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COLLEGE OF EDUCATION
MUSIC IN K-12 CURRICULUM: “History of Music (Music Overview)”
Semester of A.Y. 2020-2021
Introduction
Rationale
In all probability, music has played an important role in the life cycle of humans perhaps
even before we could speak. Significant evidence has been discovered that very early man
developed primitive flutes from animal bones and used stones and wood as percussion
Intended Learning Outcomes
● Students will be able to identify the history of music;
● Students will be able to recognize the essence and purpose of music; and
● Students will be able to listen and create an analysis about the different characteristics
of the certain musical period.
Activity
Complete the diagram by adding words or phrases that you think can define or are related to
“Music”.
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Discussion
An Introduction
In all probability, music has played an important role in the life cycle of humans perhaps
even before we could speak. Significant evidence has been discovered that very early man
developed primitive flutes from animal bones and used stones and wood as percussion.
Voice would have been the first and most natural means of expression in our distant
ancestors, used to bond socially or comfort a sleepless child. It is from these humble beginnings
that the music we enjoy today evolved.
As we move further through the history of music we find increasing evidence of its key role
in sacred and secular settings, although the division into these categories was not defined in
this way until many years later.
History of Music
Influences from the west to the east merged into the pre-Christian music of the Greeks and
later the Romans. Musical practices and conventions perhaps conveyed by travelling
musicians brought a wealth of diversity and invention.
Surviving Greek notation from this period of musical history has given scientists and
musicologists alike a vital clue to the way that the music of the time might have sounded. It
certainly indicates remarkable links to the music that would follow, perhaps most notably
through the use of modality in Greek music.
In the frescoes and in some written accounts, including the Bible, we have learned about
the instruments that featured in the Roman and Greek times and their significance to the
cultures. The trumpet as an instrument of announcement and splendid ceremony, or the lyre as
an integral player in the songs of poets.
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Across Europe from the early part of the first century, the monasteries and abbeys became
the places where music became embedded into the lives of those devoted to God and their
followers.
Christianity had established itself and with it came a new liturgy that demanded a new
music. Although early Christian music had its roots in the practices and beliefs of the Hebrew
people, what emerged from this was to become the basis for sacred music for centuries to
come. The chants that were composed devoutly followed the sacred Latin texts in a fashion
that was tightly controlled and given only to the glory of God. Music was very much
subservient to the words, without flourish or frivolity.
It was Pope Gregory (540-604 AD), who is credited with moving the progress of sacred
music forward and developing what is now called Gregorian Chant, characterised by the
haunting sound of the open, perfect fifth.
Some controversy surrounds this claim, but the name has stuck and the music remains
distinct and vitally important as it moves away from plainchant towards polyphony. This, in turn,
looked back to earlier times and customs, particularly in the music of the Jewish people where
the idea of a static drone commonly underpinned a second vocal line.
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Medieval Period
The Medieval Period, also known as the Middle Ages or the dark Ages, started approximately
400 A.D. and ended in early 1400 A.D. This is an era of war, famine, chaos, and people were
searching for security and protection. The Middle Ages covered the fall of Roman Empire until
the rise of the Ottoman Empire.
The feudal system was the form of government established during the Middle Ages. this
system divided the society into five classes - the king, the bishop, the baron, the lord, and the
peasant. In the year 313 A.D. Roman Emperor Constantine issued the Edict of Milan to end the
persecution of Christians. Because of this Christianity flourished across Europe. In the late
Middle Ages, the Black death or the Bubonic plague spread across Europe and cost many
lives.
Music of the Medieval Period
During the medieval period, vocal music dominated the scene. There are no records of
instrumental music because music, as played by instruments, was highly improvised at this time.
Rhythm was not noted during this period. Traditions regarding the treatment of sacred text,
the meter of the text, and the musical abilities of singers and instrumentalists also determined
the rhythmic complexity and tempo of medieval period musical pieces. The use of small
melodic intervals and range was very evident in medieval music.
The application of melisma, legati and church mode were usual characteristics of melody.
Melisma is a group of notes that are sung on a syllable of a particular word or text. Legato is a
smooth, even manner of musical performance. Last, the church mode, also called the
Gregorian mode, is one of the eight scales in Gregorian chant.
The concepts of harmony and tonality were also different in the Middle Ages than those in
modern Western music. Monophonic texture was mainly used during the early part of Middle
Ages. This texture refers to only one musical line. Then, between the middle and the latter part
of the period, polyphonic texture, such as organum and motets, was developed from
combining several musical lines.
Musical form was mainly sacred vocal music such as plainchant, conductus, masses, and
motets, instrumental estampie, and secular vocal songs.
Gregorian chants were written in neumes. A neume is the early form of musical notation used
to transcribe the Gregorian chant. It uses a four-line staff and square to indicate the pitch,
interval, and melodic motion.
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Understanding the characteristics of Gregorian chant will help you appreciate the music of the
medieval period.
