(1) Music improvisation is thought to be a modern phenomenon specific to jazz and other popular genres.
(2) However, improvisation has existed since the very inception of music itself, long before the relatively recent
practice of composition or even notation.
(3) Early music did not play into the dichotomy of improvised versus composed; rather, the earliest musical
creations were simply performed.
(4) Much like speaking, the performers put forth what came to mind.
(5) Their creations may have followed a pattern, especially in functional settings such as hunting or storytelling.
(6) As dance became inherently linked to music, simple musical forms emerged.
(7) Nevertheless, melody and rhythm were created at the discretion of the performer and rarely sounded the
same in any given performance.
(8) Even Western classical music – the epitome of composed music – had improvisational roots. (9) Early
church pieces are noted with a few dots and lines, which barely serve as skeletons for the florid and complex
vocalizations of monks and other church singers.
(10) Even with the advent of modern musical notation, improvisation was at the core of European musical style.
(11) J. S. Bach, for example, improvised entire church ceremonies on the organ.
(12) Mozart was a great improviser, as well.
(13) In fact, Bach only began to notate compositions when others took interest in his music, or when he
composed for large ensembles.
(14) One can only imagine how music history might have changed had audio recorders been available to
capture the improvisations of those masters of music composition.
Which of the following statements best summarizes the author’s thesis?
