Music: The
history of music
When did people start to make music?
Read the text and find answers to these questions.
Our ancestors probably first made music by banging stones together. Some people think that early humans used these sounds to communicate before they used words. Thousands of years ago, in Australia, the Aborigines made music with their voices, and by clapping their hands and stamping their feet. A lot of their songs and dances have existed for centuries.
The oldest surviving musical instruments are animal bones from central Europe. The oldest flute in the world was found in Slovenia. The Egyptians played harps, flutes and tambourines, and the ancient Greeks loved music, poetry and dancing.
In ancient civilisations, people didn’t write music down. They learnt music by listening and copying what they heard. In about 1000 AD, an Italian monk called Guido d’Arezzo invented music ‘notations’ – signs and symbols. This is how we write music now.
Today people play music at religious ceremonies and celebrations all over the world, and music is an important part of all cultures.
When did pop music begin?
Read about the history of pop music. Then write at least two questions to ask your friends.
Types of music include classical, folk, jazz and pop. The word ‘pop’ comes from ‘popular’. Popular music began in the USA in the 1930s. But it was in the 1950s, when music began, that the pop music industry was born. For the first time, young people had their own style of music, and music became a central part of a new youth culture.
The most successful rock and roll star was Elvis Presley (1935–1977). His first ‘hit’ record, in 1956, was ‘Heartbreak Hotel’. His fans adored him, but their parents often thought that being a music ‘fanatic’ was dangerous and bad. In the 60s and 70s, pop groups like The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Beach Boys, ABBA and Queen became hugely popular, followed by Michael Jackson, Madonna, Britney Spears, and many more. Today, pop stars give concerts all over the world, for example at the Glastonbury Festival in the UK, and in Carnegie Hall in New York.
Popular songs are often about love and feelings. But some singers, for example Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, used their songs to protest about what was happening in the world, particularly war. An example of this type of song is ‘Blowing in the wind’, written by Bob Dylan in 1962. And John Lennon’s song ‘Imagine’ (written in 1971) is still popular today.
Orchestras
Do you know the names of these musical instruments in Slovenian?
The first orchestras, in the 17th century, had only ‘stringed’ instruments. In a modern orchestra, musical instruments are divided into four groups: strings, woodwind, brass and percussion. For example: violins and cellos are in the strings section.
Can you put the musical instruments in the list into the right group?
What about folk music?
Do some research and write about the history of folk music. Find answers to these questions:
1 What is folk music?
2 Which musical instruments do people play?
3 What do you know about folk music in Slovenia?
4 Is folk music popular today?