| This History of
Rock and Roll CHAPTER ONE – MUSIC HISTORY First came the stick and the log. We thumped for a long time... It was all about the groove... It still is. |
MUS-226-01
|
|
|
MUSIC HISTORY
Prehistoric
|
To get some perspective on the length and breadth of Rock and Roll in the course of history, let's first take a look at all of music history. Before we as a civilization became literate, we played music. Music helped pass the time. When we weren't foraging for food, we entertained each other with songs. The instruments were simple, drums mostly, with some flute-like and harp looking instruments too. Sweet. A few notes, a little rhythm and celebrations were more memorable. We danced. We created epics to our fallen heroes so we would never forget them. And we were able to remember a host of important things more easily with a song that could be taught and passed on. Early hits were songs like: "Don't Eat the Red Ones, You'll Die" and "Always Do What Your Mother Says, or You'll Die" and "Dad Was a Hero, He's Dead". It was a social thing, important to survival, communication and fun. And modern research has born this out; women are attracted to good dancers. So anyone who could lay down a good beat and keep it interesting was of great value back in the day. Make no mistake, guys who played got all the chicks back then too. Interestingly enough, styles come and go, but many of this early music survives to this day. It's now called Traditional or Folk music and it is tied to its culture like glue. I believe that you can take a quantum leap from an early tribal celebration right into last Saturday night's Rave down at the corner "Club Hip and Groove" without skipping a beat.
|
To delve deeper into this topic follow this link to Wikipedia: |
|
Ancient Music 4000 BC
|
Long about 4000 BC the Pre-historics became the Historics. These early enlightened civilizations were found in Persia, India, China, Greece, Rome, Egypt and Mesopotamia. Same folks, same cultures, it's just that they were now able to write it down. View the music as nothing more than a continuation of the prehistoric cultural and folk traditions. But as soon as a few people became literate they were able to write about it and describe it. For a more in depth look at the music of these cultures take a look at the Wikipedia link to the right. NOTE: The sub-African cultures did not become truly literate until somewhat later. Salt that away in your brain for a little while. Now consider this: the reason we are studying Western Music is because we have something to study. Written records. That does not mean that there wasn't a huge and powerful musical tradition in Africa. There was, and still is. Traditional African Folk music was brought down through the generations and over to America with the slaves. And right here I will make a personal point. Call it my opinion. When the African peoples were dragged from their homes and sold into slavery, they brought nothing. The only evidence of their culture was what they carried with them in their minds and hearts. They brought their songs and stories. They adopted the ways of their masters: their language, their names, and their instruments. More on that later.
|
|
|
64 AD |
MYTH: The Rome burned while Nero played his fiddle. Nero may have been a mean, tyrannical ruler, who may have been more interested in music than fire prevention, but he never played the fiddle. The violin was invented in the 16th century. |
|
|
Early Music 476 AD |
Rome dominated everything from language (Latin) to the arts. Roman architecture still stands around Europe and their art from this period dominated. The Roman Empire collapsed on itself in 476 AD. Leaving in it's place the Roman Catholic Church to dominate the European Continent. Early Music was controlled by the Church of Rome. They did not approve of non-liturgical song (secular music). They also were pretty much the only cats who could write, so even though they tried to make believe that folk music didn't exist... it thrived. And probably formed the roots of what would become the folk music of modern Europe.
|
|
|
Medieval Music
|
These were some dark times. We're talking Europe from the fall of Rome in 476 AD right up until the Renaissance which started around 1400. The Roman Catholic Church remained politically very strong through these Middle Ages. There were basically two genres of music: liturgical and secular. In church, peasants and proper folks listened to Gregorian Chant and sipped wine. At home and in the fields they listened to folk music and guzzled beer. A quick NOTE about booze: Alcohol was important in the middle ages. Water was rancid. Drink, you die. Around the Mediterranean, they fermented grapes and found that they could drink as much as they wanted without getting sick. Well, you know what I mean. The same is true of barley to the North. Beer good, water not so good. (A little farther North and East and potatoes gave us Vodka.) Who says God doesn't love us. Drinks that insure our survival and give us a little entertainment. Speaking of entertainment. The more you drink, the better and bawdier you sing. I'll put some links to the side to check out. Just realize that two things are true as far as music is concerned. People listened to and were very much aware of both church music and folk music, in all cultures across Europe. You will see that this is important as they come back together in America to form... I'm getting ahead of myself. |
|
|
1000 AD |
Music notation was invented by Guido D'Arezzo. From this time forward (actually 992), we will have an accurate record of what music really sounded like. Whether it was liturgical or secular, musicians could write it out, share it with others and preserve for all time their creation.
