Industrial Revolutionizing to Music!

One major I considered pursuing before I entered college was a degree in Music History. I discovered that I had an extreme fascination with the effect society had upon music and the effect music had on society. In fact, I had such a high level of fascination that both of my research papers in high school pertained to the relationship between society and music. Although Music History is not a major I'm pursuing, I still have a passion for it and nerd out whenever the opportunity arises. One recent case was when I realized that one of the songs that the choir I'm involved in, University Singers, is singing is called Verleih uns Frieden which was composed by Mendelssohn but the text was written by Martin Luther. What made me nerd out about this song is that in my music history class I had just learned about Martin Luther and how he created the Lutheran Church and its services. By knowing that tidbit of information, I now know that I am singing a Lutheran hymn with music from a Romantic composer. To think that a hymn composed way in the 16th century was used to be made a famous choral work in the 19th century! Even more, that text was created merely because Martin Luther did not agree with the Catholic Church's methods of worship and traditions. If there was no reformation movement, I would not be singing this beautiful piece of literature.

 Society has a huge impact on the world of music, it is just that we hardly notice the difference. The importance of this is that events have radically changed music over the course of our time on the Earth. Here is some proof as to why I think that it is important to know the historical background of music/instruments.

One thing that most music majors are required to do is learn to play the piano. Most often we focus on playing the piano that we often don't think about how the piano works as an instrument. We usually know that it is considered a percussion instrument because when we pluck keys hammers hit a string and the vibrations of those strings produces sounds. Well before the 19th century, the piano as an instrument was quite lacking! Pianos could only afford to have 40-50ish keys total, compared to our standard of 88 keys today! The reason for this was that to produce a higher sound strings had to be tightened. Well originally the piano soundboard/inside frame was made out of wood. Well back then strings could only get so tight before they actually warped the soundboard/inside frame. When it is warped the entire instrument's sound is influenced and almost becomes useless! Now how did we achieve our 88 keys today? Two word: Industrial Revolution. During the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution revved up creation around the world. One of the biggest innovations of the century was the creation of cast iron steel. Well that steel could be used as a frame for pianos! Since steel was stronger and more resilient than wood it could take greater strain from tightened strings without getting warped. Thus the creation of cast iron steel, which we most often associate with machinery and mechanical inventions actually helped further the piano as an instrument! Now what is the effect of that? Well with 30+ more keys available- I bet composers were livid with an even greater range to compose piano repertoire! Eventually it does lead to a significant range increase in compositions for piano works compared to the century before. 

Historical context can either bring light and understanding to a piece of music, or it can bring depth and understanding to something you never thought about. Personally, when I learned about how the industrial revolution furthered the piano I was ecstatic. Never had I known that the range of the piano was less than 88 keys and that the only limitation was the materials that created it. I mean seriously- think about pop music, or well known classical movements that include piano parts that are in very high registers. All of that is made possible by a movement with coal, machines, and assembly lines. New inventions and innovations were the prime focus at the time. The piano was years old by then, but the creation of that 1 thing that steel frame changed music for piano from that point onward. If a stronger frame was never made- how much of our piano music would not exist/be possible to play? It definitely blows my mind-history is pretty awesome when it doesn't haven anything to do with music but affects it in a revolutionary way. 'Tis why it is important to know historical settings- really adds to your experience.