There are many different styles and forms of music, that have their own distinct sound. Each sound that is heard is the sound of a culture, each piece of music has a tie to places, ideas, thoughts and feelings based on opinions. This often results in stereotyping and portraying the music and culture with an inaccurate view, of the larger population of the cultures in which the music has originated from. Many times the way a culture advertises itself, and is portrayed, is the visual that is reflected in their music, This will be expressed through the steel pans of the Caribbean, Aboriginal music, and classical music.
When we hear a genre a music we distinctively make a connection to it in someway, whether it is the artist or group, or
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even a destination. As soon as the sound of the steel drums play, many people often associate the sound to the Caribbean, as they allow you to travel to a sunny island by the ocean with their happy sound. Along with a connection that is made, almost often comes with it a stereotypes of some sort. The Caribbean often has one of the most common typical stereotypes, that the Caribbean people lay around on the beach all day and play the steel drums. First off one of the most common misconceptions is that the steel drums, was traditionally and originally referred to as the Steel Pan, although many people associate with it drum today due to its shape as well with the way its is played. The steel pan was first invented in Trinidad and Tobago which are two small islands located in South America (Caribbean), built by adapting to the resources around the inhabitants of the island. The steel pans can be traced back to the african descents of the 1700’s, one of the first drums that african descents used before the steel pans was the hand drums (skin), these drums were used for communication . The people of the island used the drums and their rhythms as a way to communicate to other island groups near or far. Unfortunately in around the 1800’s when the British Colonial government was in ruling, the hand drums were declared illegal and were banished.
The government did this out of fear for themselves and the people, as they suspected that the hand drums were going to be used as a type of secret tribal communication to rise in rebellion against the government's rule. In 1937 the steel ‘pan’ was beginning to become “popular”especially in bands, the people would use anything that was metal; from a dust pan, scrap metal , pans and old oil drums. The bands that played the dust pan, pans, and old oil drums were often looked down upon by the upper class, as they considered it as street music, but Trinidads, and Tobago's did not have enough money to buy or even make instruments to play, so they had to use what was available to them. Of course with playing the objects that were available to the people they then could distinguish what object created a nicer sound, they noticed that the oil drums with its indentations created different sounds were penetrated within specific areas. This started the creation of the steel pans, they were made out of 55 gallon oil drums and are still are today. The steel pan is now the leading traditional instrument of the Caribbean and is played with a sense of pride, being that it is an instrument that originated from the people of the lower class. Since the steel pan is played with such great pride being that it came from the lower class, it has …show more content…
also reached out and has become the instruments that disadvantaged youth and teens play to keep themselves out of trouble as well with the chance to make something of themselves. That being said the portrayed view of Caribbean people laying around on the beach all day and playing the steel drums can be contradicted, as there can be many possibilities from disadvantaged teens and youth trying to make something for themselves, to the people who just want to share their pride and love for the music with tourists. With there being many different cultures around the world, it makes it just as hard to be introduced to all types of music. Even when people believe they have been introduced to a certain type of music, does not mean that they have heard it all. Some musical groups like the Indigenous people of North America perform traditional music, but just because one type of music is performed does not mean that it is the limit. This is when people create a generalized perceptions, Indigenous North american music has a common stereotype that all their music sounds like the indian warrior call, and is based around Powwows. The music that people associate with as the indian warrior call is called intertribal songs, these songs do not consist of any words they consist of vocables. Vocables are a series of syllables that is “a technique used within traditional music”,an example of vocables is indigenous men and women in a drumming group that is most commonly seen at Powwows. Indigenous music is mainly surrounded by the the drum, which is know as the heartbeat of mother earth, along with the flutes and rattles. Many indigenous groups are known for their traditional music, but some people don't know that some indigenous artists have been beginning to be influenced by other genres that are around them as well. Beverly Sainte-Marie known as Buffy Sainte- Marie is an example of an indigenous person, who did not specifically stay within the traditional indigenous music. Buffy Sainte Marie is known for her love songs, as well with her songs that have a political and social activist view that come with her songs ever since she started singing in 1964. Buffy Sainte- Marie’s musical sound ranges anywhere to folk, rock, country, and electric, and was also the first to incorporate Aboriginal and Pop music together in 1976, even though Buffy Sainte-Marie’s music is different from the traditional she still incorporates some of the traditional aspects such as vocables, drums and the flute. Buffy Sainte- Marie uses her music as a way to get aboriginal issues across to the public in hopes for a change, and example of this is when she wrote a song that was about residential schools and how the children were being stripped from their heritage and away from their families. A more recent example of Buffy Sainte- Marie using her music in hopes to get a message across, was at the commision of truth and reconciliation day at parliament hill in Ottawa Ontario this past fall in hopes to relay the issues of canadian aboriginals. Not only has Buffy Sainte- Marie strayed away from the traditional aboriginal music, but she has been an inspiration for other Aboriginal artists trying to get their messages across, and incorporate traditional music with their distinctive sound. That being said the portrayed view of Indigenous music sounding like an Indian warrior call and being based around Powwows can be contradicted, as Indigenous music is divided into two different categories; Social and Ceremonial. The social category of Indigenous music is still traditional music but it is allowed to be performed for the public, whereas the Ceremonial category of music is traditional music that is seen as sacred, and is only performed with and in front of Indigenous people for ceremonies. The most common social category of traditional indigenous music that is preformed to the public are Powwows, which can be why some people have generalized that Indigenous music is based around Powwows as that it basically the closest people get to hearing Indigenous traditional music as it is the music that they see can be performed for the public. Finally even when some genres have been around for hundreds of years, it is possible that people believe that the music has either died off or it is not for them.
