Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination, and life to everything.” – Plato (c. 428 BC – c. 348 BC)
How did Plato manage to encapsulate music so eloquently long before it evolved into the many pleasing genres of today? In a brief history of classical music, Jeremy Nicholas says “fixing a date for ‘the beginning of music’ is as elusive as pin-pointing the millennium in which dinosaurs became extinct. 1000 AD merely provides a convenient starting point for the birth of modern Western music.” According to Nicholas, the term classical music refers to supposedly ‘heavy’ music (as opposed to, say, pop or jazz) and to its advancement during the Classical period between 1750 and 1820.
Skipping ahead in time, an article in The Telegraph celebrates seven key genres that developed in the USA from the early 20th century:
- A street guitarist in Tutwiler, Mississippi played the first ever blues in 1903.
- In the early 1910s New Orleans became known as the cradle of jazz.
- Country arose in the ’20s as a multicultural blend of English folk balladry, Mississippi Delta blues, Irish fiddle tunes, French/Cajun music and vaudeville.
- In the ’40s, Afro-American expressions of gospel, blues, and rhythm and blues converged to form rock ’n’ roll.
- Soul sprang up in the ’50s from blues clubs, churches and street corners across the country.
- Hip hop came from the block parties of the Bronx in the early ’70s.
- EDM (Electronic Dance Music) has grown into a popular genre since 1990.
Other histories give nods to ragtime, swing, folk, and punk rock. No one seems to think much of disco as a musical form, but I still like its iconic movie, Saturday Night Fever (1977).
My earliest memory of music is “The Yellow Rose of Texas”, a song made popular by Mitch Miller in 1955 and featured in the epic Western Giant (1956). I also heard the favourites of my older siblings: Laurie loved “Que Sera Sera”, the rendition by Doris Day that won an Oscar in 1956 for Best Original Song. (Can any reader name the movie in which she sings it? A clue: the director is among the most famous filmmakers in the history of cinema.) Rick introduced me to legendary Elvis Presley and Tim to Jefferson Airplane, a pioneering band of psychedelic rock. In the ’60s, Dad tried to bribe me into learning about classical music. I could earn $5 per record from a box set of 12 by identifying the composer, the composition and the movement or theme after listening for several seconds. I remember mastering Tchaikovsky’s “Nutcracker Suite” whether he dropped the needle in the ‘Overture’, ‘March’ or ‘Dance of the Sugar-Plum Fairy’. Years later the professor in a classical music appreciation course at university used Dad’s same method for the final examination.
In the ’70s I became enamoured with jazz, investing regularly in vinyl from my travel agent’s salary of $165/wk. (Would a sounder investment have been a RRSP, created in Canada in 1957?) The owner of an independent music store in Toronto recommended the albums: for example, Kind of Blue (1959) by Miles Davis, one of the most influential albums ever recorded, Ella and Louis (1956), one of jazz’s greatest duets, Keith Jarrett’s The Köln Concert (1975), Satch and Josh (1974) with Canada’s own Oscar Peterson and Count Basie on the piano, and many more.
The ways of listening to music have changed, in my time from radios, record players, and cassette and CD playing stereos to personal portable devices and cell phones. Somewhat recent technological breakthroughs include the Sony Walkman, which went on sale July 1, 1979 for $150; the Apple iPod, a portable media player released in 2001 for $399; and YouTube Music, a free music streaming service unveiled in October 2015.
We listen to music during workouts, on walks, in stores, elevators and cars, at concerts, in movies and at home. Music constitutes a vital part of everyday living.
BENEFITS
- Our response to music activates regions of the brain that generate positive emotions and rewards. However, we must choose music suited to our tastes. Grunge bands, such as Seattle born Nirvana and Pearl Jam, may have the reverse affect on our generation.
- Music has the capacity to transport us, distract us from daily anxieties, calm us and thus reduce stress.
- Enjoying familiar music with our loved ones can be a good way of engaging with them, especially if they’re ill or suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease.
- Music can promote physical activity such as dancing, skating and jogging.
- Studies show children improve their memory, attention and concentration through music. Adults can too.
- Soothing music in the evening puts us to sleep; fast-tempo music in the morning rousts us.
To borrow the words of English composer Edward Elgar (1857-1934): “My idea is that there is music in the air, music all around us, the world is full of it, and you simply take as much as you require.” ♥
P.S. In the comments below, take a guess at my movie trivia and/or share some of your preferred music.
Linda W says
I don’t know how you can remember all that information Pam. Once again, a pleasant and informative story.
Pam McPhail says
Thanks for your nice comments, Linda.
Ron Charuk says
Doris sang that song in the 1956 Alfred Hitchcock movie, The Man Who Knew Too Much. Is that dating me? lol
Pam McPhail says
Well remembered, Ron. Do you recall much about the movie’s plot? I don’t, but most Hitchcock movies warrant later viewings. They withstand the test of time.
