2. Development of Western Music
Baroque – Classical – Romantic – 20th Century
Prepared for those awesome Grade Six students by “The Big Guy”

3. What is Western Music
The term 'Western' refers to European traditions and social structures and has come to include societies that were established and shaped primarily by European immigrants, such as those in the Americas. Thus, Western music may be defined as organized instrumentation and sound created and produced in Europe, the United States, and other societies established and shaped by European immigrants. This includes a wide assortment of musical genres, from classical music and jazz to rock and roll and country-western music.

4. Origins Western Music
Although music existed throughout the ancient world, the roots of Western music is mainly from the ancient Greeks and Romans.
During the Medieval Era (500 CE – 1450 CE), the ancient world suffered a major collapse due to famine, disease and countless disputes. The fall of Ancient Rome virtually wiped out most of the technological advances. Without effective leaders to organize complex societies, many people became poor and lived in relatively isolated villages. Life was difficult and the primary focus for the common person was simply survival.

5. The Renaissance Era (1450 CE – 1600 CE)
Renaissance means ‘rebirth’, and in the Renaissance Era, people rediscovered the ideas and technologies of the ancient world. Society developed into more distinct social classes, and educated citizens were expected to learn music. The development of the printing press made music more accessible to people.
The upper-class citizens started to hire their own musicians and secular music started to gain popularity.

6. The Baroque Era (1600 CE – 1750 CE)
The Baroque Era was characterized by an obsession with decorations and added frills to just about anything!
Notice the fancy decorations in this Baroque bedroom.

7. The Arts During the Baroque Era
The obsession of being fancy was evident in the arts and music was no exception.
Music during the Baroque Era became much more complex. The small secular groups of the Renaissance grew to become small orchestras.

8. The Baroque Era (1600 CE – 1750 CE)
The short stories told through music became much larger. It was during the Baroque that a new form of drama and music was born – The Opera.
Note the lavish decorations of the opera theatre.

9. Prominent Baroque Composers
The music in the Baroque is still popular today! A certain organist (sometimes disguised as a science teacher) rolls his eyes each time a bride asks, “Do you happen to know Canon in D ?” Johann Pachelbel’s famous piece is still getting played today – especially during weddings. Pachelbel wrote the song back in 1680 – do the math!
OMG!
Canon again?

10. Prominent Baroque Composers
Dude, tap my head!
Almost every Dracula movie features a song that people often refer to as “Dracula’s song” or “Dracula’s theme.” The song is actually called Toccata and Fugue in D minor.
The song was composed by one of the greatest composers of the Baroque Era (and possibly one of the greatest of all time) – Johann Sebastian Bach. He wrote the song almost 300 years before it was first used in any vampire movie.

11. Prominent Baroque Composers
Let’s hear the monks!
Although secular music was becoming more popular during the Baroque, many composers still wrote music for sacred settings.
Once such masterpiece was Georg Frideric Handel’s oratorio called The Messiah. One of the chorus from The Messiah is called “Hallelujah Chorus.”