Characteristics of the Gregorian Chants:
● monophonic
● Free meter
● Modal
● Usually based on Latin liturgy
● Use of Neume notation
Gregorian Chants: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kK5AohCMX0U&t=34s
Renaissance Period
Renaissance period, which literally means “rebirth,” was the period of transformation in
Europe from 1400to 1600. This period marked the revival of the culture and the arts of Greece
and Rome.
Renaissance influenced the development of a form of philosophy called humanism.
Humanism focuses on human progress, virtues, and aesthetics. Artists during this time started to
work more on secular concepts than on religious ideologies.
The invention of printing in the 1400’s paved the way for a wide distribution of renaissance
compositions. With the emergence of the bourgeois class, renaissance music became popular
as entertainment and activity for amateurs and the educated. Lute was the prominent
instrument of the renaissance era. The influence of the Roman Catholic Church started to
decline as the new music genre arose. Though sacred music was still of great importance,
secular music became more prominent in the renaissance period. This era was also known as
“the golden age” of a cappella choral music.
Other historical facts during this era is the discovery of the actual position of earth in the
solar system by Copernicus, the invention of compass creating a wider navigation not only of
the lands but also of the oceans, and Martin Luther’s Protestant reformation.
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Characteristics of Renaissance Music:
● Mostly polyphonic
● Imitation among the voices is common
● Use of word painting in texts and music
● Melodic lines move in a flowing manner
● Melodies are easier to perform because these move along a scale with a few large
leaps.
Sacred Music
All sacred music was in Latin language and sung as an a cappella. There were two types
of sacred music - the motet and the mass. Mass – is a form of sacred musical composition that
sets texts of the Eucharistic liturgy into music.
Characteristics of the Mass:
● Polyphonic
● May be sung a cappella or with orchestral accompaniment
● Text may be syllabic (one note set to each syllable), neumatic (a few notes set to one
syllable), or melismatic (many notes to one syllable)
Five Main Sections of Mass:
● Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b8WdyJHLUgg
● Gloria (Glory to God in the Highest): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPV6K5b_OlM
● Credo (I Believe in One God): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UN32VHfnB7A
● Sanctus and Benedictus (Holy, holy and Blessed Is He):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8zEXBjO10E
● Agnus Dei (Lamb of God): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVFzxazTQNM
Secular Music
Madrigal - A secular vocal polyphonic music composition which originated from Italy. It is
written and expressed in a poetic text and sung during courtly social gatherings. It is the most
important secular form during the Renaissance period.
Characteristics of the Madrigal:
● Polyphonic
● Sung a cappella
● Through–composed
● Frequently in 3 to 6 voices
Baroque Period
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The word Baroque is derived from the Portuguese word ``barocco” which means “pearl of
irregular shape''. Some of the great composers of this time were George Friedrich Handel,
Johann Sebastian Bach, Claudio Monteverdi, and Antonio Vivaldi. During this time, the arts
highlighted grandiose and elaborate ornamentation. These were clearly seen in the musical
compositions created by Baroque composers. New instrumental techniques and changes in
musical notation were developed. Major and minor tonality was also created in this period. A
lot of the musical terms and concepts that evolved in this era are still used today.
Music of the Baroque Period
Baroque music is grand. Ornate, and lively. It features one basic mood or a unity of mood
with consistent and strong rhythmic drive. This means that music that starts lively will end lively.
The melody moves from one instrument to another and is characterized by the frequent use of
embellishment and ornamentation such as trill, appoggiatura, and mordents.
The trill is a musical ornament played by rapid alternation between two adjacent notes,
usually a semitone or a tone apart.
The appoggiatura, also known as the grace note, consists of an added note in melody that
is resolved, which delays the appearance of the principal note.
The mordent is almost the same as the trill. However, the mordent is a single alternation
whereas the trill is multiple alternations for the duration of the note.
Unlike the music in the previous periods, there was an equal importance of sacred and
secular music, as well as vocal and instrumental music, in this era. Baroque composers aimed
to elicit the audience's emotion such as sadness, joy, and fear through music.
Characteristics of Baroque Music
● Strong rhythmic drive
● Use of basso continuo or continuous bass
● Use of major and minor tonality, veering away from modes
● Use of embellishment and ornamentation
● Terraced dynamic or sudden changes in dynamics (loud, soft, heavy to light, and fast to
slow)
● Unity of mood
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● Complex melody
● Conveyed emotion
Vocal Forms
Opera was born in Italy during the baroque era. Opera (in Latin and Italian) means “labor,
work, and composition.” It is a drama put into music with elaborate costumes. At its inception,
classical opera was dominated by men, similar to the Noh theater of Japan.
In contrast to Renaissance polyphony, early baroque music featured monody. Monody is a
musical texture in which a solo instrument or a voice dominates other parts that serves as
accompaniment. The solo part is either aria or recitative. The aria is a typical type of singing
accompanied by an orchestra. The recitative is a musical form of talking accompanied
sparsely by a harpsichord.
Oratorio is a musical play without scenery, costumes, and acting. Unlike opera that is secular
and based on mythology, oratorio features a religious subject.
Cantata is a musical performance in both sacred and secular styles with acting and scenery.
