Music History Report by Lauren Swierupski

Progress Report X - Introduction

lswierup2 — 2024-01-18 16:37:24 UTC

Today is the day that my team of 5 will begin our journey. Our mission is to record the music of the past and bring it back to the present to share. We have 12 stops planned, ranging from ancient times to the present day. I am excited to see where this project will lead, and the adventures we will have along the way!

Progress Report 2 - The Medieval Era

lswierup2 — 2024-01-18 16:38:09 UTC

The majority of music in the Medieval Era (400-1600) was religious and sung by choirs. For most of the medieval period, music was monophonic, rhythmic, and unaccompanied. Music was a part of daily life at this time, and could be heard in church, on street corners, and at large gatherings. Church music was sung in chants, with some popular styles being Plainchant and Gregorian. These were somber and religious songs. By the end of the Medieval era, composers began to experiment with more harmonies and instruments. Our recording of a Gregorian chant is attached here.

Progress Report 3 - The Renaissance

lswierup2 — 2024-01-18 16:39:08 UTC

The Renaissance (1400-1600) saw the rise in non-religious music as well as the development of religious music. Music became polyphonic, tonal, and even dissonant at times. Renaissance music began pushing the boundaries previously set by Medieval music with new styles and sounds. Although the majority of the music was vocal, many new instruments were introduced at this time, such as the Harpsichord and the guitar. Our recording of choir music is attached here.

Progress Report 4 - Baroque

lswierup2 — 2024-01-18 21:31:24 UTC

Baroque music (1600-1750) is known for its dramatic and energetic flair. This is due to the use of ornamentation of music, such as trills and turns. Baroque music turned away from the choir and focused on the solo voice and instruments. The fortepiano, or piano, became popular at this time. Opera, oratorio, and cantata are all vocal styles that became popular at this time. Additionally, music of this time became more national, with each country having its own mark on the era. The Baroque Era is considered the largest shift in music history. Our recording is attached here.

Progress Report 5- Classical

lswierup2 — 2024-01-18 21:32:16 UTC

The Classical period (1750-1820) acted as a "step back" from the overly embellished Baroque period. Composers of this time focused on simpler melodies and harmonies, as well as the use of dynamics. This created elegant and sophisticated music that people from anywhere could appreciate. Additionally, symphonies with multiple movements became popularized. These different movements would have completely different ambiances. The Classical period was the time when music started to turn away from the church and to the public, creating music for the people to enjoy. Our recording is attached here.

Progress Report 6 - Romantic

lswierup2 — 2024-01-18 21:32:31 UTC

The Romantic Period can be characterized by the emotional aspect added into it. In this era, music was used as a means of expression, using dynamics and harmonies to express oneself. Composers of this time tended to break the rules of classical, using them as a base and expanding from there. Romantic music reflected political climates, reactions to the Industrial Revolution and other technological advances, and just general human emotions. This era also saw the introduction of a Musical Virtuoso, or a composer who interacts with the public by composing or preforming. These composers had their specific "sound" that separated them from the rest. Composers no longer worked for just the church or the elite, they were now free to express themselves freely through their music. Our recording is attached here.

Progress Report 8 - 1930's

lswierup2 — 2024-01-18 21:33:06 UTC

In the 1930's America had its very own styles of music, and after the popularization of the radio, Americans were listening to more music than ever. Jazz was very popular, and Big Bands turned it into "swinging" dance music. This era also saw the rise in female Jazz vocalists, such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday. The blues was also popular, and it acted as a way to express emotion. The blues influenced other music styles of the time, such as boogie-woogie, gospel, and jazz. Another style of music that became popular at this time was Western. This came out of cowboy songs of the West. This style of music eventually evolved into Honky-Tonk and western swing. Our recoding attached here.

