History of Music in Timeline
Music is a fundamental human expression found across cultures, involving the structured arrangement of sounds to create form, harmony, melody, and rhythm. While its definition is debated, it's considered a universal language of creativity. Music encompasses composition, improvisation, and performance, utilizing diverse instruments, including the voice. Technology has expanded musical creation and playback, ranging from traditional instruments to digital audio workstations.
1900: Evolution of Harmony in Music
By 1900, the use of harmony in music had evolved significantly. While simple classical pieces and popular music often stuck to a single key, more complex compositions explored multiple keys, as seen in Romantic era classical music, jazz, and Bebop jazz.
1900: End of the Romantic Music Period
The Romantic music period, known for its emphasis on emotion, individualism, and nature, came to an end in 1900.
1929: The American Federation of Musicians Protests Canned Music
In 1929, as talking pictures with pre-recorded soundtracks gained popularity, the American Federation of Musicians (AFM) publicly protested against the displacement of live musicians. They ran newspaper ads criticizing the use of "canned music," lamenting its lack of emotional and intellectual impact.
1941: George Herzog's Question on Animal Music
George Herzog sparked debate in 1941 with his question, "do animals have music?", prompting further exploration into the musicality of non-human sounds.
1972: Nicolas Ruwet's Influence on Zoomusicology
Nicolas Ruwet's 1972 book, "Language, musique, poésie," introduced a paradigmatic segmentation analysis technique that influenced the study of zoomusicology, particularly in analyzing bird songs.
1983: François-Bernard Mâche Publishes Ornitho-Musicology Study
In 1983, François-Bernard Mâche released his work "Musique, mythe, nature, ou les Dauphins d'Arion," examining "ornitho-musicology" and analyzing bird songs through a linguistic lens.
1990: Jean-Jacques Nattiez's Perspective on Music and Perception
Jean-Jacques Nattiez, in 1990, posited that music is a uniquely human construct, determined by the human mind's perception and organization of sound, regardless of its origin.
November 2006: Music Therapy for Schizophrenia
In November 2006, research by Michael J. Crawford and colleagues highlighted the positive effects of music therapy in treating schizophrenic patients, adding to the growing body of evidence supporting music's therapeutic benefits.
2010: Shifting Disciplines within Musicology
By 2010, the field of musicology saw a shift in its sub-disciplines. The traditional categories of systematic, historical, and comparative musicology became less prevalent, giving way to a more common division of music theory, music history, and ethnomusicology.
2012: Underrepresentation of Women in Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra
In 2012, women constituted a mere 6% of the prestigious Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, highlighting the ongoing underrepresentation of women in classical music, particularly in top-tier orchestras.
2013: UK Curriculum Update for Music
In 2013, the UK curriculum updated its music elements, renaming them to "inter-related dimensions of music" and adding "appropriate musical notations" to the list.
2015: Gender Disparity in Concerto Soloists
A 2015 study revealed a significant gender gap among concerto soloists in major Canadian orchestras, with men making up 84% of the soloists with the Montreal Symphony Orchestra.