Ron Charuk says
That’s an excellent synopsis, Pam! As you well know, music was and still is an essential part of my life. Rick would agree!
Pam McPhail says
You didn’t mention any of your preferred listening these years. So…?
Patricia Young says
Well, Pam, you have certainly sent me down Memory Lane.
My first clear music memories, other than children’s ditties, date from 1956/57:
Elvis Presley singing Hound Dog on Ed Sullivan is perhaps my first strong musical memory.
Teddy Bears Picnic, indicating the start of a beloved radio programme, might even have preceded it. My Mum must have loved the few minutes of peace this brought her as my younger brother and Iistened wirh rapt attention.
Blue Moon stands out for some reason, as does Patti Page singing (Ian will shriek at this) “How much is that Little Doggie in the Window?” It must have the doggie that attracted me to that one – certainly not the music.
I recall that there was often classical music playing in the house. What pieces, I cannot say, likely because there were no words for me to sing. Later, eight years of piano lessons changed this.
I have a question for you. Where does Motown fit into the picture? Living most of the late 50s and early 60s just 20 miles from Detroit, it became my first music passion.
Thanks for the Memories. Ah, now there’s another memory!
Pat
Pam McPhail says
Oh my gosh, Pat, you’re right to mention Motown, founded by Berry Gordon in 1959 in Detroit (motor city). Over the years Motown helped to break down racial prejudice by becoming the most successful independent record company in history — and the most successful African-American-owned business in America. Did you see “Standing in the Shadows of Motown”, a 2002 documentary about the Funk Brothers, the back up musicians for the “Who’s Who” in Motown music? While telling the history, the film also features fabulous new renditions, such as “What Becomes of the Broken-Hearted” by Joan Osbourne, “What’s Going On” by Chaka Khan and more. Motown is considered a sub-genre of pop.
Some say “Memory” is the only decent song in “Cats.” I have not seen the production so cannot pass judgement. And you?
P.S. Glad you enjoyed your trip down memory lane.
Patricia Young says
Glad to know you agree Motown has a place in your annals of 20th century American music. It certainly has a feel all it’s own.
Ha, your next comment really dates me! When I wrote Thanks for the memories and comme yes there’s another memory, I was actually thinking of the song “Thanks for the Memory” which won the Oscar for best original song back in 1938 or 1939 and was sung by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross (had to look her up). I then had to look up the film as it was not a memory for me. Perhaps cineophiles such as you and Glen will know “The Big Broadcast of 1938”?
You obviously thought I meant the song Memories because of what I wrote. I did see Cats in London in 1989 – yet another incredible memory. I did not see the recent film. Apparently this is a good thing.
Marie McLean says
Very interesting. I don’t have your memory for specific music in my childhood. Ken and I were introduced to B.B. King at, of all places, Stratford Festival in Ontario. My brother introduced us to Van Morrison, and we still enjoy his sound. I still listen to Motown and inevitably get up and dance to “Some Day We’ll Be Together” sung by The Supremes. Always gives me a lift.
Pam McPhail says
Didn’t you and Ken attend a Van Morrison concert in Montreal years ago and, regrettably, he refused to sing his old hits? Certainly “Moondance” (1970) is one of my favourite albums to this day. Van Morrison sings on B.B. King’s “Deuces Wild.” I love “Night Life” with Willie Nelson on that album.
Iain says
Pam, what a lovely comment by you on such a diverse topic! The pleasure of so many different forms/genres of music, has always been such a huge part of my life. My Scottish ancestry has always been my main interest although there are so many other forms that have always been dear to me. For more than 50 years I’ve been involved in teaching music to all ages but part of the education that I’ve delivered was for all of my students to listen to all forms to broaden their knowledge.
For several years I taught the Kodaly Method to Primary (equivalent to Elementary School) children and it was such a very rewarding time. Zoltan Kodaly was a musicologist who believed that it was important to keep Traditional music alive, no matter what country. Through the use of developing the ‘ear’ of children (proper ‘pitch’ for singing) and learning to sing the Solfa Methodology (basic ‘Doe – Ray – Me)as well as rhythmic games and listening to many different styles of music was so important. Through the mix of developing the students ear for ‘proper pitch’ along with control of rhythm it made for a really fun way of learning their new skills. The gradual building of vocal skills and rhythmic abilities was a really rewarding time for young children and hopefully something that they may use in further years of musical studies.
There are so many far reaching life skills that music gives to an individual. The list is so lengthy. But whether played, sung or just listened to, Music can take you to and from many different places in one’s lifetime. You can share it or you can have it all to yourself. Music can always be a special place to have for you to go to, nobody can ever take you away from this.
Great work Pam!
Pam McPhail says
Iain, Thanks for enriching my post with your insights and experiences. As someone who’s devoted his life to music, you know well the many benefits to people of all ages. If you ever visit Phoenix AZ, you must go to the Musical Instrument Museum that features instruments from every country in the world. We see the instruments, read about their history and hear them played. Apparently the bagpipe did not originate in Scotland…