Musical theatre is a performing art form which combines singing, dancing, and spoken dialogue to tell a story. It is a popular form of entertainment that has been around for centuries, with its roots in the musical traditions of ancient Greece, Rome, and Egypt. Musical theatre has evolved over time, incorporating elements of various musical genres including opera, folk music, classical music, jazz, and rock & roll.
Opera has had a major influence on the development of musical theatre. Opera originated in Italy during the 16th century and quickly spread to other countries.
Its popularity grew as it became more accessible to the general public. The use of singing and dramatic storytelling were two key elements that set opera apart from other forms of entertainment at the time. These same two elements are still present in modern musical theatre today.
Folk music was another major influence on early musical theatre compositions. Folk music is traditional music rooted in culture or ethnicity and often passed down through generations orally or through song lyrics.
This type of music typically features simple melodies and traditional instruments such as acoustic guitars and banjos. Early musicals incorporated folk songs into their scores and some even featured folk dances onstage.
Classical Music also had an impact on the development of musical theatre. Classical music is an art form that developed over several centuries beginning in the Baroque period (1600-1750).
Classical pieces often feature intricate melodies, complex harmonies, and sophisticated instruments such as pianos or violins. Composers like Mozart wrote pieces for both operas and early musicals which blended aspects of classical style with more popular forms of entertainment such as vaudeville.
Jazz emerged as an important force in American culture during the 1920s and 30s and had a huge impact on the development of musical theatre in terms of both composition style and performance techniques such as improvisation. Jazz musicians often blended elements from various genres including blues, gospel, ragtime, classical music, Latin American rhythms, pop standards, etc., creating an entirely new sound that was embraced by audiences worldwide. Composers like George Gershwin incorporated jazz influences into their scores for early American musicals such as Porgy & Bess (1935) which helped make them so successful at the time.
Rock & Roll began to emerge in the 1950s with artists like Elvis Presley bringing it into mainstream culture worldwide. Rock & roll was heavily influenced by rhythm & blues (R&B) styles from African American culture but also drew from country/western traditions as well as classical compositions for its unique sound which combined electric guitars with heavy drums beats for a high-energy performance style that appealed to young audiences everywhere.
In conclusion all these different types of music have contributed to shape what we now know today as Musical Theatre; by blending elements from each genre composers have created unique styles which have captivated audiences worldwide throughout its long history.