Music: Sounds Of The Ages Essay, Research Paper

Sounds of the Ages

“If we do not know and understand our history, we are doomed to repeat it.” This message is taught to all young people in their history and social studies classes. The quote is very true, because we learn from our mistakes, and even from our accomplishments. Music has been in the world longer than most people think. Way back when cavemen were slamming their clubs in a specific rhythm, that was musical. What this paper will mainly be talking about though is the likenesses and differences of the classical era with our own modern day music.

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Obviously we have evolved since the time Beethoven and Mozart displayed their talent of music, or have we? Some people think back in those days the music was more pure, but why? The reason is back in those days music was used almost as a therapy. People enjoyed the sweet soft sounds of the piano playing a wonderful melody and they became relaxed, calm, and tranquil. Since then there have been so many more additions in the styles of music. Today we have Pop/rock,

Rock ‘n Roll, Heavy Metal, Rap, and yes we still listen to classical music.

Music in modern times has in a way drifted from the classical way, into a more hard-hitting beat. All styles of music these days are separated mainly by a difference of age in people. The once popular classical style is now mostly listened to by elderly aged men and women. Rap and Pop/rock has mainly invaded the younger groups of people, mainly in their teens and early twenties. So does music still give the same dramatic feel that made people feel calm and relax? Yes, most definitely. That is something which is very similar when it comes to these two era’s of music.

While there have been additions of many more styles, some of those style’s can still contribute to making a person feel so much more alive. Take Pop/rock for instance. Many songs are arranged as very slow, emotional melodies and harmonies. When people listen to these songs, they can sometimes relate to what message the song gives off. All you can really do when listening to a slow song like that, is sit back, lie down, and concentrate on the message that the song is giving. By doing that the person can feel more at peace, more relaxed.

One area of music that is very hard to express similarities between classical and modern is the

technological side of things. The main musical instrument and one of the only ones was the piano in the classical days. I can’t even be sure that there were guitars in that

day. Neither cassettes nor CD’s existed in that day so if you wanted to hear music, you would have to travel sometimes short, sometimes long distances. Now in today’s world, not only can reproduce the same sounds on to cassettes and CD’s, but we can also make that quality of sound better using amplifiers and synthesizers. People today can listen to music anywhere they go, whether it is in their car, in their room, or even at grocery stores and malls.

Still today, like in the days of classical music, we still use Piano’s, guitars, and percussion, and they are still as popular as in the old days. Now though instead of just normal, one-instrument music, we have bands, groups, and technologies that can make the sound these groups make louder, more clear, and more entertaining.

Last but not least are the similarities and differences of those who listen and enjoy the music, the audience. Whether it was centuries ago or even two days ago, music

draws all types of people to it. Whether people travel from a few miles to across state, there are no bounds to how popular music has become since it first started centuries ago.

The music industry today has gone to a new way to sell and broadcast their music. Television has added a new dimension on making the music known and like, through the use of music videos. Whole networks have been created, such as: Mtv, Mtv2 MuchMusic, and VH1, to curve our hunger for these videos of our favorite music. Classical music had none of these luxuries and couldn’t be so easily heard.

One question is though, has the quality of people evolved more since the classical era? Some would say not. Today music’s crowds can actually be violent, and even dangerous. An example would be Woodstock that took place a year or two ago, where people threw mud, set things on fire, and got into countless fights. And who says that doesn’t mean people won’t do that same at stadiums and theaters when hardcore rock groups come on stage and start playing their loud hard-hitting music?

Gender is also something that now has broken off into branches of music these days. While males are into the hard rock and rap type music, females are mostly into

pop/rock, or rhythm and blues. Only when it comes to oldies music or some rock will you see a good balance between men and women, but back in the classical era, there were no styles to categorize the males and females to enjoy. They all enjoyed sitting around the piano and relaxing to the melodious sound of the piano.

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Obviously there seems to be more difference in music today than the classical days centuries ago. Still though, people love it, travel great distances to see and hear it, and spend countless money on recordings of it so they can listen to it in their own homes. Whether it was centuries ago or today, music will still, and always be something that people could use to relax, and even to use therapeutically.

Bibliography

Winebrenner, John , Letter. Music Research Online Weekly

22 November 1998. 22 November 1998

“Music Therapy” Geocities Music 28 Feb. 1999. 1 Mar. 2000