Changes

In the Medieval era, most of the music that took place we would perhaps today classify as folk music or local music from regions that would involve common instruments rather than regal or more formal instruments that would have developed and became popularized in the early Modern Era after the 16th century. In the 19th century, the Bayreuth Festival, in 1876 in Baveria, became one of the first formal and annual festivals dedicated specifically to music and patronized at the highest level of government. This festival was patronized by Ludwig II and was attended to by other royalty from Europe and elsewhere. The festival began as an occasion to promote Richard Wagner, who wanted to popularize his music. The festival was effective in achieving this, as Wagner did become a well-known artist from the period. Furthermore, the festival continues until today, where it is the best-known festival dedicated to Wagner's music. For later festivals, this showed artists that music festivals could be highly effective to promote their work.