The cantata originally came from Italy and made its way through Germany and France. It has
taken many forms; it was originally opera-like, with recitatives and arias.
Classical Period
The classical period (1750-1820) was enveloped in the Enlightenment period, which is
also known as “the age of reason.” During this time, people were into the use of reason, logic,
and rational thoughts in interpreting the world. They believed that reason, not custom or
tradition, must be the basis of the society. they confronted the privileges of the nobility and the
clergy, and they gave opportunities for the rights of the middle class.
Classical Music
Classical music was characterized by its form, symmetry, and balance. In this period,
composers began to consider artists from the middle class. They wrote less complicated and
easy to understand music so that more people could appreciate it.
● Galant Style is a style wherein simpler melodies that were easier to sing characterized
the music with a contrast of mood within the movement.
Music in this period was usually homophonic and considered as elegant. The melodic clarity
and balance between the accompaniment and solo instruments were the trademark of
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classical music. The harpsichord was replaced by the piano, which provided more control to
the dynamics of the musical piece. The orchestra became larger, as the clarinets,flutes, oboes,
and bassoons became part of it.
Romantic Period
The Romantic period spanned from 1820-1900. It was a time of war and revolution when
people were radical and in search for freedom of self-expression and individualism. This
movement is called Romanticism; it rejected the concept of rationalization and
conventionalism of the classical period. Romanticism is a revolt against strict rules, established
laws, formulas, balance, and idealization that characterized classicism. It is the reaction
against the grandeur of life in the city, advancement of technology, urbanization, and
modernization. But it emphasizes the simplicity and beauty of nature. Society started to break
away from usual life4 and began to think outside the box. It favored imagination over reason,
emotion over logic, and instinct over scientific method.
Romantic Music
Ludwig van Beethoven bridged the transition between the classical and the Romantic
periods. His latter works expanded the classical musical style, which gave birth to Romanticism.
Classical music followed strict rules, but Romantic music featured freedom, creativity, emotion,
imagination, and experimentation.
As a result of innovation in musical style, everything became louder, longer, and bigger.
Richer harmonies, denser textures and a wider range of pitch and song-like melodies became
evident to the music of the period. New musical forms, such as symphonic poem, art song,
nocturne, etude, and polonaise, also emerged.
This is the “Golden Age of Virtuoso.” The orchestra became massive, louder,and resembled
the present ensemble. Concertos with piano music also became more important in this era,
because composers wanted to perform and show their skills on stage.
I was also during the Romantic Period when people began to express their sense of
nationalism through music. Composers started to use folk songs, dances, and musical identities
of their homeland. The use of chromatics and syncopations were practiced to create drama in
the music.
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Exercises
Exercise #1: Musical Analysis
Direction: Listen to these different music from the different period and create an analysis
through describing what you hear.
Medieval Period
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ6ykg0TYug
Renaissance Period
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvjuv4IIKcU
Baroque Period
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zekP39Da3E
Classical Period
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E6b3swbnWg
Romantic Period
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULbfVgaMfdE
Period Analizations/Description
Medieval Music
Renaissance Music
Baroque Music
Classical Music
Romantic Music
Assessment
Multiple Choice
Direction: Read and analyze the following questions and statements. Choose the leter of the
correct answer.
1. Beethoven was a composer from what era?
a. Medieval Period c. Renaissance Period
b. Classical Period d. Romantic Period
2. This period is known as the Middle Ages of the Dark Ages, started approximately 400
A.D. and ends in early 1400 A.D.
a. Medieval Period c. Renaissance Period
b. Classical Period d. Romantic Period
3. What period literally means”rebirth”?
a. Medieval Period c. Renaissance Period
b. Classical Period d. Romantic Period
4. The music in this period is grand, ornate and lively.
a. Baroque Music c. Renaissance Music
b. Medieval Music d. Classical Music
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5. What type of vocal forms in Baroque music originated from Italy where it is a drama put
into music?”
a. Cantata c. Opera
b. Oratorio d. Aria
6. Classical ear is also known as the ______.
a. age of empires c. age of reason
b. age of classics d. age of orchestra
7. In this period, composers began to consider artists from the middle class.
a. Medieval Period c. Renaissance Period
b. Classical Period d. Romantic Period
8. This music era featured freedom, creativity, emotion, imagination, and experimentation.
a. Baroque Music c. Renaissance Music
b. Romantic Music d. Classical Music
9. What kind of texture does classical music have?
a. Homophonic c. Monophonic
b. Heterophonic d. Polyphonic
10. Music that is religious in nature.
a. Secular Music c. Sacred Music
b. Vocal Music d. Instrumental Music
Reflection
REFLECTION WEEK NO. 1
Direction: Share your insights about the quotation. 30 points.
“Music gives soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to
everything.” - Plato
Resources and Additional Resources
● Practical MAPEH 9, History of Western Music
● https://wisdomquotes.com/music-quotes/
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KZ6ykg0TYug
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yvjuv4IIKcU
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zekP39Da3E
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9E6b3swbnWg
● https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ULbfVgaMfdE
●
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