WHAT IS MUSIC

The word, 'music' is derived from ​Greek ​μουσική (​mousike​; "art of the ​Muses​"). In
Greek mythology​, the nine ​Muses were the goddesses who inspired literature,
science, and ​the arts and who were the source of the knowledge embodied in the
poetry, song-lyrics, and myths in the Greek culture. According to the ​Online
Etymological Dictionary​, the term "music" is derived from "mid-13c., musike, from
Old French ​musique (12c.) and directly from ​Latin ​musica "the art of music," also
including poetry (also [the] source of Spanish ​música​, Italian ​musica​, ​Old High
German ​mosica​, German ​Musik​, Dutch ​muziek,​ Danish ​musik​)." This is derived from
the "...Greek ​mousike (techne) "(art) of the Muses," from fem. of mousikos
"pertaining to the Muses," from Mousa "Muse" (see muse (n.)). Modern spelling
[dates] from [the] 1630s. In ​classical Greece​, [the term "music" refers to] any art in
which the Muses presided, but especially music and ​lyric poetry​.

Music is an ​art form​, and ​cultural activity, whose ​medium is sound. General
definitions of music include common elements such as ​pitch (which governs ​melody
and ​harmony​), ​rhythm (and its associated concepts ​tempo​, ​meter​, and ​articulation​),
dynamics (loudness and softness), and the sonic qualities of ​timbre and ​texture
(which are sometimes termed the "color" of a musical sound). Different ​styles or
types of music may emphasize, de-emphasize or omit some of these elements.
Music is performed with a vast range of ​instruments and vocal techniques ranging
from ​singing to ​rapping​; there are solely ​instrumental pieces​, ​solely vocal pieces
(such as songs without instrumental ​accompaniment​) and pieces that combine
singing and instruments. The word derives from ​Greek ​μουσική (​mousike​; "art of the
Muses​").
In its most general form, the activities describing music as an art form or ​cultural
activity include the creation of works of music (​songs​, tunes, ​symphonies​, and so
on), the ​criticism of music​, the ​study of the history of music​, and the ​aesthetic
examination of music​. ​Ancient Greek and ​Indian philosophers defined music in two
parts: melodies, as tones ordered horizontally, and harmonies as tones ordered
vertically. Common sayings such as "the ​harmony of the spheres​" and "it is music to
my ears" point to the notion that music is often ordered and pleasant to listen to.
However, 20th-century composer ​John Cage thought that any sound can be music,
saying, for example, "There is no ​noise​, only sound."​]
The creation, performance, significance, and even the definition of music vary
according to culture and social context. Indeed, throughout history, some new forms
or styles of music have been criticized as "not being music", including ​Beethoven​'s
Grosse Fuge ​string quartet in 1825,early ​jazz in the beginning of the 1900s and
hardcore punk in the 1980s.There are many types of music, including ​popular music​,
traditional music​, ​art music​, ​music written for religious ceremonies and ​work songs
such as ​chanteys​. Music ranges from strictly organized compositions—such as
Classical music symphonies from the 1700s and 1800s—through to spontaneously
played ​improvisational music such as ​jazz​, and ​avant-garde styles of ​chance-based
contemporary music​ from the 20th and 21st centuries.
Music can be divided into ​genres (e.g., ​country music​) and genres can be further
divided into ​subgenres (e.g., ​country blues and ​pop country are two of the many
country subgenres), although the dividing lines and relationships between music
genres are often subtle, sometimes open to personal interpretation, and occasionally
controversial. For example, it can be hard to draw the line between some early
1980s ​hard rock and ​heavy metal​. Within ​the arts​, music may be classified as a
performing art​, a fine art or as an auditory art. Music may be played or sung and
heard live at a ​rock concert or orchestra performance, heard live as part of a
dramatic work (a ​music theater show or opera), or it may be recorded and listened to
on a radio, MP3 player, ​CD player​, ​smartphone​ or as ​film score​ or TV show.
In many cultures, music is an important part of people's way of life, as it plays a key
role in ​religious rituals​, ​rite of passage ceremonies (e.g., graduation and marriage),
social activities (e.g., ​dancing​) and cultural activities ranging from amateur ​karaoke
singing to playing in an amateur ​funk band or singing in a community ​choir​. People
may make music as a hobby, like a teen playing cello in a ​youth orchestra​, or work
as a professional musician or singer. The ​music industry includes the individuals who
create new songs and musical pieces (such as songwriters and composers),
individuals who perform music (which include orchestra, ​jazz band and rock band
musicians, singers and conductors), individuals who record music (music producers
and ​sound engineers​), individuals who organize concert tours, and individuals who
sell recordings, ​sheet music​, and scores to customers. Even once a song or piece
has been performed, ​music critics​, ​music journalists​, and ​music scholars may assess
and evaluate the piece and its performance.
The word, 'music' is derived from ​Greek ​μουσική (​mousike​; "art of the ​Muses​").​[1] In
Greek mythology​, the nine ​Muses were the goddesses who inspired literature,
science, and ​the arts and who were the source of the knowledge embodied in the
poetry, song-lyrics, and myths in the Greek culture. According to the ​Online
Etymological Dictionary,​ the term "music" is derived from "mid-13c., musike, from
Old French ​musique (12c.) and directly from ​Latin ​musica "the art of music," also
including poetry (also [the] source of Spanish ​música​, Italian ​musica,​ ​Old High
German ​mosica​, German ​Musik​, Dutch ​muziek​, Danish ​musik)​ ." This is derived from
the "...Greek ​mousike (techne) "(art) of the Muses," from fem. of mousikos
"pertaining to the Muses," from Mousa "Muse" (see muse (n.)). Modern spelling
[dates] from [the] 1630s. In ​classical Greece​, [the term "music" refers to] any art in
which the Muses presided, but especially music and ​lyric poetry​."​[6]
Objectives of Music Teaching

