Music is one of the most influential forms of art for people. Music can entertain you when you are sad and make you smile. Music can also make you cry with emotion, and so on. Music is one of the ‘other forms’ of beautiful literature, which has tones. Music has a long history. The age of music is almost the same as that of humans.
History of Music Art
The music we can enjoy now certainly has a history and a long journey of its own development. Even now we can find various genres of art, which is why the understanding of music art will then be related to many things. Like instruments, artists, singing, songs, and so on. Music art that encompasses many components then has an important function in our daily lives.
The existence of music art has a long history and journey, even since the first human being appeared on Earth. This music art then developed rapidly until it became popular today. The following is the history of the development of music art from ancient times to the present:
1. Prehistoric Era
This history began with the existence of Homo sapiens around 180,000 to 100,000 years ago with the discovery of the oldest musical instrument, namely a flute made of bear bone with holes.
The instrument was then used to produce unique sounds and was used by humans at that time for various purposes. The flute musical instrument is over 40,000 years old.
2. Medieval Era
Around 476 to 1572 AD, music was widely used for the purposes of Christian religious events. Many new discoveries emerged, making music art also develop not only used for religious activities.
From 476 to 1572 AD, music was mainly for Christian religious events. It was a big part of church ceremonies, like Mass. Gregorian chant, with its simple melodies, was popular during this time. But as the Middle Ages went on, music changed. People started mixing different melodies, creating polyphony.
Guillaume de Machaut was a famous composer who made both religious and non-religious music. In the Renaissance period, from the 14th to the 17th century, music became even more diverse.
While still used in churches, composers like Palestrina also made music for non-religious purposes. So, from simple chants to complex compositions, music evolved a lot during this time, both for worship and artistic expression.
3. Renaissance Era
Around 1500 to 1600 AD, music art evolved into love and wedding music. In the Renaissance era, church music experienced a decline, but during this time, piano and single organ musical instruments were discovered. This era also saw the emergence of artists and music composers such as Leonin, Perotin, and Guillaume de Machaut.
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4. Baroque and Rococo Era
The Baroque and Rococo era occurred around 1600 to 1750 AD, where the use of musical ornaments or decorations increased.
New Music was then widely used simultaneously and spontaneously, and the use of Rococo music was regulated and recorded.
Johann Sebastian Bach, a creator of church sermon choral music and instrumental song composer, was one of the famous artists of this era.
5. Classical Era
From 1750 to 1820, it was the era of the glory of music art. This era was then called the classical era, where the dynamics of play became smoother and the tempo changes with accelerando became faster.
In addition, ritardando intonations also became softer, although ornamentation was limited during this era. Many famous composers emerged in this classical era such as Wolfgang, Joseph Haydn, Ludwig Van Beethoven, and Johan Christian Bach.
6. Romantic Era
Around 1810 to 1900, music art highly emphasized subjective feelings. In addition, music art was also very thick with elements of romance or feelings. That’s why in this romantic era, music used a lot of tempo and dynamics.
7. Modern Era
The modern era began in the twentieth century until now, where many platforms or media were discovered to listen to music. Music development in this modern era focuses more on sound, style, and rhythm.
Music art also underwent changes with the advancement of technology such as the invention of sound recorders and music editing tools, which gave rise to new genres in classical music today. That’s why now we can listen to various genres of music.
Beauty of Music
The beauty of music lies in the arrangement of orderly sounds or what can also be called melody. In addition, music is also a type of art that can create a sense of happiness for both its creator and listeners. The combination of various aspects can then be concluded as the beauty of music.
Aesthetic Value of Music
According to Herbert Read, an English art historian and poet, the aesthetic value of music can be seen from two perspectives.
These two perspectives are objective and subjective, here’s the explanation:
- The aesthetic value of music when viewed objectively is related to the composition and harmonization of a musical work. Objectively, aesthetic value is closely related to the elements of music art.
- The aesthetic value of music subjectively can be seen from how someone feels as a result of the beauty of a musical work.
Based on the above explanation, it can be concluded that the aesthetic value of a musical work is closely related to the creative process and imagination of a musician.
Functions of Music Art
In addition to being beautiful, music also has a variety of functions. In fact, the function of music itself is the beauty of music itself.
Entertainment Medium
Music certainly serves as entertainment that can bring happiness or provide a touch of beauty to the feelings of those who listen to it.
Therapeutic Medium
Music has been used as a therapeutic medium since the Second World War era when many people were depressed due to the harsh conditions of war at that time. Music then saved those who experienced trauma, mental disorders, and some paralysis of their body organs.
Commercial Medium
The high interest and attraction to music make this field a big commercial medium. The large number of music enthusiasts enables artists and musicians to earn income from their works. Starting from selling their music recordings or performing their music on concert stages.
Ceremony Medium
Music is widely used for various ceremonies, whether they are cultural, religious, ritualistic, or official/formal ceremonies. Music in these ceremonies can enhance the enjoyment of the event.
Means of Self-Expression
Music can be used as a form of self-expression because it can serve as the right medium to express the feelings or ideas of its creator. It’s no wonder that many musicians create music based on their life experiences, which they then express through enjoyable melodies.
What Makes Music Beautiful?
The elements of beauty in a piece of music are diverse, including emotional expression, delivery, rhythm, melody, and the instruments played, all of which can touch the hearts of listeners.
The aesthetic value of a piece of music is certainly influenced by the composition of each element within it. Below are the elements that form the aesthetic value of music.
Melodic Element
Melody is a sequence of notes or sounds produced by vocals (human voice) or instruments.
Melody can also be interpreted as a series of notes perceived based on differences in pitch (high-low) or the rise and fall of pitch. Melody can be a complete expression or just a fragment of an expression.
Harmonic Element
The harmonic element is related to the harmony between sounds. Technically, this element includes the role, arrangement, and relationship of a combination of sounds as a whole.
In the harmonic element, there are elements of intervals and chords. Intervals are arrangements of notes that sound simultaneously, while chords accompany the melody of a song.
Tempo and Dynamics
Tempo and dynamics are two elements closely related to the speed at which a sound is played. These two elements can contribute to building the aesthetic value of a piece of music.
Tempo refers to the speed in the rhythm of a song, while dynamics relate to the softness or loudness of the song and its changes.
Language Style
Language style is also an element that can attract in a piece of music. The language style in a piece of music can be seen from the lyrics.
The lyrics in a piece of music play an important role in conveying the content or meaning of a song. Therefore, language style can be an aesthetic element of music.
Discovering The Beauty of Music Trough Harmony of Tones
In a world filled with diversity in art, music remains a universal language that stirs emotions and touches the heart. One key element that makes music so captivating is harmony of tones.
Harmony of tones is not just a series of notes coming together. It is a harmonious blend of melody, rhythm, and tones that form a beautiful unity.
Harmony of tones is also created through the combination of various musical instruments, from the elegant piano to the warm-sounding guitar. That is the beauty of music. Moreover, each musical instrument has its own characteristic harmony of tones. This undoubtedly brings a highly diverse range of tonal blends with each characteristic harmony.
Every melody has its own story. Harmony of tones is not merely a technical element in music; it is the soul that animates every note and melody. The beauty created by music is a marvel in this world that continues to inspire and move the hearts of every listener.