| Music technology remained largely unchanged prior to | | | | The adoption of the keyboard also brought with it |
| the Renaissance. There were stringed instruments, | | | | the birth of music notation. Music notation was |
| woodwind, horns and various percussion instruments | | | | embraced as a composer could write for a full |
| that had been around for some thousands of years. | | | | orchestra easily on the range of the keyboard. Often |
| Though they were improved upon over time, and | | | | newly commissioned works were written for and |
| the playing techniques evolved, the basic instruments | | | | performed with keyboards as public perception |
| were essentially derived from the same designs as | | | | reflected the belief in the before mentioned |
| used in ancient Mesopotamia. That all changed though | | | | superiority of the keyboard. |
| in the 1300's when a completely different musical | | | | In the fifteenth century, composers began to add |
| instrument appeared, the keyboard. | | | | more lines to their musical staffs and also began |
| The keyboard had its origin in ancient Greece when | | | | writing for more than one instrument at a time for |
| Ktesibios invented the one note pipe organ. The | | | | music to be played simultaneously. The separate bass |
| Romans later used this design in their arenas, to | | | | and treble clefs came into being to accommodate left |
| announce the beginning and ending of their spectacles | | | | and right hand playing, and to capture in notation the |
| like the Roman games. It was the loudest instrument | | | | large array of notes afforded by the keyboard. The |
| available, and while not really musically useful, it | | | | keyboard was also used to advantage by its ability |
| served its purpose in context. | | | | to easily play chords and intervals thus working out |
| After the late 700's pipe organs made their | | | | harmonic ideas, leading to the heavy exploration of |
| appearance in the Catholic Church. The presiding pope | | | | harmony by the great composers of the time. |
| would determine if the organ would be played or not. | | | | The five lined staff came into being by the 17th |
| For instance St. Augustine did not allow it to be | | | | century and became the standard for music notation |
| played during service and was apparently | | | | and printing, providing a universal interface that all |
| uncomfortable with music. Priests under Pope | | | | musicians could compose on for all instruments. Since |
| Gregory were not allowed to play instruments which | | | | then, the staff hasn't changed over the last four |
| meant only the human voice was accepted. Folk | | | | centuries and probably wont until something newer |
| musicians of the time only had traditional instruments | | | | that can surpass it is invented |
| as there were no keyboards to play on. | | | | Even today modern composers still resort to |
| Since the organ was affiliated with the Church, | | | | composing for orchestra either at the piano with |
| organs and conversely keyboards were considered | | | | manuscript paper and pencil, or on a computer using |
| sacred instruments. The appearance of the | | | | manuscript software and perhaps electronic |
| harpsichord further reinforced that perception and | | | | keyboards and software based instruments for |
| was considered a superior instrument. The royalty | | | | sonification. The piano or an equivalent keyboard |
| adopted the harpsichord and often when an event | | | | controller, provides the ideal range for composing for |
| was planned, the music for it was written for and | | | | any instrument or groups of instruments desired. The |
| performed on the harpsichord. This attitude of the | | | | tie between music notation and the keyboard is |
| superiority of the keyboard carried onwards through | | | | heavily entrenched and provides a solid ground for |
| the Baroque and Classical periods and even carries | | | | musical expression and composition. |
| over into modern times. | | | | |
