Changes in Music and Entertainment over Time: Through the Ages Project Part 6 of 10

By Jacob Lindbert

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Introduction

The world of music and entertainment has changed largely over time, reflecting changes in technology, culture, and values. From early community performances to global entertainment and streaming services, the way people create and share music has been vastly transformed. This paper will walk through the major changes in music and entertainment over time, focusing on historical periods, technological innovations, and their respective cultural impacts.

In ancient cultures, music played an important role in rituals, celebrations, and even daily activities, highlighting its importance in social and spiritual life (Becker, 2024). Many of these early forms of music and entertainment were ways of passing down stories, traditions, and wisdom to future generations. This allowed for the sharing of knowledge between communities, along with promoting community engagement and connectivity. In addition to the words holding meaning, the musical instruments that were used were also typically symbolic. Flutes, drums, lyres, etc., most often had special meanings to them and were handcrafted using available materials. This added to the importance these instruments held in music. These hand-crafted tools would serve as key pieces in weddings, funerals, and other ceremonies.

Early string instruments consisted of lyres and harps and were most often made out of animal guts and plant fibers (Becker, 2024). These instruments were used to add emotional depth to music, evoking responses from the audience. Percussion instruments mostly consisted of drums and cymbals and were most often constructed out of wood or different animal skins. In many ancient cultures, percussion instruments were very important and held spiritual importance, like the sound of drums summoning rain or honoring the gods (Becker, 2024). Early wind instruments included flutes and horns and were most often made from bone, wood, or metal. These instruments typically generated rich or soothing tones and were used in dances and ceremonies (Becker, 2024).

Ancient Egypt

In Ancient Egyptian culture, music was very valuable and used as a method of communication with the gods. The Egyptians loved music and dancing, valuing both as ways of ceremony and entertainment. Dancing was associated with religious devotion and human sexuality (Mark, 2017). Instruments consisted of percussion, stringed, and wind varieties and were often played solo or as part of a larger group. While instruments were played, the ancient Egyptians did not have any ideas of the concept of musical notation and instead passed songs down from generation to generation.

With regard to entertainment, dance was a very popular way for individuals to stay active and engaged with others. Music and dance served to bring those in religious ceremonies closer to their faith (Mark, 2017). Hymns to the gods were often sung to the accompaniment of musical instruments and dance. This was believed to show respect and honor to the gods. Another popular form of entertainment was local shows such as reenactments of popular events or stories. This would be attended by all types of citizens, ranging from lower-class people all the way to the royals.

Ancient Greece

Much like the ancient Egyptians, the Greeks also relied heavily on music and entertainment as a core piece of their culture. Entertainment events such as festivals, rituals, parties, work, games, theater, and war were all typically accompanied by music (Kelsey Museum, n.d.). Professional musicians were valued members of society whose musical skills were judged in public competitions. Like earlier periods, there was a range of musical instruments that were played. These include wind instruments like flutes, stringed instruments like harps, and percussion instruments like drums. 

The Greeks were also the first to propose musical notation. This has left around 50 different compositions preserved to be recorded to this day. Ancient Greeks developed a system that used symbols, representing pitches and rhythms, highlighting the melody rather than the harmony (Becker, 2024). Much of this was aided by the use of the Greek alphabet to represent the different musical notes. These developments laid the way for much of the world to build upon, setting a solid early foundation for music.

Ancient Rome

Unlike Ancient Greece, the Roman Empire did not place a heavy emphasis on music as a core principle of its culture. This does not mean music was not a part of the community, but it does highlight how Roman society differed from others. They used similar instruments to previous civilizations, and sang songs about many of the same topics as others, including religion, love, and war.

Although the Romans did not revolutionize music, their forms of entertainment are the topic of many popular movies and television shows. The most popular were gladiator fights, with the best-known arena being the Coliseum. These fights were infamous during the time, and people would come from all over to watch the fighting that would take place within. Whether that be groups of people fighting each other, men fighting wild animals, etc., these were wildly popular and enjoyed by people of all classes.

Middle Ages

During the Middle Ages, many new types of entertainment emerged. Board Games were very popular in this era, with people playing Chess, Backgammon, The Philosopher Game, Fox & Geese, Knucklebones, Hazard, and many others (Chakra, 2022). Chess grew to be very popular at the time after its introduction to Europe in the 9^th century. Competitive gaming was also very popular during this time, with people regularly gambling on chess games.

Outdoor entertainment experienced a rise during this time, with activities like archery, fencing, wrestling,  hammer-throwing, horseshoe-throwing, and many others being further developed or created. Many of these games helped lay the foundation for other games that are still played to this day, like football and cricket. In addition to these games, hunting was often a sport of nobility where nobles would ride horses with their dogs chasing down their targets. Knights and jousting were also influential during this period, where knights would use horses and jousting sticks to best one another and bring honor to their families and nobles.

Music was also important, mostly influenced by the church and religion. Aside from the instruments that were played in the church, courtly love was a major theme in medieval celebrations (Chakra, 2022). Some of the main instruments of this era included cymbals, harps, flutes, horns, and tubas, which were often played by established performers and travel groups.