Today people portray classical music as a boring genre of music that is for the older generations, and for the rich and higher class as it is a black tie event. Classical music has always been known to be an expensive luxury since the sixteenth and seventeenth century, but that does not mean that it is for a specific social class, as music is for everyone. Classical music is played everywhere everyday on the radio, in stores etc but some people think that it takes knowledge to be able to understand the music that is being played “No special knowledge is necessary to get to know [Classical music] and love it- but people who invest a little reading and thought will know it faster and better and will love it more”. Music in general is meant to make people feel emotion, feel what the artists is feeling and to listen to the message being told. Throughout classical music or any instrumental music at all, it is easy to become engaged and feel emotion through the dynamics and the tone of the instruments itself with no words necessary. With most of classical music being instrumental, could very well be one of the reasons of why the audience ranges of classical concerts are the age of fifty plus, this is because people nowadays are more interested in popular culture as it is what's trending now and is popular. The
reasons that the audiences for classical music is more the elderly generation, is because the younger generations are more interested in technology, and the concerts that they attend are allowed cell phones as it is the norm of the concert culture as well with yelling and screaming as a representation of praise . Whereas the norm of a classical concert is to make sure all devices are turned off, to avoid fidgeting whether it be opening packages, playing with the concerts programs, walking around, and eating as it may distract the performers. As well with the audience showing their praise through vocalising “Bravo” if it is a group or a male performer, and “Brava” if it is a female performer in response to clapping at the end of the performance. The generalization of Classical concerts being a black tie event is not necessarily the case as it depends on the concert, for most classical concerts the dress code is business casual and the only other time the dress code changes is if it is a special occasion, audience members will wear formal. In conclusion the results in stereotyping and portraying music of culture with an inaccurate view, of the larger population of the cultures is usually based off some true connection, but has gotten lost along the way. This has been shown through the steel pans in the Caribbean, Aboriginal music in North America, and classical music. These examples serve as an explanation of why people should know the history behind a culture's music instead of coming to rational generalizations.
classical music has been dead to the young. There have been many genres of music
Rock and Roll was the start of a new revolution in America. It introduced the world to many of the famous artists that continue to be a part of our lives today. "Artists who became popular in the 1950s such as Elvis, began to pave the way for others such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Buddy Holly" (The History of Rock 'n' Roll until 1960). With the introduction of rock 'n' roll, there came many new changes to the lives of many Americans. Rock and Roll was a major contributor for the change in teens' behavior in the 1950s because it encouraged new freedoms for teenagers, encouraged new fads among teenagers, and caused a generation gap.
Soul had a great cultural impact on the music industry during the 1960's, especially considering that record labels such as Motown, Stax, and Fame had several important soul artists under contract. While Motown was considered by some to be a more restrained (pop) type of soul, musicians such as Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder and groups such as the Supremes and the Temptations released many successful records in combination. Both Stax and Fame Records decided to take a different approach, and many of the tracks issued out of their respective studios were of a grittier, southern soul style, which some consider to be more true to the roots of African American culture. Some southern soul musicians include Otis Redding, Wilson Pickett, and Aretha Franklin. During the civil rights movement and more so after Martin Luther King was assassinated, some soul artists began incorporating a "black power" element within their music. For example, take James Brown's single "Say It Loud, I'm Black and Proud".
