"The study of music from a historical point of view."
The study of the development of music over time, including different styles and movements.
Medieval Music: This period of music history spans from the 5th century to the 15th century and includes the development of Gregorian chant, the emergence of polyphony, and the creation of sacred and secular vocal music.
Renaissance Music: This period of music history spans from the 15th century to the early 17th century and includes the development of new musical forms like the madrigal and the motet, and the work of composers like Palestrina and Josquin des Prez.
Baroque Music: This period of music history spans from the early 17th century to the mid-18th century and includes the development of opera, the concerto, and the sonata, as well as the work of composers like Bach, Handel, and Vivaldi.
Classical Music: This period of music history spans from the mid-18th century to the early 19th century and includes the creation of the symphony, the string quartet, and the piano sonata, as well as the work of composers like Mozart, Haydn, and Beethoven.
Romantic Music: This period of music history spans from the early 19th century to the early 20th century and includes the rise of virtuosic performers, the development of nationalistic styles, and the creation of new musical forms like the tone poem and the art song, as well as the work of composers like Schubert, Chopin, and Tchaikovsky.
Modern Music: This period of music history spans from the early 20th century to the present day and includes the development of new musical forms like the 12-tone system and serialism, the emergence of minimalism and electronic music, and the work of composers like Stravinsky, Schoenberg, and Cage.
Musicology: This field includes the study of music history, theory, and analysis, as well as the study of musical performance and composition.
Musical Instruments: This topic covers the history and development of musical instruments, including their construction, design, and repertoire.
Musical Forms: This includes the different types of musical compositions and their respective structures, such as the sonata, the concerto, the fugue, and the opera.
Music Theory: This involves the study of the fundamental principles of music, including harmony, melody, rhythm, and form.
Western Classical Music History: This type of music history includes the study of classical music from the medieval period through to contemporary classical music. It includes the study of composers, music theory, performance practice, and musical genres.
Jazz Music History: Jazz music history focuses on the development of jazz music from its roots in African-American communities to its contemporary forms. It covers the contributions of major jazz musicians, improvisational techniques, and the evolution of jazz styles.
Popular Music History: This type of music history focuses on the evolution of popular music from the early 20th century to the present day. It includes the study of music genres such as rock, pop, hip-hop, and electronic music, as well as the impact of technology on the creation and dissemination of popular music.
World Music History: This type of music history explores the musical traditions of cultures from around the world, including folk music, traditional music, and popular music. It covers the evolution of different kinds of music from different parts of the world, as well as the social, cultural and religious contexts in which the music was created and performed.
Electronic Music History: This type of music history focuses on the development of electronic music from its origins in the 20th century to contemporary forms of electronic music. It includes the study of electronic instruments, the use of digital technology in music production, and the evolution of electronic music genres such as techno, house and trance.
Opera History: Opera history encompasses the study of opera as a musical genre, its development, evolution, and cultural significance. It includes the study of opera composers, librettists, opera houses, and the social, political and economic contexts in which the opera was created and performed.
Folk Music History: This type of music history explores the musical traditions of different folk cultures around the world, including traditional folk music and contemporary fusion forms. It covers the history and evolution of folk music, as well as the social, cultural and political contexts in which the music was created and performed.
Musicology: Musicology is the study of music history and cultural analysis from an interdisciplinary perspective, including music theory, ethnomusicology, historical musicology, and music cognition. It covers a broad range of topics such as music production, music analysis, and the role of music in cultural and social contexts.
"The history of any type or genre of music."
"These research topics are often categorized as part of ethnomusicology or cultural studies."
"The history of the notated music of Western elites, sometimes called 'art music'."
"The methods of music history include source studies, paleography, philology, style criticism, historiography, musical analysis, and iconography."
"The application of musical analysis is often a part of music history."
"Pure analysis or the development of new tools of music analysis is more likely to be seen in the field of music theory."
"Peer-reviewed articles in journals, university press-published music history books, university textbooks, new editions of musical works, biographies of composers and other musicians, studies of the relationship between words and music, and reflections upon the role of music in society."
"To study music from a historical point of view."
"Tends to focus on elite art."
"Ethnomusicology or cultural studies."
"Source studies, especially manuscript studies."
"Philology, especially textual criticism."
"Style criticism."
"The choice of historical method is a part of music history."
"The field of music theory."
"New editions of musical works."
"The relationship between words and music."
"By reflecting upon the role of music in society."
"Historical musicology."