Understanding 20th and 21st Century Music Technology
• Listen to the following recording and identify the style of this music from the following
options, providing a reason for your answer;
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Jazz funk
Soul/R’n’B
Indie
New Wave
Electroacoustic
Reggae
World Music
20th/21st Century Classical
R&B
RhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhy
R&B
Rhythm and Blues (also known as R&B or RnB) is a popular
music genre combining Jazz, Gospel and Blues influences and
was first performed by African American artists
R&B first originated in the 1940s
Listen to this example
RhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhy
R&B
The term was originally used by record companies to describe
recordings marketed mainly to urban African Americans, at a
time when sophisticated, rocking, jazz based music with a heavy,
insistent beat was becoming more popular.
RhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhy
Key characteristics
of R&B
 Drum machine backed rhythms
 Hip-hop or dance inspired beats
 Many contemporary R&B vocalists use melismatic singing
RhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhy
R&B
Listen to ‘Don’t you Know I Love You’ The Clovers and identify key
features
Consider;
Melody/Harmony
Rhythm/Tempo
Texture/Structure/Form
Timbre/Dynamics
Complete the listening log found in your record of work
RhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhy
Does the song have different verses
choruses/sections?
How many beats are in the bar?
Texture/ Structure/Form
Rhythm/Tempo
Is the song Homophonic or Polyphonic?
How fast or slow is the piece?
Is the song in a Major or Minor key?
How loud/soft is this song/are there changes
in volume?
Melody/Harmony
Do you hear harmony/unison?
Timbre/Dynamics
What instruments/voices do you hear? How
are they singing?
•
R&B
Complete the listening log in your Record of Work Book
RhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhythmandBluesRhy
R & B Listening Activity
• Listen to ‘Crazy in Love’ by clicking on the link
opposite.
• Complete the song plan sheet (shown on the next
slide) in your record of work
Understanding 20th and 21st Century Music Technology
• Listen to the following recording and identify the style of this music from the following
options, providing a reason for your answer;








Jazz funk
Soul/R’n’B
Indie
New Wave
Electroacoustic
Reggae
World Music
20th/21st Century Classical
Soul music
“A style of Afro-American popular music which originated in the
1950s-1960s including elements of blues and gospel and conveying
strong emotions.
Soul
”
Stevie Wonder
Aretha Franklin
Can you name any
others?
Soul
Marvin Gaye
Bill Withers
Bill Withers.
• Born July 4, 1938) is an American singer – songwriter and
musician who performed and recorded from 1970 until 1985
• He recorded a number of major hits including ‘Lean on Me’,
‘Aint No Sunshine’, ‘Use Me’, ‘Just the Two of Us’, ‘Lovely
Day’ and ‘Grandmas Hands’
Soul
History of Soul.
Soul music has conquered the world in the last 50 years - growing from the raw, electric
rhythms of the black underclass, it is now a billion dollar industry with R&B and hip-hop
dominating the world's charts.
It's been the soundtrack to some of the most extraordinary social, political and cultural shifts.
And, together with the civil rights movement, it has challenged the white authority, helped
breakdown segregation and encouraged the fight for racial equality
Soul
History of Soul.
In the 1960s, the most famous record labels were Tamla Motown,
Stax and Atlantic
Tamla Motown was an all black record company set up by Berry Gordy in Detroit.
Characteristics of Soul.
The main characteristics of Soul Music are;
- Gospel influenced vocals
- Lyrical soulful melodies
- Emphasis on the rhythm section
- Large horn sections (trumpets, saxophones and trombones)
Listen to the following excerpt and listen to the soulful, gospel-influenced singing as well
as the prominent brass sections
Soul
Characteristics of Soul.
Instruments typically found in Soul music would be;
Electric Guitar
Piano
Drums
Keyboards
Vocals
Soul
Bass Guitar
Hammond Organ
Horn Section
Clavinet
Inside Motown Studios
• Listen to the following excerpt and discuss the concepts you hear
• Use the following slide to help you identify concepts and write your answers
on the whiteboards provided
Soul
Does the song have different verses
choruses/sections?
How many beats are in the bar?
Texture/ Structure/Form
Rhythm/Tempo
Is the song Homophonic or Polyphonic?
How fast or slow is the piece?
Is the song in a Major or Minor key?
How loud/soft is this song/are there changes
in volume?
Melody/Harmony
Do you hear harmony/unison?
Timbre/Dynamics
What instruments/voices do you hear? How
are they singing?
• Discuss your answers as a class and determine the correct concepts
• Complete the listening log in your Record of Work Book
My Girl – The Temptations
My Girl
R&B/Soul
Soul
Homework
Understanding 1.1
• Write an entry for a blog which contains the following information
about R & B/Soul Music:
• (At least) Three attributes (or key characteristics) of R & B/Soul music
• One or more technologies that are essential to this genre
• A key innovator of R & B/Soul Music
• Any pieces of music that you have listened to in class or out with class that
have helped develop your understanding of this genre