1. To enhance the standard of teaching music.

2. To arise the learning interest and area in instrumental or vocal learning.
3. To raise standards of music appreciation.
4. To develop the students’ mental power inner hearing, musical memory and
recognition.
5. To encourage students to use music to communicate with their classmates as
other kind of communication media.
6. To expose students to music of different culture. Students will be able to identify
and distinguish different musical instruments as well as the special musical
elements that characterize the music.
7. To stimulate students interest in learning more musical knowledge and
knowledge of other subjects as well through subject integration.
8. To enhance students’ creativity through learning music.

HISTORY OF MUSIC

Music history​, sometimes called historical musicology, is a highly diverse subfield of

the broader discipline of ​musicology that studies music from a historical point of
view. In theory, "music history" could refer to the study of the history of any type or
genre of music (e.g., the history of ​Indian music or the history of ​rock​). In practice,
these research topics are often categorized as part of ​ethnomusicology or ​cultural
studies​, whether or not they are ​ethnographically based​. The terms "music history"
and "historical musicology" usually refer to the history of the notated music of
Western elites, sometimes called "​art music​" (by analogy to art history, which tends
to focus on elite art).
The methods of music history include source studies (esp. ​manuscript studies),
paleography​, ​philology (especially ​textual criticism​), style criticism, historiography
(the choice of ​historical method​), ​musical analysis​, and ​iconography​. The application
of musical analysis to further these goals is often a part of music history, though pure
analysis or the development of new tools of music analysis is more likely to be seen
in the field of ​music theory​. Some of the intellectual products of music historians
include ​peer-reviewed articles in journals, university press-published music history
books, university textbooks, new editions of musical works, ​biographies of
composers and other musicians, studies of the relationship between ​words and
music, and reflections upon the role of music in ​society​.
Prehistoric music

