Introduction: Music and “Coffeehouse Culture”
Within the evolution of European “coffeehouse culture” are surely included all of the fine arts. Social revolution both escalates and is escalated by the arts, and European music, dance, and visual art all have long histories of being outlets of personal, social, and political expression.
As society has evolved through revolutions and small changes that have added up, the arts have gone through a parallel ride. Music, dance, and visual art have all gone through their fair shares of revolution and evolution.
Throughout history, music seems to have had a particularly large effect on society. The way that music “speaks” by transcending language barriers and reaching every niche of society has surely helped its revolutionary influence. Music has simultaneously revolutionized and unified Europe, as seen through the history of western music.
-Tessa Sommers
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Medieval Period
Music. Rome Medieval art. sheet music24
by Catherine Todd, used under 
One of the first periods of revolutionary European music history was the medieval period. Taking place roughly between AD 1000 and 1450, this first revolution in music saw the development of revolutionary Gregorian chant and organum. The progress in this sacred music took the form of revolution in several manners: for the first time, composers to attach their names to their works, and composition became a means of expression in its own right; the beginnings of musical notation and practice is formed; and religious music began its long reign as the main musical genre. Some of the composers taking place in this revolution were Hildegard von Bingen, Guillaume de Machaut, and Perotin Magnus.
Renaissance Period
As the mid-15th century continued, it eventually morphed into a whole new revolution: the renaissance period. This evolution ran parallel with the societal shift into the European renaissance; just how the social, intellectual, and artistic aspects of European life was changing, so was its music. Music and its components of melody, harmony, and counterpoint became more complicated, and the European style became more unified. Its subjects were also changing, and although sacred music still thrived, secular music became more and more popular, especially as a means of entertainment. Some notable composers of this period include Johannes Ockeghem, Guillaume Dufay and Josquin des Prez.
Baroque Period
Bach Manuscript
by nosha, used under 
The baroque period, beginning around 1600, continued the revolution and evolution of music. Counterpoint became ever more complicated and precise. Secular music kept climbing in popularity and more focus is placed on it as an artistic form that is as challenging to compose for as sacred works. Composers whose names many people are familiar with began to change music with a “breaking away from the severity of Medieval and early Renaissance music with emphasis on the use of great vocal and instrumental color” (Classical Net, 1995, Baroque Era). Composers of this era include George Frideric Handel, Antonio Vivaldi, Arcangelo Corelli and Johann Sebastian Bach
Classical Period
Joseph Haydn
by Skara Kommun, used under 
As society moved into roughly the mid-1700s, music again revolves into the classical period. The French and American revolution are accompanied by shifts into new music and “concern for musical form with a greater emphasis on clarity with more concise melodic expression and clarity of instrumental color” (Classical Net, 1995, Classicism). As one explores the classical period of European music history, one finds more and more names that the general public are still aware of today. The classical era was defined by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Joseph Haydn, and the early music of Ludwig van Beethoven.
Romantic Period
Beethoven, HDR
by CameliaTWU , used under
In the early 19th century, as European society began to encounter backlash from social class restrictions, so the musical system began to rebel. As more emphasis is placed on reaching a connection between individuals with music, “formal concern, intellectuality and concise expression have now been augmented by sentiment, imagination and effect” (Classical Net, 1995, Romanticism). Music’s dynamic range expanded, the orchestra became larger, and composers focused more on hitting people’s hearts. Composers of this era that furthered the revolution include Ludwig van Beethoven, Gustav Mahler, and Gustav Holst.
The 20th Century, Modern Era, and Now
London Symphony Orchestra
by captain.orange , used under 
While the imagination of both musicians and listeners ran wild throughout the romantic period, music that was formerly inconceivable as art slowly became acceptable and even valued. Neo-classicism, neo-romanticism, impressionism, and a few other mini-genres ran their courses and are still prevalent today. As popular culture disconnects with “classical” music, music as a field of entertainment develops into a major industry, to say the least. European pop music becomes a genre, as well as European countries’ independent styles.
Alongside the various popular culture revolutions exist many European orchestras that play works by composers of almost every period. There is the London Symphony Orchestra, the Berliner Philharmoniker, and the Vienna Philharmonic, just to name a few.
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Music Citations:
A History of European Music, Part 1 | The Brussels Journal. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3992
Classical Net – Classical Music Information & Reviews. (1995). Retrieved from http://www.classical.net/
Hanning, B. R., & Grout, D. J. (1998). Concise history of western music. New York: Norton.
Images:
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