1. Ancient Rome

The time was about 3200 BC to 400 AD. This part of the music data can only come from archaeology. It can be understood from the excavated paintings, sculptures and a small number of poetry, literature and philosophical works that have been handed down, but it is almost impossible to listen and appreciate.

According to statistics, there are less than 10 pieces of music scores that have survived from this stage. However, from the surviving sculptures and many other cultural heritages, we can see the glory and achievements that once existed. The great philosopher of ancient Greece All have discussed and researched music, which is regarded by later generations as the source of Western music.

2. The Middle Ages

After the collapse of the Roman Empire in 476 AD, the Greek and Roman civilizations declined. ?The Germanic people ruled the western half of Europe, which is historically known as the "Dark Ages", also known as the "Medieval Period". The church was the focus of people's lives at that time, playing an important role in politics, economy, and culture. Artists lived in religion, so art and religion were closely related at that time.

Music activities during this period were greatly influenced by Christianity. The music was mostly based on religious rituals or singing hymns, with a focus on function, such as Gregorian chants. Most of the lyrics are taken from the Bible. The characteristic is that the melody has little ups and downs, lacks a harmonious foundation, and is simple in performance. The greatest contributors to medieval music were Ambrose, Bishop of Milan, and Pope Gregory I.

3. Renaissance

The Renaissance period was about 1450-1600 AD. Based on the "new art" of the Middle Ages, it pursued the liberation of human nature and the inner emotions of people. expression and expression. At this time, musicians, driven by the humanistic trend of thought, developed and reformed polyphonic music, and vocal music and instrumental music gradually separated and developed independently. During this period, the staff had been perfected, and printing was also applied to music scores, which made the dissemination of music more convenient and widespread.

4. Baroque period

Baroque music refers to the type of music that began to rise in Europe after the Renaissance and was popular before the formation of classical music. It lasted from about 1600 to 1750. 150 years between.

The word Baroque comes from the Portuguese "Barocco", which means pearls that are not round or perfect in shape. It was originally a term in the field of architecture and was later gradually used in the fields of art and music.

In the field of art, the Baroque style is characterized by exquisite decoration and gorgeous style. The main reason for this phenomenon is that the Baroque period was an era when aristocrats were in power, and the luxurious palaces were Pomp is the center of the development of new culture and art, and changes in this environment have directly affected the creation of musicians.

5. Classicism

Classical music refers to the European mainstream music from 1730 to 1820, also known as the Vienna Classical School. The three most famous composers of this school are Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven.

Classical music inherits the development of Baroque music and is a music style or era in the history of European music. This era saw the emergence of multi-movement symphonies, solo concertos, string quartets, multi-movement sonatas and other genres. The sonata form and rondo form became the most common musical forms in the classical and romantic periods, and their influence was profound until the twentieth century.

The size of the orchestra has increased compared to the Baroque period, and it has gradually become a norm for the orchestra to be led by a conductor. The modern piano appeared in the classical period and gradually replaced the harpsichord.

6. Romantic Music

Romanticism is mainly used to describe literary creation between 1830 and 1850, and music creation between 1830 and 1900. Romantic music is the continuation and development of classical music (Vienna Classical School). It is a music style or an era in the history of Western music.

Compared with the previous music of the Viennese Classical School, Romantic music pays more attention to the expression of emotions and images, and relatively underestimates the considerations of form and structure.

Romantic music is often full of imagination, and a lot of romantic music is influenced by unrealistic literary works, and has a considerable composition of title music.

The elements of romanticism are included in music creation from ancient times to the present, and are not limited to a certain era, because music creation itself is an expression of imagination, and romanticism is precisely Imagination at its best.

7. Modern music

Modern music, also known as modern classical music (20th century classical music), refers to a genre that has inherited European classical music since 1900 to the present. In the music era, there are many music schools and styles. Prior to this, there were two major sources of modern music: the post-romantic music of Gustav Mahler and Richard Strauss, and the Impressionist music of Debussy.

8. New Age Music

A form of music that emerged in the 1970s, also translated as New Age music (English: New Age music), was first used to help people with meditation. Thinking about cleansing the soul, but many later creators no longer hold this starting point.

Another way of saying it is: because of its richness and variety, it is different from any previous music; it does not refer to just one category, but to a category. Everything is different from the past, symbolizing the changing interpretation of the times. Improved music with spiritual connotations can be included in this, so it is named New Age, that is, new century music.

Extended information

The word "Classic" comes from Latin, originally referring to the upper class of Roman society, and later translated as human achievements with universal and eternal value. Abroad, this type of music is called "classical music". "Classical" means "classical, orthodox, classical literature", so our Chinese call it "classical music", to be precise. It should be "Western classical music".

First of all, explain conceptually, "classical music" is the name of a music category. However, even abroad, there are many different interpretations of the specific meaning of the term "classical music". The main objections come from the different concepts of era division of "classical music":

1. To transcend the era Based on the universal, eternal artistic value and the highest performance of musical art, music with permanent artistic value that can serve as a model for contemporaries and future generations is collectively called "classical music". According to this standard, classical music is also called "serious music" or "art music" to distinguish popular music (popular music).

2. Specifically refers to the period of classical music from around 1750 to 1820.

The style of the classical music school was formed in the gradual disappearance of the music of the Baroque period, melted into the gradual formation of the romantic school style, and experienced the transition from baroque music to the early classical music school. Among the many music schools, the representatives of the Vienna classical music school include: Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Music