The origins of Western music taught through examples, conversation, and context.
Here is a list of some of the topics we will cover:
- Music of Antiquity
- “Early” Music
- Music of Mesopotamia
- Early music instruments: Harps and Lyres
- The origins of music notation
- Music in Ancient Greek culture
- Music in Greek philosophy
- Music in the early Christian church
- Gregorian Chant
- Sacred and Secular music
- Boethius
- Pathagoras
- Hexachords
- The Guidoian Hand
- Poetry in Music of the Midevail perioud
- Hildegard Von Bingen
- Versus
- Goliard Songs
- Minstrels
- Bards
- Troubadours
- Motets
- And much, much more!
01
Introduction & Welcome
Welcome to the Complete History of Music!
Introduction
Copyright Information
List of Musical Examples Used in this Course
What is “Western” music history?
02
The Beginnings
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Let’s start at the very beginning: The earliest things we know about how music was being made.
What is Antiquity?
“Early” Music
Mesopotamia
Early Instruments: Harps and Lyres
The Beginnings of Notation
03
Ancient Greece
Next, let’s look at ancient greek culture and how music was making waves in the philosophy, art, and architecture.
Music in Ancient Greek Culture
Greek Philosophy
Ethos
What did it sound like?
Meanwhile, in the rest of the world…
04
The Early Christian Church
Much of what we know about early music comes from the christian church.
Music in the Early Christian Church
The History of Notation
Gregorian Chant
Sacred and Secular music
05
Music Theory in the Middle Ages
At this point in history we start to see systems coming forward to organize notes. Let’s look at these early forms of music theory.
Boethius & Pathagoras
The Earliest Church Modes
Hexachords
Guido’s Hand
06
Chant
Next, let’s dive a little deeper into Gregorian Chant, and other chat types, that were developing at the time.
Types of Chant
Treatment of Text
Examples of Chant
More To Chant
Hildegard Von Bingen
07
Secular Music of The Medieval Period
While we don’t know a lot about it, there was music happening outside of the church. In this section we will look at some of the things we know about secular music of the era.
A very, very, very, brief history of Europe
Versus
Goliard Songs
Minstrel
Minstrel Song
Troubadours
Guilliume IX, Song About Nothing
08
Developments in Music
From here, we start to inch our way towards the renaissance. In this section we will look at a few last things that help to push us forward into that era.
Advancements in the Church
Polyphony
The 4 Inventions
Organum
Motet
09
Wrap Up
Thats it for now – I have a few extra goodies for you in this section, though. Be sure to check it out!
What comes next? The Renaissance!
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Certificate of Completion
Dr. J. Anthony Allen
Music PhD, Producer, Composer, Instructor, Professor, Author, & Ableton Certified Trainer.
ABOUT
Dr. Allen is a professional musician, top-rated online instructor, and university professor. In 2017 the Star Tribune featured him as a “Mover and a Shaker,” and he is recognized by the Grammy Foundation for his music education classes. He currently teaches at Augsburg University in Minneapolis, MN, Slam Academy, and Punkademic Courses.
