Music history is the study of how music has evolved over time. It is somewhat related to the fields of musicology and ethnomusicology.

Origins

The origin of music are lost deep in prehistoric times. Probably the earliest forms of music were songs, possibly accented by the clapping of hands. Most likely the first instruments were percussion instruments, maybe a hollow trunk, stones hit together, or other things that are useful to create rhythm, but not always melody. Thirty-thousand-year-old bone flutes have been found in archeological sites; the design seems to be similar to that of the recorder.

See also

• History of western music
• History of Indian music
• History of African music
• History of Arabic music
• Timeline of trends in music