Meanings Of Music Across Time And Cultures

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The following article will explore the meanings of music across time and cultures. The music has been companion of man since the beginning of its history. There is speculation that the beginning of his story is related to imitate the sounds of nature, as the song of birds and also of the inner nature of human beings, such as the natural rhythm of the heartbeat, the latest theories concerning the beginnings of art gives great importance to this last point (forms received internally), referring to these influences as "entópicas" and linking them with the hard work of shamans and their inner experiences.

As incredible as it may seem, recent findings confirm that the concepts of harmony (several notes played at once) were already present in prehistoric music (eg music found in cuneiform with data from more than 4000 years in the city da Ur in Mesopotamia the incorporated). During prehistoric times the music was part of celebrations and rituals, which is not much different from the uses that are given today. In fact, our nervous system is almost the same, so excited that the human nature is universal.

The theories ...
... of the ancient Greek philosophers agree with the speculation of scholars in medieval times, defining the music as a whole tone managed horizontal (melody) and vertical (harmony). This order or structure must have a group of music sounds to be called in this instance by the assertions of the German philosopher Goethe when compared with the architecture, defining the latter as "frozen music." Most agree on the aspect of structure, but some modern theoretical differ in that the result should be pleasant or enjoyable. To understand the development of this wonderful art form, exploring its evolution in the West, both in its classical tradition, or learned and popular forms.

As the culture was developed, some musical forms were still dominant, ending featuring the music of a certain time. It is as well as prehistoric forms of music came to the medieval music, from the year 476 (fall of the Roman Empire) until 1450 (the Renaissance). The most popular in this era are the famous Gregorian chants, traditionally performed only by monks Monophonic, even as a popular Christian music today for his captivating and repetitive melodies that inspire a mystical air.

With the advent of the Renaissance, between 1450 and 1600, is a common and more complex instrumentation introduces the concept of a low base. One of the highlights of the season is the viola da gamba (viola leg), which continued to be used until the Baroque, this type of violation is not like belonging to the family of the violins (whose name is actually viola da braccio or arm), but it is something like a cross between a guitar (or separations has frets) and a cello. This instrument was manufactured in various sizes to be the most popular low, 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 arrived at the Baroque, where the structure is refined and, above all the "trimmings" interpretation of the music. It is in this era where it is popular and is entrenched as a musical opera. The pipe organ and harpsichord keyboards were standard at the time, and old viola da gamba were replaced by the instruments of the violin family, with a more powerful sound, capable of meeting rooms and larger presentations. Featured musicians are JSBach (not to mention his Art of Fugue, the Partita for violin solo and the Passion According to St. Matthew), George Friedrich Handel, Antonio Vivaldi (popular today with its four seasons) and Claudio Monteverdi.

Continuing along the timeline brings us to the classical period, and at this point should stop and clarify an important concept: What is classical music? Strictly up to the erudite music composed between 1730 and 1820, but the common and accepted use of the name is for all the music of the Baroque learned on, even to this day with compositions by contemporary musicians learned (for example John Williams that we can recognize in their unforgettable sound track for the Star Wars, really spectacular). In the classical period (1730-1820) were established in many conventions and style and form, and as for the instruments used, is the friendliness of the piano (whose full name is "piano forte") against the harpsichord. The musicians are inevitable this time of Ludwig van Beethoven (in its first phase compositions) and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. Besides highlighting Joseph Haydn and Muzio Clementi.

During the Romantic period, between 1815 and 1910, defined the precise charges and interpretation techniques, and formal institutions for education and dissemination of music in Europe. For composers of the period, the important thing was to use the emotions, feelings and intuition to express the deepest truths. Among the composers Franz Schubert us to Rossini, the great pianist Franz Liszt, Felix Mendelssohn to, Chopin and Berlioz. An entire race of impressive music. They are Robert Schumann, Giuseppe Verdi, Richard Wagner, and fans have the greatest violin prodigy of all time, to Niccolo Paganini, such was the skill of the violinist, who thought he was possessed by strength.

Modern music, between 1905 and 1985, is a consequence of the crisis and the breakdown of traditional values in the arts, the overall trend characterized by belief in progress and science, the idea is to basically break the old mold and start something new. The truth is that classical music and learned from this point forward is not as accessible as that of earlier times, for its most abstract and intellectual air. Names that may sound to the current auditor of Arnold Schoenberg, Igor Stravinsky (as of Spring is quite popular), Alan Berg, Bela Bartok ..

Finally, in what is learned music come to 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 "friendly" to the hearing. Fortunately, as in reality the good music never goes fashion can always enjoy recreations of the compositions of those times.

Now, outlining the broad gender learned or not popular, although the distinction between them is not easy and the truth is that the division is rather for classification and study, but the music is. Once again we must make a distinction, because we are referring to popular music subgenre of pop and all kinds of musical styles more accessible to the general public.

As for the subgenre of pop, but has always been present in all cultures, in more recent times where we talk about pop music itself, by advances in mass media and the recent globalization. The pop has its roots in folk music (modern style with traditional folk influences, such as Bob Dylan) and black culture, adding that the fashion trends of an epoch translated into simple, catchy melodies give resulting pop. Highlighted gender in order Frank Sinatra, The Beatles, Carole King, Neil Diamond, Stevie Wonder, the Beach Boys, the BeeGees, Billy Joel, Elton John, the Eagles, Michael Jackson, Madonna (of course), Abba and The Police. The latest events 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, whose roots lie in African rhythms and melodies of "Spirituals" Afro-Americans. We can not fail to mention Robert johnson (icon of the Delta Blues, from Mississippi) and BBKing, both gifted guitarists. For most fans recommended the film "Crossroads" or in English "Crossroads" with Johnson's music and contemporary interpretations of guitarist Steve Vai.

Another thing to jazz, also of African American roots, considered the first original art form developed in the United States. Features is its use of syncopated notes, the "swing" and improvisation. You can find an article dedicated to this form on our site.

Rock and roll, which took input from all genres mentioned above was a true revolution in its time, whose rhythms and variations are now known simply as rock. Discusses the first recording "pure" of this genre, but its onset is no doubt that stress and its comet Halley Bill, the legendary Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry and Little Richard.

One of the most popular genres today is electronic music, which is linked to its early development of the synthesizer, an instrument that allows the generation of electronic sounds, providing options beyond the traditional instruments. In the 1970s, musicians like Jean Michel Jarre Kitaro and laid the groundwork for today's electronics, and other sub as New Age, for example. Highlights this dance-oriented versions such as Techno, Trance and House.

At present, the passion for music in humans has been further fueled by a series of technological innovations. Not to mention the playback devices, storage technology has undergone an incredible revolution in the development of computing and in particular the MP3 format, which was crowded by allowing individuals to save on computers and specialized devices a large quantity of musical works . Never in history was so easily accessible musical of all time for one person, the effects of this phenomenon are yet to be seen, and there is much speculation that (for more information, visit what mp3, download music and how free).

As we have seen in this exciting journey through the world of music, this has always been with us and will continue to do so because it is an inseparable part of who we are as human beings. We have also seen a side that is timeless, always current and valid, and a reliable representation of times and feelings of the story.
Daniel Silva is the owner of several musica websites in english and spanish.