How has music shaped generations?

Music is a universal language, an art enjoyed by millions and one of the greatest creations of all time. Passed down from generations, it has shaped our world as we know it today and become a beloved form of expression. Music today is drastically different from prehistoric times, having evolved with communities and adapted to mould civilization. 

50,000 BCE: Music was tangled with rituals and other forms of communication and devices that resembled modern instruments were invented. Bird bones were used to make flutes, and simple percussion instruments were created using sticks and stones. 

1400 - 1600: The Renaissance era materialised, a time of rebirth and rejuvenation in Europe, connecting communities and acting as a bridge between cultures. Music became experimental, and composers like Josquin des Prez and Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina stepped over the boundaries of polyphonic music and composed harmonious pieces. The printing press permitted the dispersal of music scores, and a prominent instrument became the lute.

1600 - 1750: The Baroque era of music is known for its dramatic and expressive style. The concerto, sonata and opera are few of the musical genres/forms it brought to life. Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel and Antonio Vivaldi created their most famous works during this period. As all significant music eras, it encouraged advances in musical notation and theory and fabricated a strong foundation for the Classical era to thrive.

1750 - 1820: Classical music was structured and symmetrical in contrast to its ancestors. Mozart, Beethoven, Schumann and Haydn were some of the most significant composers at this point in time. Rumour has it that Schumann had an illness, and would often jam his hands into the entrails of a slaughtered animal to heal himself. Haydn also had a story to tell. After his death, Haydn’s head was stolen from his grave by phrenologists and a replacement skull was positioned to cover it up. In 1954, the original skull was restored and there are now 2 skulls in Hayden’s tomb. Circling back to classical music, the piano became a recognized instrument and was used on many occasions.