Pre-historic Music: Includes all of the world’s music that existed before recorded history._
Example: Native American music or preliterate tribes and Australian Aboriginal music.
Suggests that the origin of music likely stems from naturally occurring sounds and rhythms. Uses
patterns, repetition and tonality. It may also serve entertainment (game/fun) or practical functions
(luring animals in hunt).
Musical instrument was the human voice - vast array of sounds from singing, humming, whistling,
clicking, coughing and yawning.
Jubal was the inventor of musical instrument.
Hebrew was very committed to the cultivation of music. The time of Samuel, David and Solomon were
the golden age of music along with Hebrew poetry. It was an essential part of training in the schools of
the prophets. There arose a class of professional singers. In Solomon's Temple was the great school of
music where large groups of trained singers and players on instruments were constantly employed.
Ancient Music
Prehistoric is considered to have ended with the development of writing.
Ancient music is the name given to the music that followed. The oldest known song was written dating
up to 4,000 years ago.
Instruments - double pipes and ancient bagpipes, seven holed flute and various types of stringed
instruments.
The history of musical development in Iran (Persian music) dates back to the prehistoric era.
Persians possessed an elaborate musical culture - with evidence pointing to the existence of a lively
musical life in Persia.
Important musicians of the time were - Barbod, Nakissa and Ramtin and some of their works have
survived.
Feudal System - The feudal system structured the society into various categories and followed a set of
laws & legal customs. Life in Medieval times was depended greatly on the social status of the person.
The king and nobles enjoyed a luxurious life while the poor peasant’s life was characterized with a lack
of food, safety, and other basic needs.
Kings were very powerful although the Pope could tell the king what to do.
Heirarchy:
Pope
Nobles/Lords
Knights/Vassals
Knights/ Farmers/Craftsmen
Peasants/Serfs
Medieval Period Music
Dark Ages - 500 - 1000 The longest and most remote period of musical history. Consists of almost a
thousand years of music.
Gregorian Chant - During the Late Roman Empire, portions of scripture were set to traditional Roman
melodies. These works were organized into an official Church repertoire, largely under the reign of Pope
Gregory - thus Gregorian Chant. Gregorian Chants are monophonic vocal works performed during
various Roman Catholic ceremonies.
Notation suggests approximate pitch and rhythm.
Monophony - simple texture of music. Notes moved in same direction. Had same rhythm. Melody was
without accompanying harmony.
Later Middle Ages
1000 - 1400
Melody developed into polyphonic texture. Each line has independent movement and rhythm.
Expanded to three or four parts.
Staff was developed to represent precise pitch and rhythm.
Secular Music composed for popular entertainment. Typical subjects were heroic legends, love stories, and satire.
In the Dark Ages, Minstrels (wandering performers, generally low on the socioeconomic ladder) were
the principal group of professional secular musicians.
In later period they were joined by upper and middle class secular musicians. These groups flourished in
France (troubadours and trouveres) and Germany (minnesingers and meistersingers).
INSTRUMENTS - Bowed Instruments - vielle
Stringed instrument most popular of Medieval instruments.
P lucked Strings - lute angled neck and pear shaped body.
Wind instrument - recorders, various kinds of trumpets and horns. shawm - double reed instrument.
Percussion - nakers (kettle drums), tabor, bells, cymbals, portative and Positive organs.
Composers - Guillaume de Machaut, Francesco Landini, Phillipe de Vitry
Styles of Music – Gregorian chant and motet.