Musical Genres: Jazz, Rock, Pop, Opera, and Folklore
Musical Genres
Jazz
This style emerged in the early twentieth century in New Orleans within the community of African slaves brought centuries ago. The African slaves had their own songs for work, in addition to religious songs and the greatest contribution to the birth of jazz: the blues.
From the interaction of these manifestations and European music tradition was born what we now know as jazz.
We can summarize the main characteristics of jazz as follows:
- It is a style which mainly uses improvisation, that is, free music making instantly.
- The compositions are structured around a main theme that is heard only at the beginning and end. It is the central part where the musicians really improvise, depending on harmonies and a certain number of bars.
- The pace becomes very important. Predominant rhythms are lively and often rich polyrhythmic.
- Great importance is attached to the solos, passages in which each instrumentalist performs his improvisation, while the rest of the group provides a background.
Rock and Roll
It all started with rock and roll. This style has grown into one of the social and musical phenomena of the twentieth century, becoming the main vehicle of expression for many generations of youth.
Rock was born in the mid-20th century in the U.S. and in its origins, is fed directly from the blues and jazz.
Rock and roll music has rhythmic force, made to dance and express themselves freely. In this music, do not miss a good singer, supported by the rocker par excellence: the electric guitar, accompanied by a drummer and a bass.
Singer Elvis Presley was the first musician of the style. With his popular hip dance and energetic rock revolution in the fifties, he changed the music scene.
Pop Music
If rock has strength and energetic rhythms, pop music is dominated by simple, catchy melodies that, almost immediately, we can hum.
Pop music was also born in the mid-twentieth century and arose directly from rock.
Music and Dance
Dance is not only a physical reaction to the stimulus of music, but also a communication tool. Dancing is expressing emotions and ideas moving the body in space and the movements of the human body are like words, are heard, but they show things in our eyes.
Opera
Musically, we can distinguish several parts, such as the overture, arias, recitatives, and choruses.
Zarzuela
- The zarzuela is a uniquely Spanish genre, while opera is an international genre.
- Opera is completely sung, while the zarzuela alternates spoken scenes with sung scenes.
- Both in arguments and in music, zarzuela has a more popular and folk character than opera.
Musical Folklore
- Its function: to accompany all kinds of activities.
- They are anonymous: no one knows the name of its author, it is considered the fruit of the community.
- They are transmitted orally from generation to generation.
Stringed Instruments
Examples include the hurdy-gurdy and the whip.
Stringed Instruments (Types)
- Of bevel: The txistu (Basque) or flabiol (Catalan).
- Of double reed: the flute or flageolet.
Percussion Instruments
Examples include castanets, tambourine, and tambourine.