A new study has confirmed what many music enthusiasts have long suspected: classical and jazz music have become simpler and more uniform since the mid-20th century. Researchers from Tuscia University and Sapienza University of Rome analyzed over 21,000 songs composed between 1600 and 2021, revealing a significant decline in melodic and harmonic complexity in both genres.
Jazz Peak in the 1950s and 1960s
Jazz enthusiasts may not be surprised to learn that the genre reached its apex of complexity in the 1950s and 1960s, during the era of legends such as John Coltrane and Miles Davis. Since then, jazz has experienced a steady decline in structural intricacy. Classical music, meanwhile, has seen its complexity diminish throughout the 20th century, following periods of fluctuation in earlier centuries.
Convergence with Pop and Rock
The researchers go so far as to claim that classical and jazz are now closer in complexity to pop and rock music. 'Long-established and traditionally more complex genres such as Classical and Jazz exhibit structural patterns that increasingly resemble those of more recently developed genres, suggesting a process of homogenization and simplification in melodic and harmonic structures,' they stated in their study published in Scientific Reports.
Possible Causes
While the exact reasons for this simplification remain unclear, the researchers suggest that music digitization could be a contributing factor. Previous studies have already found that song lyrics and melodies have become simpler in recent years, but until now, it was unknown whether complex genres like classical and jazz were also affected.
Study Methodology
The team analyzed the melodies and harmonies of 21,480 songs and compositions spanning from 1600 to 2021. For classical music, complexity increased and decreased at various points before 1900 but notably declined throughout the 20th century. Jazz reached its peak complexity in the 1950s and 1960s before declining. 'Overall, classical and jazz pieces from the early 20th century were more complex than pop, rock, electronic, or hip-hop songs from the entire century,' the team explained. 'However, after the mid-20th century, the complexity of classical and jazz pieces more greatly resembled songs from these other genres, with their structures and harmonies becoming more similar.'
Not a Decline in Creativity
The researchers emphasize that the findings do not necessarily imply a decline in musical creativity. They note that other elements used to express complexity—such as lyrics, production, sound design, and cultural context—were not assessed. 'Future research could investigate this by analysing multiple aspects of song structure, including melody, lyrical content, and time signature,' they added.
Related Findings
This study follows recent research that revealed song lyrics have become simpler and more repetitive over the last 40 years. An analysis of 12,000 rap, country, pop, R&B, and rock songs released since 1980 found that musicians have largely abandoned the lyrical poetry of Bob Dylan, Freddie Mercury, the Beatles, and other all-time greats, instead aiming for clear, catchy tunes that capture attention on streaming services like Spotify.