Prehistoric music, once more commonly called primitive music, is the name given to
all music produced in ​preliterate cultures (​prehistory​), beginning somewhere in very
late ​geological history​. Prehistoric music is followed by ​ancient music in most of
Europe (1500 BC) and later music in subsequent European-influenced areas, but still
exists in isolated areas.
Prehistoric music thus technically includes all of the world's music that has existed
before the advent of any currently extant historical sources concerning that music,
for example, traditional ​Native American music of preliterate tribes and ​Australian
Aboriginal music​. However, it is more common to refer to the "prehistoric" music of
non-European continents – especially that which still survives – as ​folk​, indigenous
or traditional music. The origin of music is unknown as it occurred prior to recorded
history. Some suggest that the origin of music likely stems from naturally occurring
sounds and ​rhythms​. Human music may echo these ​phenomena using ​patterns​,
repetition and ​tonality​. Even today, some cultures have certain instances of their
music intending to imitate natural sounds​. In some instances, this feature is related
to ​shamanistic beliefs or practice​. It may also serve entertainment (game) or
practical (luring animals in hunt)​ ​functions.
It is probable that the first ​musical instrument was the ​human voice itself, which can
make a vast array of sounds, from singing, ​humming and ​whistling through to
clicking​, ​coughing and ​yawning​. As for other musical instruments, in 2008
archaeologists discovered a bone flute in the ​Hohle Fels cave near ​Ulm​, ​Germany​.
Considered to be about 35,000 years old, the five-holed flute has a V-shaped
mouthpiece and is made from a vulture wing bone. The oldest known wooden pipes
were discovered near ​Greystones​, ​Ireland​, in 2004. A wood-lined pit contained a
group of six flutes made from yew wood, between 30 and 50 cm long, tapered at one
end, but without any finger holes. They may once have been strapped together.
It has been suggested that the "​Divje Babe Flute​", a ​cave bear femur dated to be
between 50,000 and 60,000 years old, is the world's oldest musical instrument and
was produced by ​Neanderthals​. Claims that the femur is indeed a musical instrument
are, however, contested by alternative theories including the suggestion that the
femur may have been gnawed by carnivores to produce holes.
Ancient music

Sassanid​ women playing ​Chang (instrument)​ in ​Taq-e Bostan​, ​Iran​ (c. 379 AD)

"Ancient music" is the name given to the music that follows music of the prehistoric
era. The "oldest known song" was written in ​cuneiform​, dating to 3400 years ago
from ​Ugarit in ​Syria​. It was a part of the ​Hurrian songs​, more specifically Hurrian
hymn no. 6. It was deciphered by Anne Draffkorn Kilmer, and was demonstrated to
be composed in harmonies of thirds, like ancient ​gymel,​ and also was written using a
Pythagorean tuning of the ​diatonic scale​. The oldest surviving example of a complete
musical composition, including musical notation, from anywhere in the world, is the
Seikilos epitaph​, dated to either the 1st or the 2nd century AD.
Double pipes, such as those used by the ​ancient Greeks​, and ancient bagpipes, as
well as a review of ancient drawings on vases and walls, etc., and ancient writings
(such as in Aristotle, ​Problems, Book XIX.12) which described musical techniques of
the time, indicate ​polyphony​. One pipe in the aulos pairs (double flutes) likely served
as a ​drone or "keynote," while the other played melodic passages. Instruments, such
as the seven holed flute and various types of stringed instruments have been
recovered from the ​Indus valley civilization​ archaeological sites.
Indian classical music (​marga​) can be found from the scriptures of the ​Hindu
tradition, the ​Vedas​. ​Samaveda​, one of the four vedas, describes music at length.
Ravanahatha (ravanhatta, rawanhattha, ravanastron or ravana hasta veena) is a
bowed fiddle popular in Western India. It is believed to have originated among the
Hela civilization of Sri Lanka in the time of King ​Ravana​. This string instrument has
been recognised as one of the oldest string instruments in world history.
The history of musical development in Iran (​Persian music​) dates back to the
prehistoric era. The great legendary king, Jamshid, is credited with the invention of
music. Music in Iran can be traced back to the days of the ​Elamite Empire
(2500–644 BC). Fragmentary documents from various periods of the country's
history establish that the ancient Persians possessed an elaborate musical culture.
The ​Sassanid period (AD 226–651), in particular, has left us ample evidence pointing
to the existence of a lively musical life in Persia. The names of some important
musicians such as Barbod, Nakissa and Ramtin, and titles of some of their works
have survived.
The ​Early music era may also include contemporary but traditional or folk music,
including ​Asian music​, Persian music, ​music of India​, ​Jewish music​, ​Greek music​,
Roman music​, the ​music of Mesopotamia​, the ​music of Egypt​, and ​Muslim music​.