Throughout the semester, various styles of music and the aspects of culture associated with these styles have been analyzed. Musical elements such as dynamics, texture, form, timbre, melody, instruments, etc., have been used to thoroughly explore each kind of music from different areas of the world, with an emphasis in music from Africa, India and Indonesia. These aspects of music go far beyond just music itself. Culture also plays a huge role in music and the accompanying musical elements. Each country and culture has a different style and distinctiveness that add to what makes the music of that certain culture unique. Music in Africa may differ dramatically from music in Indonesia or India not only due to those certain elements but also due to how it is interpreted by people and what it represents for those people. In addition to this, what one may consider music in one culture may not be music to another. These differences have been made apparent in the several demonstrations that we have been exposed to in class.
Classical music is known as light and smooth, also it is heavily emphasized on homophonic melodies, meaning that there is a single melody that every instrument plays. Thus, the significant turning point of classical music in humanity’s social and cultural development is that this type of music first heard became very popular in the 18th century. Classical music created energy, rhythm, and harmonic symphony and from these people advanced more and more and made these elements much better. This turning point not just improved classical music, but other music that evolved from classical music. Also, Classical music is known as one of the first music ever in the nation. When people listen to classical music they can identify the soft rhythm and how peaceful it sounds. According to the article Music Genres as Historical Artifacts, “Classical music in general is an important part of the cultural capital that gains access to scarce economic, educational and occupational resources” (Vlegels). It can be shown that just a certain type of music can give so many elements defining music and educational resources as well; which make it a significant turning point in the cultural or social development. People love music that soothes their heart and mind, and that could get their mind off of all the negativity around
What could be said to be more American than apple pie, more American than baseball? Well baseball and apple pie are certainly the first things that come to mind when asked what you think of when you think of America but what if I asked what would be an all-American music. I believe the first thing that should come to mind would be bluegrass music. Bluegrass music; mainly played with acoustic and stringed musical instruments and vocal harmonies has a few variances and cultural roots from other countries, but remains as American as apple pie.
The book is divided into four chapters: 1) Humanly Organized Sound, 2) Music in Society and Culture, 3) Culture and Society in Music, and 4) Soundly Organized Humanity. In chapter one, Blacking discusses the analysis of sound. He begins by describing music as humanly organized sound. His overarching theme is that “the function of tones in relation to each other cannot be explained adequately as part of a closed system” (30). In other words, music can’t be analyzed simply by one set of rules. This is because every single culture has a different system that they use to structure and compose their music. In order to adequately analyze a society’s music we have to study their “system.” We must learn what music means to them. Then, and only then, can we accurately and completely analyze what a particular type or piece of music means to a particular society and culture.
Jazz comprises of a wide range of music from the ragtime to the present music listened to by many people. The music evolution has taken roughly 100 years and jazz has been put in this particular evolution as one of the music styles today. In the definition of jazz, there is no actual definition of jazz because it a composition of very many music styles hence making it hard to get the required definition that would describe it fully. Attempts being made to define jazz have a basis of traditional music that have similar characteristics as jazz but not real jazz. Using the American or African music examples, the researchers argue that the definition is very broad and wide. Ernest Berendt one of the researchers says that jazz originated from America in the process of confronting Negros with Europeans in terms of music. This can then be termed as a tool of identity between the two groups of people due to the racist and discrimination aspects that faced America. This was now a tool that could identify the two groups to bring about national integration and understanding among the members of America. In America jazz has incorporated time as a special factor and is now referred to as swing. Swing means spontaneity and vitality of the production of music which has an improvisation role to play to the listeners. This particular jazz music contains a particular manner of phrasing which acts as a mirror to an individual and the personality of the musician performing that particular jazz music on stage. The early jazz musicians include Double Bassist Reggie Workman, saxophone player Pharaoh Sanders, and drummer Idris Muhammad who were performing in 1978 hence dating back to early jazz performance and presentation.
Music is a form of communication, letting others knows what is going on in the country, political, social or economic and any other problems the people of the Caribbean faced. With so many different ethnic backgrounds in the Caribbean, they are people with Asians, Indians, and Africans descents. This created a language and culture barrier but each ethnic background shared a common link music. Music bridged the gap between the different ethnicities Music is part of everyone’s culture especially here in the Caribbean. Our culture is recognized worldwide for its music. The Caribbean has different genres of music such as calypso, reggae, dance hall, zouk and many others. Our music has roots in both African and European cultures. The drum rhythm comes from the African in...
