What is Western Music?
Western music is defined as music that originated in a Western country, and outlines organised instrumentation and vocal compositions which have a specific Western nationality of origin.
Western schools of thought refer primarily to countries in Europe and North America such as France, Germany, England, Canada, and the United States. In contrast, Eastern schools of thought refer to Asian and Southeast Asian countries such as China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Sri Lanka and India.
The origin of Western music can be traced back to Ancient Greece, which produced the invention of the lyre, the lute, and the poetic character of Orpheus, who could control the laws of nature with his singing. Philosophers such as Plato and his contemporary Aristotle explored the various ways in which music influenced the emotions of the human soul.
Ancient Greece was eventually conquered by the armies of Rome in the first century A.D. and many styles of thinking (including music and science) were adopted by the Roman people. The early Roman Empire was the dominant force in Europe until its fall in the fourth and fifth centuries which led to the Medieval Era, also known as the Dark Ages.
When considering the history of Western Music, scholars have divided it into five main eras – the Medieval era, the Renaissance era, the Baroque era, the Classical era, and the Romantic era.
The Medieval era
The Medieval period of music history began around the fall of the Roman empire in 476 AD. It progressed into the sixth century and lasted through the end of the fourteenth century, when it gave way to Renaissance music. Medieval-era music centered around the church.
There are four notable Medieval Composers whose works have survived upto date. One was Leonin, a French composer famous for pioneering polyphonic composition, or the simultaneous combination of many tones.
Perotinus Magnus, better known as Perotin, is remembered by his works Salvatorishodie and Magnus liber organi. Two other composers, Hildegard von Bingen and Guillaume de Machaut are also known for shaping Medieval music.
The Renaissance era
The Renaissance era of classical music spans from approximately 1400 to 1600. It saw the growth of polyphonic music, the rise of new instruments, and a plethora of new ideas regarding harmony, rhythm, and music notation.
One of the most prominent features of the Renaissance period was increased risk-taking - early Renaissance music, like that of Guillaume Dufay, maintained the harmonic rules of Medieval music from the late Middle Ages. But as new styles emerged over the course of the sixteenth century, Renaissance music began pushing boundaries and introducing moments of dissonance.
The Renaissance period saw a mix of new musical instruments and holdovers from earlier music. Common Renaissance instruments included the harpsichord, clavichord, viol, lute, rebec, lyre, guitar, recorder, cornet, trumpet, trombone (known at the time as sackbut), tambourine, and the transverse flute.
The Baroque era
The Baroque period of music occurred from roughly 1600 to 1750. It was preceded by the Renaissance era and followed by the Classical era. The Baroque style spread throughout Europe over the course of the seventeenth century, with notable Baroque composers emerging in Germany, Italy, France, and England.
After its origin in Italy, Baroque music expanded throughout Europe. This style of music mostly emphasised on dynamics – how loud or soft the music is. The pianoforte (an early version of the piano) replaced the harpsichord as the primary keyboard instrument.
The pianoforte (called a klavier in German) struck strings with felted hammers, whereas the harpsichord plucked the strings. This meant the pianoforte could play both soft and loud. Other new Baroque instruments, like the valve trumpet and the violin, also had immense dynamic potential.
Johann Sebastian Bach’s brilliance lay in his mastery of works like The Well-Tempered Klavier and The Brandenburg Concertos. George Frideric Handel composed Baroque landmarks like the Water Music and the opera Rodrigo, yet he is most remembered for the Messiah, an English language oratorio composed in 1742.
Also worth noting is Venetian composer Antonio Vivaldi. His most famous piece is the Four Seasons, a series of violin concertos that is widely performed by today’s classical musicians.
The Classical era
The Classical era of music marked the first time that the symphony, the instrumental concerto (which highlights virtuoso soloists), and the were brought to wide audiences. Chamber music for trio and string quartet was also popular during the Classical era.
The signature classical composer is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, although he was far from the only star of the classical era. Joseph Haydn, Franz Schubert, and J.S. Bach's sons J.C. Bach and C.P.E. Bach were also star composers during this period.
Opera composers like Mozart and Christoph Willibald Gluck developed the operatic form into a style that remains recognisable today. Ludwig van Beethoven began his career during the Classical era, but his own innovations helped usher in the next musical era.
Leaps and bounds were made in the development of musical instruments during the Classical period. The harpsichord was replaced by the piano as the most common keyboard instrument and was no longer the musical foundation of the orchestra.
Instead, Classical orchestras looked far more like those we know and love today, with clarinets, oboes, flutes, horns and trumpets joining the strings to create a far richer sound.
The Romantic era
The Romantic period of classical music lasted for much of the nineteenth century. It bridged the gap between the Classical era music of Mozart and Haydn and the music of the twentieth century. Romantic-era music contributes heavily to the repertoire of today's symphony orchestras.
Compared to the Classical era music, Romantic music favours drama, spirituality, and a connection with nature. This is evident in early Romantic compositions like Hector Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique and the moody piano nocturnes of Frederic Chopin. Eventually, Romantic music led to expressive opera by the likes of Giuseppe Verdi, Richard Wagner, and Giacomo Puccini.
The Romantic era produced many composers who are household names among today's classical music audiences. Five particularly notable Romantic composers include Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Liszt, Richard Wagner, Clara Wieck Schumann and Sergei Rachmaninoff.
Dinara Hettiarachchi
Grade 9
Ananda College
Colombo 10