Understanding the History of Music

Music is the art of arranging musical sounds in the basic components of harmony, melody, rhythm, and tempo. It’s one of the most universal, social cultural aspects of all human cultures. Common examples of music include melodic patterns, idiomatic expressions, and rhythmic pulse.

The development of music can be traced back to a very early period in human history when musical beats or rhythms were observed and utilized in the archaeological discoveries made by archaeologists. This is evident from the use of drumsticks and flutes, which are found in Egyptian sarcophagi. In addition, the earliest known music, composed of primitive instruments such as bamboo sticks and wood-either in the form of bowls or figurines-was discovered in the archaeological excavations of ancient Rome. Over time, music developed and was refined as more technologically advanced musical devices and methods were introduced.

Archaeological discoveries have shown that ancient people used at least two types of musical instruments, each with different purposes. One type was for rhythm and pitch and the other for composition, emotion, tone, pitch, timing, and melodic development. Rhythm is a basic necessity for all music, while tone, pitch, timing, mood, or emotion are elements that lend more flavor to a piece of music. While it’s possible to listen to a piece of music and decipher what it’s about, understanding the basic elements of musical structure is much more difficult and less rewarding. To this end, musical notation was developed to illustrate the structures that existed in music.