A subfield of musicology, music history studies origins and development of music. Studies of music history indicate that the development of music stemmed from natural sounds of animals – hoof beats, cicadas, frogs, birds – and from other sounds in nature – rippling and dripping water, wind. Music history also tells us that it is evident that music predates speech and existed in all historic cultures.

Emotions and ideas are expressed by all music, but purposes of and attitudes toward music vary widely among cultures and eras throughout music history. Little is known about music prior to historical records of the Medieval Era, the longest period of music history covering nearly a thousand years. Few records exist from the Medieval Era due to its remoteness and lack of recordkeeping, and Church music in the form of chants is the only existing record that music history is able to provide us from the era. Pope from 590 - 640 C.E., Saint Gregory is attributed with organizing a large repertoire of "Gregorian Chants” in the early Christian church.

The earliest depiction of harmonies written in diatonic scale was discovered in Ur in a 4,000-years-old cuneiform rather recently. Previous studies in music history indicated that earliest music notation systems in Western Europe used hand symbols, some which were noted as compositions on paper. Written hand notation developed into inflective marks, “neumes,” that indicated inexact single notes that were to be sung in “plain song.” Music history notes that the musical staff of four lines developed to identify musical pitch, and notation of rhythm was advanced between the 12th and 13th centuries.

The study of music history in the Middle Ages sees Western music notation develop further to “polyphonic” sound, that is, two or more melodic lines sung simultaneously. Polyphony was stylistically broader than plain song and began a new era in music. Music history relates that music grew stronger with the development of notations of rhythms and patterns. Innovators of Western music from that era remain elusive, however, as names of polyphonic composers were rarely noted.

Music history tells us that Ancient Greeks used double pipe and bagpipe instruments, as indicated in drawings and writings that describe musical harmonies and techniques. Early flutes and stringed instruments are known to have been used in Asia, India, Greece, Rome, Mesopotamia, and Egypt. Music history has no reason to believe that music crossed cultural lines in any broad form in the Middle Ages, and forms of music remained somewhat regional through the period. Diversification in music and musical instruments advanced with broadening mobility and trade. Classical music (music that is a learned tradition or is supported by church or government) and folk music (music that is popular within a culture) coexisted in regions throughout Western music history.

Music history further traces music through the fall of the Roman Empire, the Renaissance Period, the Baroque Era, the Classical Period, the Romantic Era, through long spans of time and diversity of cultural traditions, geographic regions, and influences of folk traditions, Christianity, and the Roman Catholic Church. The field of music history studies music cultures, music over time, music types, music genres, music practices, and the relationships between music and societies. Music history studies music composers, performers, teachers, teaching, writing, exceptional and natural abilities, tools, instruments, repertories, icons, technological developments, and anything else that relates to the music that we continue to include in our lives daily.

This article provides an overview of music history. If you would like to submit an article about music history or any other music-related subject, please feel free to do so here at Media Positive Radio.