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 mid19th 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.