musical genres and styles. exercise one (in class) you are in charge of a cd department in a music...
TRANSCRIPT
Musical Genres and Styles
Exercise One (in class)
You are in charge of a CD department in a music store. You must decide whether the following selections go in--
the Classical sectionThe Popular sectionthe International section
Official Music Industry Genres and Categories
* African* Blues* Caribbean * Children's * Classical* Country* Electronic* Folk/Traditional * Jazz
* Latin * March * Middle Eastern * Military * Musicals * New Age * Novelty * R&B and Soul * Rap and Hip-Hop * Reggae
* Rock/Pop* Theme Music* World Fusion* Religious/ Devotional
Pop CategoriesPop Categories
* Country
* Alternative * Christian * Classic Rock * Disco * Doo Wop
* Gothic * Indie * Industrial
* Lounge * Metal * New Wave/Synthpop * Oldies * Progressive * Punk and Hardcore * Rockabilly * Ska * Surf Rock
How do we decide which category to use?
Intention or Use
1. “Entertainment” (read “money making”) All categories of Pop music Musicals Movie sound tracks
Intention or Use
2. Listening/Performing Classical Jazz Fusion Opera Musicals
Intention or Use
3. Inspiration/Therapy/Motivation Religious Marches/Disco New Age
4. Storytelling Folk music Children’s songs
Intention or Use
5. Artistic expression Any music that mainly serves that
purpose-
• Composed music
• Outsider music
• Fringe music
How do we decide…?How do we decide…?
Instrumentation
Orchestra/Band/Choir Combos Folk Instruments Electronic
How do we decide…?How do we decide…?
Rhythm/ Style
2 beat, 4 beat, 3 beatSimple vs. complexSwing vs. straightVolumeHarmony-- simple vs. complex
How do we decide…?How do we decide…?
How music was created
Oral Tradition
•Written “by ear”
•Passed on “by ear”
•No rules except custom
“Paper” Tradition
•Written down as composed
•Passed on through written music
•Written according to rules but often experimental
A few examples
Oral Tradition Folk music, Rock, Blues, Rap (some),
Country, Alternative, “Pop” (some),
Children’s songs, Gospel (some), New Age Written Tradition
Classical, Jazz, Movie scores, Opera, Video Games, Musicals, Muzak, some Rock, Pop, Rap, and Gospel.
International MusicInternational Music
Most International Music is Oral with some exceptions
IM sometimes has the same conventions as Western music but most often not
Intention is usually the most important aspect of IM--e.g., work songs; music for
rituals, celebration, and storytelling; a very small percentage is for
“entertainment.”
A Final Word
These categories are not hard and fast. Some music falls into several categories and some can even change categories over time.
There are two other categories that we also need to think about-- professional and amateur.
A Final Word
All of these categories were developed for the convenience of the music industry
In other words, they are “made up.”