Examination of Music History

"A verbal art like poetry is reflective; it stops to think. Music is
immediate, it goes on to become." - W.H. Auden. This quote best explains
the complex art of music. Music is an elaborate art form that will always
remain ever changing. Music developed drastically from itÕs beginning in
the Prehistoric era to the 14th Century.

The exact origin of music is unknown. It is known that music was used in
prehistoric times in magical or spiritual rituals but no other use is
known. This knowledge is borne out of the fact that music still forms a
vital part of most religious ceremonies today.

The history of Greek music is problematic. Although there are frequent
references to musical performance in Greek manuscripts, there are less than
twelve fragments of actual Greek music, including both vocal and
instrumental music, that have survived. It is impossible to fully
understand the notation to make an authentic performance.

For the Greeks, music was of divine orig...