The study of how music has developed and changed over time.
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1answer
32 views
Suggestions for comprehensive books about the history of music? [closed]
I really like music and history in general but like most people my knowledge is limited to mostly music from the early 1960s until the current times. I was wondering if there is any book that covers ...
2
votes
2answers
84 views
Which early danceband guitarists tuned to Eb rather than E? [closed]
Often, nowadays, guitarists will tune to Eb etc.as a matter of course, for various reasons.I'm thinking of the 1930s and 40s, when guitarists were playing in dance bands.A lot of the music they played ...
9
votes
3answers
132 views
What is the reason for pitch inflation?
There's this phenomenon among instrumentalists to constantly raise the pitch of the concert A. This generally occurs among string players, since the range of tunings for woodwinds, for example, is ...
4
votes
2answers
118 views
Why note B is marked with H in Scandinavia and Germany?
At least in Scandinavia and Germany two notes are marked differently than in most other countries:
B -> H
B♭ -> B
I have heard that this is due to mistake in interpreting messy sheet notes, as ♭ ...
7
votes
3answers
211 views
Is a violin's shape (particularly the f-holes) necessary or is it just for aesthetics?
Violins have a rather beautiful design.
... is such design necessary? Is a violin's natural sound only achieved when it has this specific shape?
I have a particular interest in the f-holes. Are they ...
2
votes
3answers
77 views
The origin of “Battle Ends And Down Goes Charles' Father” [closed]
The order of the flats is given by the mnemonic "*B*attle *E*nds *A*nd *D*own *G*oes *C*harles' *F*ather". What is the history behind this strange phrase?
8
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5answers
295 views
Is Rock n Roll the Devil's music?
In honor of 666 days in Beta!
Historically, what evidence has been cited in support of the claim that Rock 'n' Roll is the music of Devil?
0
votes
2answers
59 views
Can the “music of the spheres” be applied (or projected) to instrumental music?
I've read lots of books on Pythagoras and the philosophy of the Music of the Spheres, but it all seems to stop at labeling planets with scale degrees. And then what? If they're all there, filling up ...
3
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1answer
93 views
Was the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras the first one who referred to a musical scale?
I' ve read that the ancient Greek philosopher Pythagoras was the first one who scientifically proved the theory of music.
Also it is refered that he invented the Pythagorean musical scale.
Was the ...
9
votes
2answers
107 views
What changes were made to Dvořák's Cello Concerto by Wihan?
Dvořák's Cello Concerto in B minor, Op. 104, B. 191, is a standard part of the modern cello repertoire, probably even the most popular concerto on the instrument. For the most part the version played ...
3
votes
1answer
103 views
Whose idea was it to put three pedals on a piano?
Who ever decided to put foot pedals on a piano? Do we know who did it, or do we only know the general period that this happened? I would like to know who did this and when did it happen?
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0answers
38 views
Solid state amplification milestones [closed]
I'm trying to find information on solid state amplification development. Can anyone help me?
1
vote
5answers
93 views
Did any player pianos use card decks?
Wikipedia doesn't mention any. But since Jacquard cards developed from Bouchon tapes in the eighteenth century; and then Hollerith cards evolved back into tapes and then into magnetic tapes (merging ...
2
votes
1answer
74 views
Original underlying melodies of Liszt's Hungarian Rhapsodies
As we all know, Liszt's 19 Hungarian Rhapsodies contain and conserve some Hungarian and Gipsy tunes (although some of them are in a somewhat modified form). I'd like to know if there's any resource ...
5
votes
3answers
123 views
English Horn Etymology
Why is the English Horn called a horn when it is a woodwind instrument, basically a lower oboe?
When compared to other horns, such as the French Horn and the Flugelhorn, it seems to be a misnomer.
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0answers
69 views
A few songs in the genre 'Clubbed to Death' [closed]
Clubbed to Death is a 1995 song by Rob Dougan. It was given renewed attention in 1999 due to its inclusion in the film The Matrix. It was re-released as a single in 2002 with new remixes.
i want A ...
8
votes
3answers
440 views
What are the practical reasons for still having transposing instruments?
I understand that historically there was a need for transposing instruments. e.g. Brass instruments would use lead pipes to change their key and players in brass bands would like to stick to the same ...
8
votes
2answers
162 views
Was the pitch A given that letter because the minor key was originally the “basic” mode?
It's something that's puzzled me; The key that has no sharps and no flats, in essence the "basic" key, is C Major. Well, fine, but why C? Why not label that key and note A, if it's the foundation of ...
1
vote
1answer
130 views
Who was the first composer to notate a trombone smear?
I've been listening to Henry Fillmore's "Trombone Family". It brought me to thinking, how long have trombone smears been around in written sheet music? Was Fillmore, a.k.a. "Father of the Trombone ...
6
votes
2answers
174 views
Physiological basis for note durations?
For some reason (probably read something like this a long time ago), I have it in my head that there was some sort of physiological basis for some note durations.
This may have been something like, a ...
7
votes
1answer
110 views
Did Rostropovich ever play his Humoresque himself?
"Humoresque" op.5 for cello and piano is the only piece composed by Mstislav Rostropovich himself.
Did he ever play Humoresque himself?
From some sources I know that he didn't, whereas other sources ...
-1
votes
2answers
143 views
Why is the note name “a” not on any important scale position? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why is C the base note of standard notation and keys?
The note names are derived from the alphabet, which starts with "a".
But why is our note "a" not on any important ...
13
votes
5answers
307 views
Why does conventional playing style give the string manipulation to the left hand?
For the majority of players, the right hand is used for most tasks that require exacting manipulation: writing, throwing, etc.
However, guitar, violin, lute, etc., etc., use the right hand for ...
