Music

Definition of Music

• Once upon a time music was defined as tones ordered horizontally as melodies, and vertically as harmonies. However, in the 20th century, composer John Cage disagreed with the notion that music must consist of pleasant, discernible melodies. Instead, he argued that any sounds we can hear can be music, saying, for example, "There is no noise, only sound.”

• When composers introduce styles of music which break with convention, there can be a strong resistance from academic music experts and popular culture. Music like hip hop, punk rock have all been considered non-music by some critics when they were first introduced.

Baroque (1600 to 1750)

• The original meaning of "baroque" is "irregular pearl”.The name came to be applied also to its music. During the period composers and performers used more elaborate musical ornamentation, made changes in musical notation, and developed new instrumental playing techniques.

• Baroque music expanded the size, range and complexity of instrumental performance, and also established opera as a musical genre

Classical (1750 to 1820)

• Classical works are often viewed as having greater musical complexity than pop music. For instance, classical music is distinguished by its heavy use of development, and involves more changing of keys, less outright repetition, and a wider use of musical phrases that are not four or eight bars long. Pop music is also rarely entirely instrumental. Pop music include vocals & catchy lyrics along with synthesized music

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is among the central figures of the Classical period.

Romantic (1815 to 1910)

• Romantic music as a movement refers to the expression and expansion of musical ideas established in earlier periods, such as the classical period. Romanticism does not necessarily apply to romantic love, but that theme was prevalent in many works composed during this time period. More appropriately, romanticism describes the expansion of formal structures within a composition, making the pieces more passionate and expressive. In the Romantic period, the emotional and expressive qualities of music came to take precedence over the orientation towards technique and tradition.

• Ludwig van Beethoven was one of the notable composers leading into the Romantic period.

Pop music

• Pop music is music belonging to any of a number of musical styles that are broadly popular or intended for mass consumption and propagated over the radio and similar media.

• Pop music dates at least as far back as the mid-19th century. In the United States, much of it evolved from folk music and black culture. It includes Broadway tunes, ballads and singers such as Frank Sinatra (1915 -1998)

Jazz

• Jazz is a musical art form characterized by improvisation of repetitive notes. The 1930s belonged to popular swing big bands, in which some virtuoso soloists became as famous as the band leaders.

• Trumpeter, bandleader & singer Louis Armstrong, known as the "Ambassador of Jazz," was an innovator of early jazz.

Rock & Roll

• Rock and roll was the first form of music to be recorded in a studio before being performed live. This is a reversal of Jazz or classical music, in which the recording is meant to preserve a live performance. Later Rock musicians were to take advantage of this studio orientation to create works impossible to perform live.

• The Beatles was a part of the “British invasion” of the USA in the 1960s; they remain influential, even today.

Progressive rock (1960s)

• Major characteristics were long compositions, complex lyrics, a wide range of instruments, unusual time signatures, and the inclusion of long solo passages for different instruments.It started in the UK and reached its peak popularity during the early 1970s, when albums like Pink Floyd's.

Heavy metal (1967-1974)

• This is a form of music characterized by aggressive, driving rhythms and highly amplified distorted guitars. Hard rock bands like Deep Purple, Led Zeppelin, and Black Sabbath took blues and rock and created a hybrid with a heavy, guitar and drums centered sound. They were followed by bands like Aerosmith, AC/DC, Queen.

Hip Hop and Rap

• Hip hop music is only composed of two main elements rapping and DJing, and arose when DJs began isolating and repeating the percussion break from funk or disco songs. Depending on the source, Hip Hop started in the late seventies or early eighties. It started in African-American neighbourhoods. Hip Hop was once seen as a fad, but sadly has become one of the most successful modern music genres.