What is secular music?

Secular music refers to music that is not religious in nature. It encompasses a vast and diverse range of styles and genres, spanning centuries and cultures. Here's some information broken down by category:

Historical Context:

• Before the Common Era: While much ancient music is lost to history, evidence suggests that secular music existed alongside religious music in various cultures. Think of music for celebrations, entertainment, and even work songs.
• Medieval Period (roughly 5th-15th centuries): Secular music began to gain more prominence. Troubadours and Trouveres in Europe composed songs about courtly love, chivalry, and everyday life. Minstrels played in taverns and at noble courts. Instrumental music also flourished.
• Renaissance Period (roughly 14th-16th centuries): Madrigals, chansons, and other forms of secular vocal music became popular, often featuring sophisticated harmonies and complex textures. Instrumental music also continued to develop.
• Baroque Period (roughly 17th-18th centuries): Opera, oratorio, and concerto emerged, blurring the lines between secular and religious music in some cases. But instrumental suites and other secular forms also flourished.
• Classical Period (roughly 18th-early 19th centuries): The symphony, sonata, string quartet, and concerto became dominant forms of secular instrumental music. Composers like Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven composed extensively for these forms.
• Romantic Period (roughly early 19th-early 20th centuries): Emotional expression and individualism were hallmarks of Romantic music. Large-scale orchestral works, art songs (lieder), and character pieces were popular.
• 20th and 21st Centuries: The boundaries between genres blurred even further. Modern and contemporary music encompassed a wide array of styles, from atonal and serial music to minimalist compositions and diverse forms of popular music.

Genres of Secular Music:

The sheer range of secular music genres is immense, including but not limited to:

• Classical Music: Symphony, concerto, sonata, string quartet, opera (largely secular), ballet music.
• Popular Music: Pop, rock, jazz, R&B, hip hop, country, folk, electronic music, etc. This category encompasses countless subgenres and styles.
• Folk Music: Traditional music of a particular region or culture, often passed down orally.
• World Music: Music from around the globe, encompassing a vast range of styles and instruments.
• Film Scores: Music composed for movies and television.
• Game Music: Music composed for video games.

Key Characteristics:

While there isn't a single defining characteristic of secular music, it generally lacks explicit religious themes or intentions. Its purpose is often entertainment, emotional expression, storytelling, or social commentary. Its subject matter is diverse, encompassing love, nature, war, politics, and everyday life.

In short, secular music is incredibly diverse and represents a vast and significant portion of the world's musical heritage. It continues to evolve and adapt, reflecting the ever-changing cultural landscape.