When I first embarked on studying the history of music, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I had the notion that music history was somewhat of an insignificant pursuit.
To be honest, I simply enrolled in a history of classical music course because I needed the credits. I’m sure some of you can relate to that. I didn’t realize how incredibly fascinating music history could be. You see, in our culture, many of us don’t truly learn to understand music. For a large portion of the world, music is a language, but for us, it’s something we passively consume.
However, when I began delving into the history of Western music, everything changed for me. I had dabbled with musical instruments before, but I had never fully grasped the essence of what music is about. This course opened my eyes.
When many of us think of the history of music, we often think of the history of rock music A Finnish music story - Musician Matti Mattila wrote his story for us, a Finnish music story! Please read also his Finnish blog and check his page at LinkedIn. I named this article "A Finnish music story" because through Matti words we can know an exclusive tale about late 70's and 80's of Finnish music. Of course the personal thoughts… . We assume that the history is straightforward because the music is straightforward. In reality, neither is the case. The history of music, whether it’s classical, rock, jazz, or any other genre, is inherently complex. New chord structures are established, bringing along new ways of understanding humanity. New rhythmic patterns are introduced, bringing along fresh perspectives on history. Music encompasses it all.
The history of music has become incredibly captivating to me. Even after the course ended, I couldn’t stop learning about it. It had ignited my curiosity, and I craved more. I acquired all the music history volumes I could find. I even started exploring genres of music that hadn’t interested me before, hoping to deepen my musical knowledge. At one point, while I was studying a completely different subject in school — pursuing a degree in technology — I even contemplated giving it up to pursue a degree in musicology. That’s how deeply fascinated I am by the subject.
If you haven’t taken a course in music history, you don’t know what you’re missing out on. You don’t miss what you’ve never known, but then again… Believe me, your CDs will never sound the same to you again. Actually, it’s not just the CDs but any form of media you use to play your favorite music. Everything appears richer, more luminous, and more significant. A new song can reflect a new way of being and a new way of perceiving existence in the world. That’s what studying the history of music means to many of us. Just give it a try, and you’ll see.
Listening to music now holds an entirely new meaning. You can imagine all the different types of musical patterns that exist in the world. It expands your musical perception in ways you can’t even imagine.
Manuel Marino is a seasoned Senior Producer, Music Composer, and Artist with over a decade of experience. He specializes in branded entertainment across various mediums, including video games, films, and advertising campaigns. With 20+ years as a game music composer, Manuel has worked on numerous platforms, creating diverse orchestral soundtracks. HIRE ME
