Popular articles

Choose any music period or country to start your journey through music history

Country

Avalokiteshvara

MEDITATION

Mantra of Avalokiteshvara: meaning and purpose of popular Buddhist chants

China, India, Japan, Nepal, Devotional Song, Mantra, Indian Classical

Muse Tuning the Lyra

Music Theory

Popular songs using Lydian mode

Canada, England, USA, Popular Song, Progressive Rock, Rock, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s 2 comments

Сompay Segundo

Poetry

Guajira Guantanamera: song meaning and origin of the lyrics

Cuba, Flamenco, Latin, Popular Song, 1930s, 1940s

Orpheus in a Phrygian cap by Giovanni Dall'Orto

Music Theory

Popular songs featuring Phrygian mode and Neapolitan chord

Australia, England, USA, Jazz, Popular Song, 1960s, 1970s, 2010s

FILM

Five tones of Spielberg's alien language

USA, Film Score, 1970s

Traditional Irish Music scorebook by Gráinne Hambly

HARP

The Celtic Baroque roots of Stairway to Heaven

England, Ireland, Folk, Popular Song, Baroque, 1970s 6 comments

Terracotta Kylix by Dokimasia Painter

Music Theory

5 songs featuring Dorian mode

Canada, England, France, USA, Ballade, Drinking Song, Folk, Popular Song, Rock, Work Song, World Music, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s

Terracotta amphora attributed to the Berlin Painter

Music Theory

7 songs featuring Mixolydian mode

England, USA, Rock, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s 1 comment

The Cylix of Apollo with the Lyre

Music Theory

Mixolydian mode: famous examples in classical and pop music

England, Germany, Italy, USA, Concerto, Fugue, Motet, Popular Song, Raga, Renaissance, Baroque, 20st Century Classical, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, Indian Classical 13 comments

Besame Mucho by Dick Hyman Trio

SONGWRITER

Bésame Mucho: song meaning and source of inspiration behind the famous Mexican bolero

Mexico, Bolero, Popular Song, 1940s 1 comment

Cocteau Twins' Four Calendar Cafe LP

Band

Emotion over meaning: the enigmatic lyrics of Cocteau Twins in the languages of glossolalia

Scotland, New Wave, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s 2 comments

Lakme LP

ORCHESTRA

The Flower Duet of Lakmé: the love drama of an Indian girl and a British soldier made airborne

France, India, Opera, Romantic

Terracotta Kylix Attributed to the Akestorides Painter

Music Theory

8 songs to introduce Aeolian mode and natural minor scale

England, Scotland, USA, Folk, Popular Song, Rock, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s

Zefiros by Sandro Botticelli

Poetry

Zefiro Torna: famous madrigal by Monteverdi lauds the west wind that brings spring

Italy, Chaconne, Madrigal, Renaissance, Baroque

Kate Bush's Never For Ever LP

SONGWRITER

MTV and EMI did not appreciate the concept of Kate Bush's iconic Running Up That Hill

England, Art Rock, New Wave, Popular Song, 1980s 1 comment

Lydian delegation at Apadana

Music Theory

Lydian mode: famous examples throughout the music history

Austria, England, France, Scotland, Anthem, Etude, Hymn, Motet, String Quartet, Medieval, Renaissance, Classical, Romantic, 20st Century Classical

Capricho Arabe by Francisco Tarrega

Classical Guitar

Capricho Arabe: the first composition of Francisco Tarrega became his epitaph

Spain, Capriccio, Serenade, Romantic

Roman numerals indicating chords of minor and major scales

Music Theory

Plagal cadence exemplified by 9 songs in all diatonic modes

England, USA, Rock, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s 2 comments

Metastaseis by Iannis Xenakis

ORCHESTRA

The symbiosis of music and architecture in mathematical glissandi by Iannis Xenakis

France, Greece, 20st Century Classical 3 comments

Christ's Entry into Jerusalem by William Blake

Anthem

Prog rock version of Jerusalem was banned by BBC

England, Popular Song, Progressive Rock, 20st Century Classical 4 comments

Akbari Mosque Overlooking Ganges by Sita Ram

SAROD

Legendary Tansen could bring rain with music

India, Raga, Indian Classical

Vanitas with Violin and Glass Ball by Pieter Claesz

ORCHESTRA

Albinoni's famous Adagio is unusually solemn and offbeat because it wasn't, in fact, written by Tomaso Albinoni

Italy, Adagio, Baroque, 20st Century Classical

Summer Evening by Childe Hassam

CHOIR

Gershwin's Summertime: the most recorded song draws inspiration from Ukrainian lullaby and African American spiritual

Ukraine, USA, Folk, Jazz, Opera, Popular Song, Rock, 20st Century Classical, 1930s, 1960s, 2010s 3 comments

Napoléon Coste

Classical Guitar

Guitar virtuoso Napoléon Coste suffered from acute piano phobia

France, Etude, Fantasia, Romantic 1 comment

Flamenco by 4i @ flickr

Music Theory

The Andalusian cadence: distinct chord progression of flamenco that captivated all pop music genres

Spain, Flamenco, Folk, Popular Song, 1960s, 1970s

White Cliffs of Dover by Immanuel Giel

SONGWRITER

There were no bluebirds over the White Cliffs of Dover

United Kingdom, USA, Popular Song, 1940s 4 comments

Roman numerals indicating chords of minor and major scales

Music Theory

Deceptive cadence: chord progressions and song examples

England, New Wave, Rock, 1960s, 1980s

Giulio Regondi

Classical Guitar

Giulio Regondi, the guitar prodigy behind early Romantic repertoire, was conned by false parent

England, France, Switzerland, Suite, Romantic 9 comments

Joaquim Malats by Ramon Casas

Classical Guitar

Serenata Española by Joaquim Malats: the piano piece that conquered guitar world

France, Spain, Serenade, Romantic, 20st Century Classical

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The History of Popular Music

Discover stories from each decade. Listen to gems from the 1960s, 1970s, and more.
Musical Modes

Explore Phrygian, Lydian, Dorian, and other modes through the harmonic analysis of popular songs.
Early Music

Read all about the formative music of the past centuries. Enjoy the regal yet easy sounds of the Baroque and Renaissance.
Indian Classical Music

Dive into the South Asian philosophy through Indian classical music. Learn about musical traditions of the Hindustani and Carnatic culture.
The Epoch of Romanticism

Get a taste of the most beloved and fruitful music period. See the personalities behind the major shift of the eras — from Classical to Romantic.
Nature Sounds

Download for free HQ soundscapes recorded in a mixed forest, including bird songs, cricket choruses, and night or afternoon thunderstorms.