3
votes
3answers
216 views
Why did Lou Reed make Metal Machine Music?
For background, it's a record that was made "without musical instruments" by rigging up ring-modulators and envelope filters and tone generators to create a sort of living shape of feedback.
But ...
9
votes
1answer
201 views
Why is Italian the standard for expressive markings in music?
I was reading through the music for Clair de Lune by Claude Debussy a few days ago and I realized that I am often surprised when I see expressive markings (dynamics, tempo, accents and the like) that ...
1
vote
1answer
173 views
What is psychotropic music?
I hit the term psychotropic music and listened to some works but was surprised that this music style has no good description on the internet (its origin, history, goal, etc.).
When googling you will ...
5
votes
2answers
502 views
How did “Mary had a little lamb” become popular blues?
"Mary had a little lamb" had long been a popular choice for blues musicians to jam and solo on stage. Ever since watching the rendition by Buddy Guy and Stevie Ray Vaughan, it also had been one of my ...
3
votes
4answers
151 views
Is there something like the Köchel catalogue for other composers?
I'm looking for public databases containing data about the works of different composers, just like the Köchel catalogue. I'm not really interested in any particular artist, genre, or time period. ...
1
vote
1answer
209 views
Before Vocaloid — Early history of voice synthesis?
Vocaloid is a modern musical voice synthesiser package from Japan. It's getting pretty close to a human voice: Compare GUMI (Vocaloid) and Megumi Nakajima (GUMI's voice sample provider; human) singing ...
4
votes
3answers
305 views
What are some examples influences from external cultures on the development of Western classical music?
So, I think it's largely safe to presume that the core of Western musical theory developed almost entirely within Europe -- Greece in its very early history, mainly Italy and also the Franco-Flemish ...
13
votes
4answers
509 views
Is there a known point in history where dissonance became acceptable?
So, I'm not a scholar of music history, but I have a basic timeline. The evolution of Western music theory had several times in which certain chords and intervals were considered too "jarring" or ...
1
vote
2answers
371 views
Why piano keys are not integer factors of octave notes?
In one of the answers of this question, some pianos with 44, 61, 76, and 88 keys are introduced. I just don't get it. Why notes are not following any formula? I mean, a piano with 63 keys means that ...
20
votes
4answers
739 views
Examples of songs or phrases played in different temperaments
I've read about the fact that 12 tone equal temperament is a relatively recent phenomenon, and that historically, each key would have a different character due to the unequal temperament. I'm curious ...
11
votes
2answers
445 views
Music education audio lessons
I am currently learning to play the guitar, and that has sparked an interest in learning more about music in general. I would like to learn about music theory, ear training, history, musical styles ...
6
votes
4answers
642 views
What types of guitars are used for spanish music?
I am fascinated by Spanish guitar music, and I have started exploring it. I have heard classical music like Gypsy Kings, Taranta, Romance, etc.
Does anyone here know what types of guitars are used in ...
2
votes
1answer
226 views
Looking for a 'Danse Macabre' baroque antecedent
My daughter is currently practicing a piano version of Danse Macabre by Saint-Saens (so I have it in my head). The other day, I heard a baroque piece for violin and recorder. At one point, the violin ...
6
votes
1answer
214 views
When was the deceptive cadence introduced?
Bach used the Deceptive Cadence as early as his Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor, BWV 582, which dates to the early 18th century. Are there earlier uses? A definitive answer may be impossible, but I ...
5
votes
1answer
476 views
Influences of Mozart
Wikipedia article only mentions Hummel from Mozart's childhood but gives no further information.
I will appreciate if someone could shed more light here, in particular which composers have had an ...
12
votes
2answers
320 views
J. S. Bach's place in musical history
Was there any reason Bach didn't follow the trends of the times? He was surely very much in touch with contemporary composers, and knew of Handel's and Scarlatti's works specifically. Amazingly, he ...
10
votes
1answer
192 views
When did keyboard partitions start to use the G-clef for the upper staff ?
When you look at very old sheetmusic (for harpsichord or organ), you see that the upper staff has a C-clef, first line. The lower one is the familiar bass F-clef, fourth line.
Why and when did the ...
7
votes
2answers
258 views
When was the first recorded usage of a musical score?
Music is quite universal in the sense that you can hand a musician almost anywhere in the world a piece of sheet music and they will be able to understand it. I've been wondering this for a while now; ...
8
votes
3answers
1k views
Training and Influences of J. S. Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach is undoubtedly among the most celebrated of Baroque composers, and to many the great composer in all history. The era of the late 17th and early 18th centuries in which he lived, ...
6
votes
1answer
270 views
The History of Southern Gospel and Spirituals
I am interested in the history of Southern Gospels and Spirituals.
How did these styles begin? What are the history's behind them? Can you suggest an article concerning the history?
Are there ...
6
votes
2answers
250 views
What is the earliest known use or indication of “col legno”
col legno or col legno battuto meaning : strike (the string) with the wood (of the bow) is commonly found in 20th century chamber music. But I have heard it might have been used earlier (at least 18th ...
13
votes
1answer
240 views
How much do we know about how ancient Greek and Roman music sounded?
Specifically for music composed earlier than the third or fourth century A.D.
I have heard several reports about deciphering examples of ancient greek musical notation. And you can find CDs of ...
8
votes
4answers
1k views
Is Beethoven's 9th symphony the first piece that combined a chorus with an orchestra?
(a very good musicology question suggested by BenV, from the definition phase of the "Classical Music" area51 proposal).
Beethoven's ninth Symphony (opus 125) is one of the most well-known works of ...
4
votes
1answer
364 views
Where/When did the modern guitar originate?
I keep thinking of Greeks playing Lyres - there had to be a point where someone added strings and the modern shape...
