A History of Musical Instruments: From Percussion to DJ Equipment
Throughout history, we have been fascinated with the ability to make music through various devices and some have been lucky enough to achieve fame and fortune with their music playing skills. What’s interesting is that it isn’t just hairstyles and clothes that go in and out of fashion, it’s also instruments. So let’s take a look back over some of the most popular instruments in history and see if we can predict what the future holds for music. Percussion Instruments
Both anthropologists and historians agree that percussion instruments would most likely have been the first musical instruments used by man. Across the world, percussion instruments such as seed rattles, macaras and karimbas proved a primitive yet popular way of making music. Percussion instruments vary widely in both their appearance and sound and it is now hard to find a song in popular culture that doesn’t feature a percussion instrument of some description.
Both anthropologists and historians agree that percussion instruments would most likely have been the first musical instruments used by man. Across the world, percussion instruments such as seed rattles, macaras and karimbas proved a primitive yet popular way of making music. Percussion instruments vary widely in both their appearance and sound and it is now hard to find a song in popular culture that doesn’t feature a percussion instrument of some description.
Wind Instruments
The first known wind instrument is the flute, which would have been carved out of animal bone, a dried fruit shell or some kind of dead plant. Much later on during the 19th century, a man named Aldolphe Sax would revolutionise the wind instrument genre by perfecting the bass clarinet and then the sax, although it was sadly not until long after his death that the saxophone would prove the foundation of Jazz music and make stars of sax players such as the legendary John Coltrane.
The first known wind instrument is the flute, which would have been carved out of animal bone, a dried fruit shell or some kind of dead plant. Much later on during the 19th century, a man named Aldolphe Sax would revolutionise the wind instrument genre by perfecting the bass clarinet and then the sax, although it was sadly not until long after his death that the saxophone would prove the foundation of Jazz music and make stars of sax players such as the legendary John Coltrane.
Brass Instruments
The saxophone is widely considered a brass instrument as well, along with trumpets, tubas and the French horn to name just a few. The trumpet was the instrument of choice for the charismatic Louis Armstrong and helped gain the trumpet kudos within modern music during the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
The saxophone is widely considered a brass instrument as well, along with trumpets, tubas and the French horn to name just a few. The trumpet was the instrument of choice for the charismatic Louis Armstrong and helped gain the trumpet kudos within modern music during the 1930s, 40s and 50s.
String Instruments
Violins, Cellos and Harps form integral sections of an orchestra with the violin a powerful tool in pushing new instrumental genres such as solo concerto, sonata and suite but it was really during the 19th century that the skill of playing a string instrument was given the credit it deserved. The rise in popularity of the guitar is something that still continues today, with guitar makers over the years building on the foundations of this ancient instrument to create a musical device that has proved one of the best loved in both the 20th and 21st century, particularly within rock and folk genres.
Violins, Cellos and Harps form integral sections of an orchestra with the violin a powerful tool in pushing new instrumental genres such as solo concerto, sonata and suite but it was really during the 19th century that the skill of playing a string instrument was given the credit it deserved. The rise in popularity of the guitar is something that still continues today, with guitar makers over the years building on the foundations of this ancient instrument to create a musical device that has proved one of the best loved in both the 20th and 21st century, particularly within rock and folk genres.
Electronic Instruments
Electronic music was originally part of classical composition but crossed over to popular culture pretty quickly through the advancements in technology making devices such as synthesisers not only portable but also considerably cheaper. From the 1980s onwards hip-hop, house music, techno sound and acid house all helped to boost the popularity of electronic music, with DJ equipment such as turntables and mixers now some of the most sought after devices in modern music.
Electronic music was originally part of classical composition but crossed over to popular culture pretty quickly through the advancements in technology making devices such as synthesisers not only portable but also considerably cheaper. From the 1980s onwards hip-hop, house music, techno sound and acid house all helped to boost the popularity of electronic music, with DJ equipment such as turntables and mixers now some of the most sought after devices in modern music.
The history of musical devices dates back to biblical times and is constantly evolving. With new instruments such as the Eigenharp and the Samchillian gaining credibility, it looks like we have a whole new world of musical technology to look forward to.
Sophie has a keen interest in many different musical instruments and devices but is probably most at home with her DJ equipment, although the guitar is a close second.
Related posts:
Comments