Musical Styles
Assignment:
Using the worksheet provided, fill in the
blanks using the information presented in
the following slides.
Traditional Music
Traditional music is a modern name for what has
been called "folk music", excluding the expansion
of the term folk music to include much nontraditional material. The defining characteristics
of traditional music are:
Oral transmission: The music is handed down and
learned through singing, listening, and sometimes
dancing. It is passed down without written sheet
music.
Cultural basis: The music comes from and is part of
the traditions of a particular region or culture.
Folk Music
Folk music includes both traditional music and the
genre that evolved from it during the 20th century folk
revival. The term originated in the 19th century but is
often applied to older music. Some types of folk music
are also called world music.
Traditional folk music has been defined in several
ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the
lower classes, and as music with unknown composers.
It is not music made for money.
Folk music is usually music that has been transmitted
and evolved by a process of oral transmission or
performed by custom over a long period of time; these
songs would be passed down from generation to
generation, which is why there are often many
variations.
Folk Music
Folk music generally identifies with a particular
nation and provides a common ground for
immigrants. Examples include music from Greece,
Latin America, France, Africa, Israel, Asia, or the
American Indians.
Folk Music often commemorates a personal or
historical event such as religious festivals, funerals,
weddings, etc. These songs may also be
accompanied by traditional dances or costumes.
Tin whistle: Ireland
Folk Instruments
Folk music often uses non-standard instruments we
generally call “folk instruments”. Some are: banjo,
fiddle, harmonica, pan flute, dulcimer, tin whistle,
oud, balalaika, didgeridoo, sitar, and djembe. Didgeridoo:
Pan Flute:
Greece and S. America
Australia
Djembe:
West Africa
(Mali)
Oud:
Egypt &
Turkey
Sitar:
India
Dulcimer: America
Balalaika:
Russia
Examples of Folk Music
Celtic: Dúlaman
Bluegrass: “Alone and Lost”
American: “Shenandoah”
Spanish: “Ceilito Lindo”
Hebrew: “Tumbalalaika”
Russian: “Katyusha”
Saudi Arabian: “Old Saudi Song”
Art Music
Art music (also known as serious music) is an
general term used to refer to musical traditions
implying a more complicated structure and a
written musical tradition.
Art music is usually more complex and requires skilled
musicians to perform it, unlike traditional music and
popular music, which are easily. accessible to everyone.
Samples:
Vocal: “Dona Nobis Pacem”
Instruments (recorder): “Teremu Tu”
“Overture to the School for Scandal”
Popular Music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of
musical genres "having wide appeal” and is
typically distributed to large audiences through
the music industry. It stands in contrast to both
art music and traditional music, which are
typically passed on academically or orally to
smaller, local audiences.
Popular music is different than “pop music”,
and refers to music of all ages that appeals to
popular tastes of society.
Popular Music Through the Ages
1920s: “Toot toot toostie” – Al Jolson
1930s: “In the Mood” – Glenn Miller
1940s: “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy” – The Andrews
Sisters
1950s: “Mr. Sandman” – The Chordettes
1960s: “Twist and Shout” – The Beatles
1970s: “Stayin’ Alive” – The BeeGees
1980s: “Beat it “ – Michael Jackson
1990s: “All-Star” – Smash Mouth
2000s: “Hey Ya” – Outkast
2010s: “Rolling in the Deep” – Adele
The End