Art: Lesson 10; Unit 4
Printing helped musical scores to be mass-produced. Which BEST explains printing's impact on music in the era?
a. some composers became more famous than others in the era.
b. it encouraged printing in other forms of the performing arts, like drama.
c. new pieces could circulate quickly, expanding what musicians could play.
d. it ended the career of amateur musicians, who generally played without written music.
c. new pieces could circulate quickly, expanding what musicians could play.
The correct answer is c. New pieces could circulate quickly, expanding what musicians could play.
Printing allowed musical scores to be mass-produced, which means that new pieces of music could be printed and distributed more easily and quickly. This had a profound impact on music in the era because musicians now had access to a wider variety of music. They were no longer limited to only the music they could learn and memorize by ear or through personal instruction. The ability to quickly circulate new pieces expanded the repertoire of musicians and allowed them to explore and perform a greater variety of music. So, option c is the best explanation of printing's impact on music in the era.
To determine the best answer, let's break down the question and go through the options one by one.
The question asks about the impact of printing on music in the era. We know that printing helped musical scores to be mass-produced. This implies that before printing, musical scores were not easily accessible or widely available.
Now let's evaluate the options:
a. Some composers became more famous than others in the era.
This option does not directly relate to the impact of printing on music. While it is possible that printing could have influenced the popularity of certain composers, it does not address the broader impact that printing had on music as a whole. Therefore, this option is not the best explanation.
b. It encouraged printing in other forms of the performing arts, like drama.
This option suggests that printing in music led to an increase in printing in other performing arts such as drama. While it is possible that printing innovations in music could have influenced other fields, the question specifically asks about the impact of printing on music itself. Therefore, this option does not directly address the question and is not the best explanation.
c. New pieces could circulate quickly, expanding what musicians could play.
This option describes a direct impact of printing on music. Printing allowed for mass production of musical scores, which in turn made it easier for new pieces of music to be circulated quickly. This expansion of the available repertoire gave musicians more options and opportunities to explore different musical compositions. Therefore, this option directly addresses the question and is a plausible explanation.
d. It ended the career of amateur musicians, who generally played without written music.
This option suggests that amateur musicians, who typically played without written music, lost their livelihood due to the availability of printed music. However, there is no evidence provided in the question that indicates the end of amateur musicians' careers as a result of printing. Therefore, this option is not the best explanation.
Based on the evaluation of the options, the best explanation for the impact of printing on music in the era is option c: new pieces could circulate quickly, expanding what musicians could play.