Greece
Greek written history extends far back into ​Ancient Greece​, and was a major part of
ancient ​Greek theatre​. In ancient Greece, mixed-gender choruses performed for
entertainment, celebration and spiritual reasons. Instruments included the
double-reed ​aulos and the plucked ​string instrument​, the ​lyre​, especially the special
kind called a ​kithara​. Music was an important part of education in ancient Greece,
and boys were taught music starting at age six.

Biblical period

Main article: ​History of music in the biblical period

"David with his harp" ​Paris Psalter​,

c. 960, ​Constantinople

According to ​Easton's Bible Dictionary​, ​Jubal was named by the Bible as the inventor
of musical instruments (Gen. 4:21). The ​Hebrews were much given to the cultivation
of music. Their whole history and literature afford abundant evidence of this. After
the ​Deluge​, the first mention of music is in the account of ​Laban​'s interview with
Jacob (Gen. 31:27). After their triumphal passage of the ​Red Sea​, ​Moses and the
children of Israel sang their song of ​deliverance (Ex. 15). But the period of ​Samuel​,
David​, and ​Solomon was the golden age of Hebrew music, as it was of ​Hebrew
poetry​. Music was now for the first time systematically cultivated. It was an essential
part of training in the schools of the ​prophets (1 Sam. 10:5). There now arose also a
class of professional singers (2 Sam. 19:35; Eccl. 2:8). ​Solomon's Temple​, however,
was the great school of music. In the conducting of its services large bands of
trained singers and players on instruments were constantly employed (2 Sam. 6:5; 1
Chr. 15:16; 23;5; 25:1–6). In private life also music seems to have held an important
place among the Hebrews (Eccl. 2:8; Amos 6:4–6; Isa. 5:11, 12; 24:8, 9; Ps. 137;
Jer. 48:33; Luke 15:25).​[18]
Music and theatre scholars studying the history and anthropology of ​Semitic and
early ​Judeo-Christian culture, have also discovered common links between theatrical
and musical activity in the classical cultures of the ​Hebrews with those of the later
cultures of the ​Greeks and ​Romans​. The common area of performance is found in a
"social phenomenon called ​litany​," a form of prayer consisting of a series of
invocations or ​supplications​. ​The Journal of Religion and Theatre notes that among
the earliest forms of litany, "Hebrew litany was accompanied by a rich musical
tradition:"​[19]
While Genesis 4.21 identifies Jubal as the "father of all such as handle the harp
and pipe", the ​Pentateuch is nearly silent about the practice and instruction of
music in the early life of ​Israel​. Then, in I Samuel 10 and the texts which follow, a
curious thing happens. "One finds in the biblical text", writes Alfred Sendrey, "a
sudden and unexplained upsurge of large ​choirs and ​orchestras​, consisting of
thoroughly organized and trained musical groups, which would be virtually
inconceivable without lengthy, methodical preparation." This has led some
scholars to believe that the prophet ​Samuel was the ​patriarch of a school which
taught not only prophets and holy men, but also sacred-rite musicians. This public
music school, perhaps the earliest in recorded history, was not restricted to a
priestly class—which is how the shepherd boy ​David appears on the scene as a
minstrel to ​King Saul​.[19]
​

Early music​[​edit​]

Early music is music of the European classical tradition from after the fall of the
Roman Empire​, in 476 AD, until the end of the ​Baroque era in the middle of the 18th
century.Music within this enormous span of time was extremely diverse,
encompassing multiple cultural traditions within a wide geographic area; many of the
cultural groups out of which medieval Europe developed already had musical
traditions, about which little is known. What unified these cultures in the Middle Ages
was the ​Roman Catholic Church​, and its music served as the focal point for musical
development for the first thousand years of this period.

NJB RAMOS