Pop. Traditional. Classical. These are all genres of music. These all serve a purpose. These are all important. Pop music has been used to help inform and motivate the general public during movements like environmental protection and gay rights. Traditional music has helped to guide us by telling us stories of the past from the church to the fields. Classical music has been played for royalty and help dancers spin a story. Some can be considered art while others can’t, but it often differs because the definition of art is in constant motion. The definition of art is a subject philosopher’s debate because it can be defined strictly or loosely. For the purpose of this essay, let art be defined as anything that can be touched or heard, and it causes a mental and physical reaction. Classical music is truly an art form because it invokes a mental and physical reaction from both the audience and the performers, and it has contrast to make it more dynamic.
Influence of Jazz on American Culture Nowadays, many believe that jazz is not that important in the music genre, but with our history, jazz plays a big role. “Jazz does not belong to one race or culture, but it is a gift that America has given to the world,” quoted Ahmad Alaadeen. Jazz in the 1920’s opened the eyes of whites and invited them into African American culture; it evolved Americans to where we are today since it brought a change to the music scene, an acceptance of African Americans, and a change of lifestyles. Jazz began affecting American culture from the beginning of its conception.
Some may say music is just music; a song is just a song. However, music plays an enormous role in our psychology, because a single song has the ability to bring about many kinds of thoughts and emotions in the listener. Music is subtly one of the main factors in which people identify with certain groups and establish their belonging in society. It shapes people’s perspectives on how the world functions and the roles they play within it. Music can function the same way in a culture; it can reflect many of the culture’s values and ideologies. Music can have many effects on culture and the people’s idea of who they think they are within that culture. Music can serve in a way that promotes cultural identity and pride, yet it could also play a role in the separation of social and economical identities in within cultures.
According to his review of A Guide to Latin American Music by Gilbert Chase, Charles Seeger describes Chase’s description of the music culture, “The quantitative distribution of more than 2700 entries, which include some multiple listing, is interesting” (Seeger, 1946, 304). Chase explains a plethora of countries in Latin America and their specific musical features. Furthermore, thanks to his detailed work, the reader can see how many common features can be seen. Firstly, a common feature among all genres is the use of aerophones. The aerophones used could include, panpipes of various varieties, flutes, trumpets (as seen at the Boogat performance in Ottawa) and many more. Another common feature among all the genres is a strong rhythmic presence. In essentially all Latin American music, a steady, metrical rhythmic quality can be heard keeping the music energetic and easy to follow. To keep the rhythm, another common feature to Latin American culture is the drum. Most commonly found in the Afro-Latin genre, as a result of influence from African culture, can be seen throughout Latin America. A popularized western form of this type of music, is that of mariachi. Finally, Latin American culture is known for its vibrancy in their music. The music is generally quite expressive of feelings, strong moral messages found in protest songs, and their colorful, elaborate
Music: the art of organized noise. The blend of pitch and rhythm combined in different mediums and enjoyed by our ears. A very interpretive art, music isn’t very clearly constricted or defined by one definition. With so many varieties of music, it’s difficult to say what aspect is really the most important. Some people think music’s history and the appreciation of music are the most important aspects to take into consideration. Some think complex in rhythms and melodies make the best music. Some people devote their whole lives to studying one genre of music in order to fully understand how that genre works. While all of these aspects of music are important, none of them can truly be compared with each other on a fair playing field. Music of different genres, eras, and geographic backgrounds were written for different purposes, different people, and different settings. Still, there is still one overarching theme that applies to all forms of music new or old: the way the composer presents his or her creation. The performance and presentation of a work of music is like the icing on the top of a cake. The cake may be the best you’ve ever tasted, but if the icing on the outside doesn’t look appealing or doesn’t taste good, chances are you’ll take a different piece of cake with better looking frosting next time. The performance of music is what appeals most to people. With live performance, an artist must “sell” his or her creation. They must put smile on their face and convey to the audience that this is their music and through the music explain why it’s awesome. They must persevere through whatever the stage, the audience, and their surroundings give them and put on a good show. In today’s popular music though, this aspect of showma...
There are many ways in which music affects and surrounds us. It is our creative outlet, our passion, our distraction, our night out or simply our moment of relaxation. Throughout the centuries, music has played a vital role in our lives. We as a society immerse ourselves in music day to day. From grandiose social gatherings and dances in the Middle Ages, to live concerts and monumental performances to date. Music is in films to elicit emotion and in television commercials to make us consumers of the newest technology. More importantly, it is in our preferred listening device because we choose the particular songs and artists we like and want to hear. The Marriam-Webster dictionary defines music as “sounds that are sung by voices or played on musical instruments; the art or skill of creating or performing music.” But why do we choose attend the Bruce Springsteen concert at Wrigley Field and not the Chicago Symphony Orchestra? What makes us enjoy one type of music or artist and not another? Whether you make music or simply enjoy it by listening to it, we are all connected to music in a variety of ways.