Which Development Most Revolutionized Music?

 

True  that music has existed since the first dinosaur farted, but without radio exposure I don't think it would have 'exploded' like it has. How many modern day bands were created because kids many decades ago were trying to get their song played on the local radio station. So I think exposure is the greatest factor.

The development of written language is one the greatest advances in human history allowing for, not only the documentation and disemination of information, but also serving as an incredible organizational tool. I think the same can said for the development of a musical lexicon. The development of an alphabet (if you will) for music, provided a means for historical record, wide spread distribution, and a means of visual representation that allowed one to analyze music in a different way. Our memories are limited, so when you can write something down, you can more easily study it, analyze it, amend it, and build upon it.  Please be aware that I am in no way suggesting that you need to read music in order to be a musician - brilliant or otherwise. Indeed history has demonstrated time and again that there is no logical correlation between the abillity to read music and the abillity to produce great works. I'm merely saying that the development of a written language advanced music theory exponentially.  

 

In comparison I think it is safe to say that developments in recording technology also allow for not only a historical record and provide a means for wide spread distribution, but have also made possible previously unimaged methods of composition such as musique concrete, backward tracking, and others.  However I don't necessarily believe that recording technology has had as broad an effect on music theory and composition as writing has.

 

There was, in an earlier post, a suggestion that the development of certain musical genres has revolutionzied music. I would argue that it isn't genres but techniques developed in those genres that cause the greater change. For instance, I think the development of a dodecaphonic (12 tone) technique in composition did more to revolutionize classical music than any technological adcancement has.

Has it?