Renaissance

Music and entertainment both experienced significant developments during this period of time. Music evolved from solo vocalists to multiple singers singing different melodies simultaneously, accompanied by musical instruments. In addition to this, most music during earlier periods was modal (meaning it followed musical modes as opposed to the major and minor scales). This changed during the Renaissance, and tonal music began to grow, bringing new sounds and ideas to how music can be played and shared. This led to the development of new instruments as well, leading to new sounds and innovations. Popular instruments of the time included the guitar, recorder, flute, trumpet, and trombone. The rise of established performers also grew during this time. One such composer was Josquin des Prez, who was a well-known composer of both church music and secular music. His works were taught in music schools as examples of Renaissance harmony and notation and held in high regard during the time (MasterClass, 2020).

Entertainment during this time was similar to earlier time periods. Plays, shows, dances, and games were very popular among all people regardless of class. These plays would often recount historical events or popular fables of the time. Being that this was a time of rapid intellectual development and discoveries, writing rapidly grew during this time. Plays were written down and books were created and could be shared with others, with the most notable playwright being William Shakespeare. Public celebrations, feasts, carnivals, and pageants were also common, often featuring costumes and music. Art grew during this period, with many new sculptures, drawings, paintings, and more being created and observed during this time period.

Modern Age Music

As time went on, the culture of music continued to change. In the 19th century, African Americans developed music culture through the creation of the blues and jazz. This music was derived from slavery, and the deep emotional response many of the songs elicited shared the pain and suffering experienced by many. As jazz developed in New Orleans in the 20th century, it brought together musicians of all backgrounds, mixing European instruments and African rhythms (Sutherland, 2024). Popular artists like Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, and others transformed the landscape of music culture in the United States.

The evolution of rock and roll brought yet another new sound to the world of music. Rock and roll artists like Elvis Presley mixed their catchy songs with energetic performances to bring crowds to life. With the rise of television and radio, rock ‘n’ roll reached mass audiences, influencing fashion, dance, and lifestyle (Sutherland, 2024). This genre was particularly influential to teenagers who viewed this music as a form of rebellion and freedom.

As time went on, music continued to change to fit the needs of the society in which it exists. Festivals like Woodstock in 1969 personified these changes in music, culture, and activism, as thousands of people gathered to celebrate music while calling for an end to war (Sutherland, 2024). Today, concerts and music festivals remain very popular, and thousands and thousands of people will attend them to see their favorite artist or band. As the size and number of music platforms have grown, so too has the number of artists people can interact with. Platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and YouTube make it possible for people to access millions of songs at the click of a button, while social media allows artists to interact with their fans in real-time (Sutherland, 2024).

Modern age entertainment

The invention of the television revolutionized entertainment, introducing new ways in which music, shows, sports, and more can be shared and observed. The development of movies allowed individuals to insert themselves into a story in ways that were not available before. Video games, streaming platforms, and social media have continued to emerge as new avenues for engagement, offering interactive experiences and unprecedented connectivity (Matt, n.d.). With the development of streaming platforms, television channels, and more, people have a variety of shows, movies, sports, news, and more to enjoy at the click of a button. Many TVs now come with services such as Netflix and Hulu already installed, while other streaming apps can be downloaded on smart devices as needed (Smith, 2021). As a whole, the rise of television has transformed how individuals are able to be entertained, connecting large portions of the globe to shows and sporting events.

Conclusion

Music and other forms of entertainment have existed since the beginning of time as ways in which people can enjoy themselves. As time has gone on, the way these are enjoyed has changed drastically. Early civilizations placed heavy emphasis on religion and spiritual performances, while today there is a much broader range of topics and genres of music that can be listened to and enjoyed. The development of musical notation, the rise of public performances, and the introduction of new instruments and genres laid a foundation for the diversity we see today. The rise of streaming platforms and other technological developments has paved the way for both music and entertainment to grow. As we continue advancing into the future, music and entertainment will remain key pieces of the human experience, bringing communities together and shaping society.

Sources

Becker, L. (2024, December 22). The Role of Music in Ancient Cultures: A Journey Through Time and Tradition - Ancient History Guide. Ancient History Guide. https://ancienthistoryguide.com/the-role-of-music-in-ancient-cultures/

Chakra, H. (2022, December 8). What People Did To Entertain Themselves In The Middle Ages - About History. AboutHistory. https://about-history.com/medieval-entertainment/#google_vignette

Kelsey Museum. (n.d.). Music in the Greek and Roman World. Exhibitions.kelsey.lsa.umich.edu. https://exhibitions.kelsey.lsa.umich.edu/galleries/Exhibits/MIRE/Introduction/GreekRoman/GreekRoman.html

Mark, J. (2017, May 19). Music & Dance in Ancient Egypt. World History Encyclopedia. https://www.worldhistory.org/article/1075/music--dance-in-ancient-egypt/

MasterClass. (2020). Renaissance Era Music Guide: A History of Renaissance Music - 2024 - MasterClass. MasterClass. https://www.masterclass.com/articles/renaissance-music-guide

Matt. (n.d.). The Evolution of Entertainment: Past, Present, and Beyond. Mattshotspot.com. https://mattshotspot.com/The-Evolution-of-Entertainment-Past-Present-and-Beyond.php

Smith, C. (2021, December 1). A brief history of the evolution of TV: From the 1920s to the 2020s. KnowTechie. https://knowtechie.com/a-brief-history-of-the-evolution-of-tv-from-the-1920s-to-the-2020s/

Sutherland, J. (2024). Music and Culture: History and Impact of Music on Society. Band Pioneer. https://bandpioneer.com/advice/music-and-culture-history-and-impact-of-music-on-society