|
|
|
1400 AD |
I think this is an important date. In October 1347 a ship sailed into Europe from the Far East carrying The Black Death. It decimated most of Europe. By some accounts it killed half the population. By 1400, if you were still alive, things were looking up. In Florence Italy something serious was brewing... I blame it all on one family, but in reality LOTS of people felt the same way. "If we're going to be alive... Let's really live."
|
|
|
Renaissance Music |
In Florence, Italy a family emerged who would dominate the political and social landscape. The Medici family defined what it meant to be a patron of the arts. All across Europe, the powerful took their lead. No, they weren't responsible for the Renaissance, but they were exemplary. I've put a very good link to PBS to the right. I recommend that you tool around the site. They, and people like them, created an atmosphere in which musical talent was nurtured. "Nobody remembers the flutist, but the Composer will be remembered forever." James Ball, one of my music school professors told me that once. He was trying to encourage me to continue on my quest to become a composer. It's safer to play. It's safer to teach. To write, you need dedication, desire and no fear. It helps to have a benefactor. And that's what the Medici family and people like them provided; money to pursue dreams. Before the Renaissance you will see lots of music attributed to "Anonymous". From this point on, composers were allowed to push the envelope. And they had people on staff to play their charts. NOTE: Have you ever noticed that orchestra musicians wear tuxedos? Hmmm... just like butlers. The Kings, Dukes, Earls and rich folks were mighty thrifty. After they seated the guests and served the meal, the servants picked up instruments and provided the entertainment.
|
|
|
Instruments |
During this awakening or Enlightenment, craftsmanship also developed. Artisans thrived, and with these new talents and materials they developed a host of instruments to fulfill the dreams of these new composers. As instruments developed and musicians became better at their craft, the composers pushed the artform. Some more Wiki-wisdom awaits to the right. By 1600 music had so developed that it escaped the bounds of church and secular folk, and became an artform unto itself. Single note unaccompanied melodies gave way to chordal accompaniment and polyphony. (Harmony- two or more notes played or sung together.) Serious professionals practiced it, taught it and perfected the art, creating memorable masterpieces that survive to this day. And they enjoyed a certain amount of celebrity along the way. During the next era, some real stars were born.
|
Renaissance Music Composers & Instruments
|
|
Baroque Music 1600
|
Music and the people who composed and played it enjoyed a strong period of growth for the next 150 years. Music was refined, defined in universities, royal courts and churches all across Europe. Eventually some real stars emerged: Anotonio Vivaldi, Georg Philipp Telemann, Johann Sebastian Bach, and George Friderich Handel wrote for an ever expanding group of instrumentalists and choirs. And in clearly defined styles: gigues, gavottes, minuets and fugues. To large works like Symphonies for grand orchestras and Concertos featuring breath taking soloists accompanied by full orchestras. They wrote for church services, royal weddings and funerals, and every conceivable state function. There is a massive catalogue of music, most of which is still being performed today. Type Baroque into iTunes or Amazon and listen to your hearts content. And please check out Wiki-wisdom to the right.
