MUSIC 151 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Franks Wild Years, Broadside (Music), Bel Canto
Document Summary
The earliest history of popular song is poorly documented and therefore quite vague. In the 19th century, notation was developed that allowed posterity to accurately re-create composed music. The majority of the music preserved at the time was religious, therefore the music of the common people was confined to oral tradition and depended on the memory of its performers for its endurance over time. The tradition of songwriting began in europe in the 12th century. The first song collection compiled was the carmina burana. In the 12th and 13th centuries the written music that became popular in france were the compositions of the travelling courtly songwriters, troubadours and. Trouveres - where as popular songs written by the minnesingers flourished in germany. In the 17th century, italy developed the opera; it was dramatic and theatrical. It required sophisticated technique from its performers called bel canto , which translates to beautiful singing .
