During the Reformation in the 16th century, psalms were written in people’s own language, often to the melody of an old folk song. The psalms were supposed to show people the way to God.

Royalty was also celebrated and entertained with music. The royals were wealthy enough to hire their own full-time musicians and composers. Having your own orchestra and composers in the royal court was considered a status symbol.

Musical genius Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart wished to live as a free artist without employment at court or with the church. He wanted to compose music in his own way but met resistance. If he wanted to be paid, he had to compose what the king or church wanted.

Life as a composer and musician was completely different for Ludwig van Beethoven. Despite suffering from hearing loss and going deaf in 1818, he composed fantastic music. He was able to support himself as a composer without a steady employer. His life as a free artist was an inspiration to many others and even after his death in 1827, Beethoven continued to be a role model for many composers.

📷  Statue of Ludwig van Beethoven in Bonn, Germany.

Rock legend Bruce Springsteen became the voice of the American working class. In the 1980s, artists used their fame to help raise money for emergency help in Africa. Live Aid, a benefit concert in 1985, had a record audience of 1.5 million viewers around the world. Messages of solidarity reached people in a unique way, helping to raise billions.

“We Are the World” involved 45 US artists in 1985, raising money for child victims of hunger in Africa.

In Norway, the song “Mitt lille land” by Ole Paus became a song to show solidarity after the terror attacks on the government quarter in Oslo and Utøya on July 22nd, 2011.

Lady Gaga had a monster hit with “Born This Way” in 2010. The song tells us to respect people as they are.

In May 2020, George Floyd was killed by the police in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His death became a symbol of the Black Lives Matter movement, with rapper Dax writing a song about the killing of Floyd.

Two passenger planes crashed into the World Trade Center in New York on September 11th, 2001. After the attacks, the United States began its war against terrorism. The actions of the US were criticized by the American rock band Green Day in their song “American Idiot”.

“Alright”, a song by Kendrick Lamar from 2015, deals with racism in the US, and can often be heard at demonstrations against police brutality on African Americans.  

Playing the piano saved Polish Jew Wladyslaw Szpilman’s life in 1944. A German officer promised to help him as long as Szpilman kept playing the music of Frederic Chopin.

One of the worst maritime catastrophes in world history was the sinking of the Titanic in 1912. While the ship was sinking and people were fighting for their lives, the ship’s orchestra played a song to calm the passengers.

In 1992 R.E.M. released their song “Everybody Hurts”. This song was aimed at their young audience, and was designed to prevent suicide. The song encourages people to remember that even when things feel bad, everything will get better.