|
|
|
Tempered Tuning 1700
|
Instrumentalists and instrument makers tooled around with the tuning of instruments from the dawn of time. It was easy to get an instrument to play in tune with itself and in the key that you tuned it in. As technique and the desire to create more complex compositions rose, so too the need to create an instrument that could be played in any key. And even modulate to different keys in the same piece. To accomplish this, you would have to cheat the tuning a little at each scale degree to trick the ear into thinking it was in tune with the key your playing in and with any subsequent key signature you would like to play in. This opened up a whole lot of interesting sonorities as yet unheard in music. If you're interested, Ed Foote wrote a nice little article on tuning. Link at the right. |
|
|
1722 |
In 1722 Johann Sebastian Bach wrote "The Well Tempered Clavier" (piano). From this date forward music was revolutionized. It is how we perceive music today. |
|
|
1750 |
Bach died, signaling the end of the Baroque Period. |
|
| Tea |
Interesting to NOTE that it was during this time period that Tea was introduced to the European continent. Remember all that booze they were drinking (out of necessity). Imagine if you will, a population who consumed all or most of their liquids on any given day from the distillery. By the end of the day they'd be pretty hammered, right? It's not much of a stretch to assume that the great progress of music and, indeed, the Industrial Revolution owes itself to the introduction of a beverage that actually energizes you.
|
|
|
Classical Period 1750 - 1820
|
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Ludwig van Beethoven, and Joseph Hayden were three of the big names from this period of music. The Classical Period lasted 70 years. Everything got bigger and more refined. Notations in the composers score began to include dynamic markings to indicate how loud or soft a passage should be played. Individual notes also had articulation makings to indicate the length and breadth of notes and how they should be played within a phrase. (staccato, slurred, etc.) The instruments and scores from this period have remained unchanged to this day. Note that the whole era was not much longer than Rock and Roll music's current age.
|
|
|
Romantic Period 1820 - 1900 |
The Romantic Period in music wasn't really about romance. It was more about esoteric freedom. The composers pushed their music forward freely, with longer, stronger, more chromatic melodies with lush harmonies. Remember, the Industrial Age was in full swing. Instruments were being manufactured better. They were louder and easier to play. The music reflected this. It was in this period that we see the birth of the virtuoso Niccolo Paganini. Check this dude out. They called him the Devil's violist. He was known for his violin playing, but he was also the world's first shredder. There was a host of great composers toward the end of the 19th century. Remember Rock and Roll can be traced to Gospel and Blues, whose roots came out of the Civil War days in America. These Europeans were celebrating nationalistic pride with their huge orchestral works. Tchaikovsky and Wagner come to mind. There were the great Strauss waltzes, and spectacular operas of Puccini and Verdi. All of which brought us to the 20th Century and the birth of the true American music.
|
Romantic Period |
|
20th Century Impressionist |
In Europe, the Impressionists took center stage. Paris ruled the art world at the turn of the century. Monet and Renoir had already established this new style, and Van Gogh had already severed his ear. Debussy and Ravel set the musical standard. It was a sweet sound, big open whole tones... THIS was the real romance music.
|
|
|
Classical
Avant-garde Music
New Music |
Classical Music through the 20th Century took very few turns. Orchestras around the world were more content to play Mozart, Bach and Beethoven than delve into new music. The exceptions were unique and varied. Igor Stravinsky pushed the envelope to the breaking point . At the premiere of his "The Rite of Spring" the dissonances in the score and wild syncopations sent the audience to the brink of a riot. Aaron Copeland created an American sound, wide open and genuine. Hector Villa-Lobos wrote in the distinctive style of his native Brazil. Contrast all of those very different styles with a dude named Anton Webern. He REALLY pushed the envelope. Was it math? Scientific exploration? Could it have had any inspiration? No doubt, the man was brilliant. He expanded the musical vocabulary to include all twelve notes of the scale, by including all twelve pitches in his melodic statements. He also spread the melody around the orchestra. Klangfarbenmelodie, in the hands of the masters and learned listeners this new music was challenging, even exhilarating. To the average listener it was cacophony. To the undiscerning, the music could only be described as controlled chaos, or worse, random acts of melodious calamity. Why not just throw out any thought of melody and harmony and reach for all the gusto. Which of course is what ensued. The Avant-garde movement stretched the boundaries of notation and sonic energy. Experimental composers like John Cage and Terry Riley used instruments in new ways and pushed performers to expand their musical vocabulary to include improvisation and graphic notation. The search for new classical music continues. It is as varied and as exciting as ever. It's vitality and vigor owes itself to academia and patrons of the arts, and to the passion of today's classical artists who quest for new music as they continue to celebrate the masters of the past. |
|
|
NEXT PAGE - CHAPTER TWO - ORIGINS of POP
|