Reference no: EM13830518

Music Pre-Cuauhtemoc Era

Introduction

Ideally, many people believe that native Precortesian music was monotonous and dull because it was based on religion, dance and song. In addition, many American studies neglect the subject hence limited knowledge on the same. For example, Curt Sachs, a renowned musicologist notes that ancient American musical instruments were primitive than those of the aborigines. However, just like in other continents, the people composed classical American music to reflect their environment, customs and beliefs. In the north, music genre was aggressive while, in central Mexico, it was sentimental gay. On the contrary, the South represented nostalgic and solemn music. However, their music follows the characteristics of the pre-Columbian traditions.

Musical Instruments

At the same time, the traditions have led to the emergence of the six-tone scale Pre-classic flute, the seven-tone scale flute and the Maya flute with origin in the Island of Jaina. In addition, other flutes such as the Tarascan and the triple and quadruple flutes from the Gulf of Mexico that plays both three and four four-part chords. In essence, ignoring such instruments has lead to the notion that ancient American music was percussive. Other tools used by Indians include Oaxaca, Puebla and Chicana of Guerrero. Their trumpet consists of a long bark or reed tube but is played by inhaling air rather blowing as common among other trumpets. Such instruments are similar to Peruvian Clarin and Araucanian Lolkin, which are common in ancient music history. Musicians used a combination of these musical tools to produce enjoyable music that is suitable for any attentive listener.

Conclusion

Primarily, the level of advance of these instruments implies that musicians who played them had profound qualities. In addition, native Indians composed and played their music to celebrate important ceremonies introduced by Europeans. However, Spanish musicians believed that four-part organ songs presented to them by Indians were of high quality and as such, were borrowed from other people. Precortesian music is classified as religious songs, folk, imitative, secular or profane, ceremonial for civic and religious festivals, war, therapeutic, ritual, totemic or hunting and magic. In essence, ancient American music was not dull because but it had musical instruments that made it lively. However, lack of historical context on the same has resulted in many people believing that ancient Americans did not use any advanced tools in music.