Musical Background, Essay Example

The fact that I may soon be enrolled in the Manhattan School of Music intrigues me. I began taking classical piano lessons at the age of seven, and at 16, I began harp lessons. Music has become my life. If someone was to open a box of my special belongings they would find several string, brass, and woodwind instruments. In addition they would find various sheet music. I am especially interested in how music has evolved over several generations. For instance, the earliest piano was really a harpsichord. The bagpipe was originally made from the stomach of a pig. In 2008 archaeologists in Germany found a five-hole flute. It was made from a vulture wing bone. Wooden pipes of different lengths were found by different archaeologists doing a dig in Ireland. The different lengths meant they could produce different pitches. It is thought that at one time the pipes may have been strapped together. A favorite instrument producing alternative music is the Jew’s or Jaw’s Harp. It is a frame which is played by holding it in one’s mouth containing a reed that when plucked will produce a sound. Variations to the sound will be produced when the player alters the shape of his or her mouth.

The first music using the Pythagorean Tuning on the Diatonic Scale was developed from about 2500-650 B.C. This method created notes at a 3:2 ration, thus creating the perfect fifth.  This musical period began at the end of the Roman Empire and continued to the middle of the 19^th century. The Catholic Church influenced almost all music of this time period. Very little music survives to this day that was not somehow impacted upon by the Catholic Church. Regardless of the Catholic Church, scholars have placed the earliest music of the world as coming from Iran.

Around 1100 music ushered in the polyphonic concept. This was two different pitches played or sung at the same time. Thus, at this point the world began to see music as being enjoyed by all, not done in a solo composition as was previously the case. Following the spread of music from Iran, in most other countries the Catholic Church interceded. From these early years not much music can be found unless it is somehow connected to the Catholic Church.

During the baroque period of music beginning in the 1100s and continuing well into the 1500s, instrumental music expanded greatly. This was the era of invention as far as instrumental music was concerned. Instruments were made of brass, silver, and fine woods. Using both hands to play the instrument, thus allowing for a bass and treble clef became commonplace. Secular music was also developed during this era. The sonata, the concerto, and the concerto grosso came to the forefront during this period. In addition, the great composers of the era included Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi.

The classical period of music was again one of instrumentation. The composers of the period started out with singers who were gradually replaced as instrumentation became popular. This period can probably be combined with romantic music as the two types overlap. The periods ran from the late 19^th century to the early 20^th century. The sonata matured during this period and became the primary form of music requiring implementation. Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert were the major composers of the classical era while Chopin, Mendelssohn, and Dvorak were among the top composers of the romantic era. I have always been a fan of Dvorak’s Water Music Suite.

A major change in music, possibly correctly renamed to alternative music, has been popular in the 20^th century. This change occurred mainly because of technology. First came the invention of the radio followed by television, and now all kinds of digital media. Music has become very personal and it is not unusual to see people wearing headphones or ear buds. Digital media allows different notes and their sounds to be shorted or elongated according to the listener’s preference. There are still professional performers who rely on the old classics, but at the same time there are people ranging from their teens through middle age who are content creating and selling their own music, but make no mistake, 20^th century media has allowed these performers to make millions of dollars with their alternative music.

If somebody opened my box of favorite things, what would they find? They would find an assortment of old instruments, some of them dating to Before the Common Era (B.C.E.). They would find biographies of all the famous composers. They would find some of the original works of these composers. If future family members opened my box after demise I hope they will find this letter to the Manhattan School of Music. I also hope they will recognize that their family member was a quiet man who kept to himself and who spent his days writing and experimenting with music. I also hope that in addition to the great and well-recognized composers there might be a musical piece or two that was written by me and that, in its time, was published. When my soul has gone to the Lord people should still be able to recognize that this quiet man contributed to what he loved the most: music!