MusicEraComicBoxes7th &8th GradeMusic

Prehistoric Era 60,000 BCE – 5,000 BCE• Alsoknownas“TheStoneAge”• Instrumentsmadefromnaturalelementslikestone,boneandwood• Humanvoiceisfirstinstrument• Musicmostlikelyusedforcommunicationandsignaling• Songsprobablysoundedlikecallsinnature(likebirdsongs)

Antiquity (Ancient) 5,000 BCE-500 CE • Greek,Hebrew,Roman,Egyptian,Chinesecultures• Beginningofwrittenlanguage• Newinstrumentsinventedusingmetalsandotherelements• Musicfromceremonies• Thestartofsomemusicforentertainment

Medieval (Middle Ages) 500-1450• TimeofKings&Queens,Knightsandcastles• Classesofpeople:Peasants,Skilledworkers,Nobility• TheChurchissupremeandinfluencesallaspectsoflife• Chantmusicissung• Musicnotationisinvented• Printingpressisinvented

Renaissance 1450-1600• Scientificdiscoveries(Americadiscovered)• Moremusicwrittendown• Beginningoftheorchestra• Morepeoplelearntoreadandwrite• GreatartistslikeMichelangeloandBernini&DaVinci• Churchesemployedfulltimechoirs• Morepeoplelearntoplayinstruments• Musicbecomesmoreinterestingwithmoreinstrumentsandharmony• Morenon-religiousmusicwritten

Baroque 1600-1750• Theorganbecomesacommoninstrument• ComposerslikeJ.S.Bach,HandelandHaydnchangemusicandtheorchestra• Churchesemploychoirsfulltime• Non-religiousmusicstartstobecomemoreandmorepopular• Newinstrumentscreated,instrumentmakersgainprominence• Musiciansthinkmorenotesarealwaysbetter;musicbecomesaboutaddingmoreandmoreandmorenotes,rhythmsandsounds

Classical 1750-1825• ComposerslikeMozartandBeethovendominate• Operabecomesverypopular• Theorchestragetsbiggerandlooksmorelikethemodernorchestrastoday• Musiciancreatemoreruleswhenwritingmusicinvariousforms• Performersbecomefamousandmakeagoodlivingjustplayinganinstrumentorsinging

Romantic 1825-1900• Composerswanttheaudienceto“feel”anemotionwhenlisteningtomusic• Musicformsbecomereallylong(operathatlasts4hours)• Nationalisticcomposerswritemusicthatclearlyrepresentsthefolkstylesoftheirhome• Popular(non-religiousmusic)overtakesreligiousmusicasmostlistenedtoo• Musicians&composersenjoy“fame”andgiveconcerts

20th Century 1900-2000• Inventionofradiomademusicaccessibletoanyone• TVinvented:peoplecannowseetheirfavoritemusicianswithoutseeingthemataliveperformance• Many,manynewstylesofmusicdeveloped• Electricinstrumentsinvented• StyleslikeRock&Roll,Blues,Rap,Country- allemerge• USAinfluencesothercountriesinpopularstylesofmusic

Contemporary 2000-present• Digitalmusic– musiccanbecreatedwithoutanymusiciansplayinginstruments• Thelargestamountofmusicalstylesinhistory• Musicconsumersaregettingtheirmusicthroughstreaminganddownloads• Themostpeopleinhistoryhavepersonaldevicesthatallowthemtolistentomusicatanytimeofthedayandanywhere