Music in Great Nortend

The history of music in Great Nortend can be traced back to 13th century religious works attributed to the friar Symond de Nollenborough.

Mediaeval and Folk music

Early secular music was performed by minstrelsingers who were employed by lords and travelled between courts performing their music and songs. In the 15th century, minstrelsingers formalised into recognised guilds of professional singers. Sacred music played an important role in the development of the Nortish musical tradition. The numerous monastic houses and collegiate churches and chapels supported a strong musical culture of polyphonic anthems, hymns and settings of divine service.

Renaissance and Baroque music

The Schism and Reform in the 17th century introduced the Baroque chorale form, adapted to the traditional melodies which were still prescribed. Under the House of Anthord, Baroque music was established in Great Nortend by composers such as Hinde and Pennercot.

Religious music also continued to be composed in; however, these were mainly limited to new faburden settings for psalm tones until in the early 20th century, XX composed a full year's round of figured settings of Magnificat anthems, followed by a round of settings for the Benedictus anthems by YY.

Classical and Romantic music

The Classical period saw little music of much national significance, and it was only in the 19th century Romantic period that Nortish artistic music flourished. Inspiration was drawn from the strong and varied folksong and dance traditions of the nation.

Nationalist and Popular music

Styles such as jazz saw limited popularity in Great Nortend owing to the smaller size of its cities and major towns. Jazz music was seen as being unacceptably foreign in rhythm and tonality. As a result, with the rise of nationalist conservative politics, it mostly disappeared, replaced by more acceptable forms of popular music with roots in folk tunes, airs and ballads.