Questions tagged [history]
For questions about how music has developed and changed over time or for questions about concepts and ideas of a historic period of music. Do not use just because the subject of the question is a historic figure or piece.
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When were the terms "Major" and "Minor" applied to keys?
In 1547, Heinrich Glarean published Dodecachordon in which he posited that in addition to the 4 existing pairs of church modes (plagal and authentic versions of modes with finals on D (Dorian), E (...
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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 ...
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Why is the double bass the only instrument in the violin family tuned in fourths?
Out of the 4 instruments of the Violin Family (Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass), the bass is the only instrument tuned in fourths.
Wikipedia states
The double bass is generally tuned in fourths, ...
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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., use the right hand for plucking ...
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Why is note B 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 ♭ is ...
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Why is the lowest note on the piano an A?
I've always wondered why almost every piano's lowest note is an A. In fact, I've never seen a piano whose lowest note is not an A, and I have also noticed that this pattern only occurs in pianos; most ...
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How did composers "test" their music?
How did composers "test" their music, especially in multi-instrument works
(eg. chamber, orchestra) or in pieces for instruments they didn't know how to play?
Did they really have an orchestra (for ...
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Aldous Huxley and 5/4 Meter in Music Predating "Take 5"
Background:
"Take 5" by Paul Desmond (and famously recorded by the Dave Brubeck Quartet) is one of the more famous jazz standards out there, and one thing any analyst would point out ...
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Why is a 440 Hz frequency considered the "standard" pitch for musical instruments?
I was reading the Idiot's Guides: Music Theory (3rd edition), and I read:
The "standard" pitch today that most musicians tune to is the A above middle C, which equals 440 Hz; all the other ...
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What happened to Jazz in 1980?
In this great interview by Rick Beato (around 01:13h) Pat Metheny says that in 1980 something happened - "we all know what it was" - and young musicians suddenly started to play for their ...
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Has music notation become more prescriptive?
Another question asks about the Meaning of 1/1 and 1/2 beneath pedaling marking near some sustain pedal markings. It looks like they are used to specify a particular amount of pedal to use while ...
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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 ...
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Why does a 97 / 92 key piano exist by Bösendorfer?
Pianos normally have 88 keys, ranging from A0 to C8. One of Bösendorfer's pianos go down to F below the low A. The other model goes down to C. How did this happen?
user53472
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Why is the aeolian mode the minor scale?
I've studied music theory for many years now, and one thing has always confused me about the naming methodology for the minor scale.
A major scale is based off the Ionian mode and consist of only ...
Dom♦
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Did baroque composers think of ritardando on their compositions?
I've been always told that whenever I play any baroque piece on the piano, I should take special care when attending to, for example, the amount of right pedal I should use. It sounded perfectly ...
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