Home > History & Culture > Culture > Music

History of Music

Music is considered to predate language (and certainly predates written language) by certain historians and is found in every known culture, past and present, varying wildly between times and places.

Classical music can be organized in a variety of ways. Music has been divided into six historical periods: Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque,
Classical, Romantic and the Contemporary. Each period is briefly described, and includes a list of important composers, some song files
provided by our generous sponsors, an option to buy some recordings,
and recommended recordings. Also, there is an organized layout which we used to organize information on this site. We'd like to thank Classical Insites for helping us acquire sound files and information of these periods. Most of the information included in this site was from my notes after taking two years of music theory in high school. To learn more about any of these time periods, please contact a music theorist specializing in the specific time period you would like to know about.

The music of South Asia includes the music of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

Music has always occupied a central place in the imagination of Indians. The range of musical phenomenon in India, and indeed the rest of South Asia, extends from simple melodies, commonly encountered among hill tribes, to what is one of the most well- developed "systems" of classical music in the world. Indian music can be described as having been inaugurated with the chanting of Vedic hymns, though it is more than probable that the Indus Valley Civilization was not without its musical culture, of which almost nothing is known. There are references to various string and wind instruments, as well as several kinds of drums and cymbals, in the Vedas. Sometime between the 2nd century BC and the 5th century AD, the Natyasastra, on Treatise on the Dramatic Arts, was composed by Bharata. This work has ever since exercised an incalculable influence on the development of Indian music, dance, and the performing arts in general.

Bangali Music	Bhutan Music	Chinese Music
Indian Music	Nepal Music	Sri Lankan Music

Music Articles

Harmonium Famous Composers and Performers - Ahmed Faraz Sarangi Ghazal Santoor Hindustani classical music Sufi Music Festival Set To Take off Pakistani varsity to preserve Hindustani ragas Rahat Fateh Ali Khan Pakistani musicians in NWFP long for better times Bulleh Shah Classical Music Iranian Classical Music Music of Bangladesh Faiz Ahmed Faiz Ghulam Abbas Malaysian Music and Dance Aziz Mian Qawal Indian Classical Music in Lahore Ustad Bade Fateh Ali Khan Traditional Music of Hunza Suraiya Multanikar Golconda Fort All Pakistan Music Conference Dance rituals of Sri Lanka Kandyan Dancing Nepal Instrumentals Indian Classical Dances Bangladesh Folk Music Music of Bangladesh Classical and Folk music of Bhutan Iranian Classical Music Mehdi Hassan Music of Japan Asad Amanat Ali Khan - A Tribute Indian Music FOLK MUSIC Baluchi Musical Instruments - Balochi music Arif Lohar