Progress Report 9 - 1950's

lswierup2 — 2024-01-18 21:33:24 UTC

The 1950's saw the rise in Rock and Roll. Rock and Roll was a mix of the blues, pop, and hillbilly to make an all-new genre. Rock was very popular with teenagers, and it drew people to dances and record shops more than any other type of music had at this point. Rock and Roll also served as a social force. At this time, the majority of America was segregated. But, Rock and Roll wasn't, and it brought races together on the bandstand and on the dance floor. Rock overtook Jazz on the music scene, but Jazz went through massive developments in the 50's. At this time, jazz made its way out of clubs and into mainstream music, and jazz festivals became popular. Our recording of a 50's Rock song is attached here.

Progress Report 10 - 1980's

lswierup2 — 2024-01-18 21:33:44 UTC

The 1980's saw a fusion between preexisting music styles and modern technology. Rock and pop were both enhanced with synthesizers and drum machines, making a sound unheard of previously. Rock became louder and more rebellious, drawing in younger listeners. Additionally, Hip-Hop and Rap made their way to mainstream media and Country saw a surge in popularity. MTV played a huge role in 80's music, as music videos became incredibly important. Songs were upbeat and danceable, with special technological effects. Our recording is attached here.

Progress Report 11 - 2000's

lswierup2 — 2024-01-18 21:34:05 UTC

The music of the 2000's saw massive developments in many genres of music. Hip-Hop and Rap gained massive popularity and was changed and influenced by artists such as Eminem, 50 Cent, and Kanye West. Pop still reigned among the public, with their catchy lyrics and upbeat melodies. Singers like Britney Spears, Lady Gaga, and Christina Aguilera dominated the Pop music scene. Our recording is attached here.

Progress Report 12 - The Music of Today

lswierup2 — 2024-01-18 21:34:26 UTC

The introduction of Tiktok has drastically changed the music landscape. Tiktok has allowed smaller artists and indie musicians to share their music with the public. It has also rearranged the format in which music is written. Before the app became popular, the structure of a Pop song was verse-chorus-verse-chorus-bridge-chorus. With Tiktok, the importance is placed on the chorus, making the format Chorus-Verse-Chorus-Verse Chorus. Tiktok has also changed the way music is marketed. Now, instead of a promotion by record labels or MTV, songs are advertised by the artist on the app. Some artists have found this as a positive change, while others see it as detrimental. Our recording is attached here.

Progress Report 1 - Ancient Music

lswierup2 — 2024-01-19 15:50:10 UTC

Music has been around since the dawn of time. It is a part of human nature. However, the very first written music can be traced back to the Middle East. The earliest known song is "Hurrian Hymn no. 6," written about 2,000 years ago. This song was written to honor the goddess Nikkal. It was written on a clay tablet and composed in cuneiform. This song was played on a nine-stringed-lyre. Our recording of the tune is attached.

Progress Report 7 - World War 1

lswierup2 — 2024-01-21 05:16:40 UTC

The music of World War 1 (1914-1918) was meant to inspire soldiers on the battlefield and to reflect public opinion on the conflict. American music during the beginning of WW1 showed that America thought the conflict was humorous. However, after the sinking of the Lusitania and the entrance of the US into the war, the tone of music shifted drastically. Music was then used to rally Americans to fight in the war. During the war, songs were used to lighten the mood as well as reflect deeper feelings felt by the soldiers. Music was recorded in many different languages in order to empower Americans of different backgrounds to fight. Music brought soldiers of all ethnicities together under one common goal: going home. Our recording is attached here.

Progress Report X - Conclusion

lswierup2 — 2024-01-23 20:35:38 UTC

After returning from our journey, we have discovered how the evolution of music is all connected to human growth and creativity. When humanity was more connected to the church, the music was highly religious. As humanity began to become more materialistic, music became more elaborate. With political unrest and revolution came emotional music. In times of tragedy, music was an escape as well as a motivator. Music is closely linked with dance, another form of human expression. Since the dawn of time to today, music has always been there to reflect on humanity at that time. We hope you enjoyed our report on our travels!