized devices a lot of musical works . Never in history been so easily accessible musical art of all time for a person; the effects of this phenomenon are still to be seen, and there is much that is speculation (for more information, visit what is mp3, and how to download free music).
As we have seen in this journey through the exciting world of music, this has always been with us and will remain as it is inseparable from who we are as human beings share. We have also seen that on one hand is timeless, always current, valid, and also a true representation of times, and feelings of history.
Translated for educational purposes.
