“Music is something you listen, but the tune stays with you forever”
Music, just like love cannot be defined. It flows as per its own rules and you never know when it will win over your heart. As today is World Music Day, there are many things that you may want to know, ask, or think. One question that may pop up in your mind is – who sang the first song? Or when music was invented? Well, as per online sources, Thomas Edison was the first person to record sound and, by extension, music, but that isn’t the case: the first ever recorded song was actually recorded by Édouard-Léon Scott de Martinville, a French printer, and bookseller who also invented the phonautograph, the earliest known sound recording device.
Today is World Music Day, but there is not a single day which is devoid of music. From the raindrops to the singing birds, flowing cascade to a baby’s laughter – everything around us has music. Music is even created when you walk down the stairs or walk over the dried leaves. Nature is the best store of music for sure and what we humans have created since ages are just various extensions of these sounds found in nature.
Just like any other form of art, music also has its interesting journey. From rocks and sticks to the new age digital music production – the music industry has evolved tremendously. From Beethoven to Beatles, Mozart to Tagore, Lennon to A.R. Rahman – the world has seen many notable musicians who touched many hearts, changed many lives, and most importantly formed a rock solid milestone in history.
So, let’s rewind the various forms of music that have created huge fan base all over the world.
Classical:
This category can be broadly classified into two categories, viz., Western and Indian.
Western Classical is one of the oldest forms of music that is much revered till today. Symphony, Sonata, Suite, Cantata, Concerto, etc. are some popular form of Western Classical music. Western Classical Music is further categorized by period i.e. Medieval, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and Modern. These various forms of Western Classical music are played through violin or piano. This form of music hugely emphasized on homophonic melodies. Even Opera is also a form of this music. Mozart, Beethoven, Vivaldi, Sebastian Bach, etc. are some of the notable composers of this form of music.
Indian classical music is one of the respected forms of music. It has a calming effect on the mind. The two major pillars of Indian Classical music are – Carnatic Music and Hindustani Music. Carnatic Music comes from South India and is also followed in Sri Lanka. There are 7 taal (melodic scales) and 72 raaga (rhythmic scales) in this musical form. Subbulakshmi & Dr. M. Balamuralikrishnana are popular artists of Carnatic Music. Hindustani Classical music is another form that can evoke all kind of emotions in people from happy to sad, calm to tensed. Pt. Ravishankar, Pt. Bhimsen Joshi, Ali Akbar Khan, Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, etc. are some notable musicians from this gharana.
“Classical Music is the kind we keep Thinking will turn into a Tune”
Rock:
No list of music can be prepared on this World Music Day without the mention of this form of music. Since the inception of music, this form of music has engulfed the whole world as a drug. It was 1950 when the USA gifted the world the first taste of Rock Music. The intelligent and creative culmination of Blues and Country along with a pinch of Jazz led to the formation of Rock music. The whole of West (and later the whole world) found a relief in this musical form. It was the 60’s that saw the flow of rock music to every nooks and corner. The rock music lyrics often talk about stressed romantic love and the theme may vary from social to political issues too. Later, country rock, jazz rock, blues rock, etc. also came into existence.
But broadly, Alternative Rock and Hard Rock can be termed as the subdivision of this musical form. The notable musicians from this musical form are – The Beatles, Michael Jackson, Nirvana, Led Zeppelin, Green Day, Linkin Park, Aerosmith, etc. The highest selling rock albums of all time are – The Greatest hits by Eagles, Led Zeppelin IV by Led Zeppelin, The Wall by Pink Floyd, Appetite for Destruction by Guns N Roses, Hotel California by Eagles, Ten by Pearl Jam, and Metallica by Metallica.
“Rock Music was never Written for or Performed for Conservative Tastes”
Blues:
The Afro-Americans used to sing simple lyrics with simple tunes and this gave birth to Blues genre of music. It originated by the end of the 19th Century. Blues incorporated spirituals, work songs, field hollers, shouts, chants, and rhymed simple narrative ballads. The simple structure of these songs is open to innovations and improvisations. These sings depict sadness and melancholy. There is some sort of pain in the narrative.
Some notable Blues Musicians are – Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Robert Nighthawk, Bessie Smith, etc. The best-selling Blues songs of all time are – Hoochie Coochie Man by Muddy Waters, The Thrill is Gone by B.B. King, Me And The Devil Blues by Robert Johnson, Stone Crazy by Buddy Guy, I’d Rather Go Blind by Etta James, I’m Tore Down by Freddie King, Call It Stormy Monday by T-Bone Walker, Boogie Chillen’ by John Lee Hooker, Red House by Jimi Hendrix, and Smokestack Lightning by Howlin’ Wolf.
“The Blues tell a story. Every line of the Blues has a meaning”
Jazz:
Some like to call it a “classical version of Blues”. In the late 19th and early 20th Century, this form of music came into being and the proponents were again the Afro-Americans. In general, Jazz music themes lays stress on art, culture, violence, lust, innocence etc. The feature of this form of music is that different rhythms are played simultaneously. Jazz relies much on improvisation and that’s why jazz is often performed in an ensemble. Some notable Jazz players from the pages of history are – Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, etc. The best-selling jazz albums of all time are – Kind of Blue by Miles Davis, A Love Supreme by John Coltrane, The Way Up by Pat Metheny Group, Time’s All Gone by Nick Waterhouse, etc.
“Life is lot like Jazz…..its best when you improvise”
Pop:
The best is saved for the last! Pop music is the short name for popular music. It is everything that this generation is made out of, lives for, cries for, and relies on. The origin is USA and UK in the mid 50’s. Everything from joy, sorrow, love, relationships, fun, excitement, etc. form the theme of the lyrics of pop music. This pop music is also called a mixed genre as they often borrow elements from other forms like rock, urban, or Latin, etc. The songs are medium lengths and use repeated choruses, melodic tunes, and hooks. Bob Stanley once said, “The story of pop music is largely the story of the intertwining pop culture of the United States and the United Kingdom in the postwar era.”
Pop music spread at a rocket speed post 60’s and it became an international monoculture. Now, every country has their own version of pop music. The leaders of this music genre are – Madonna, Michael Jackson, Justin Bieber, One Direction, etc. Madonna is known as the Queen of Pop and Michael Jackson is known as the King of Pop. Madonna’s albums, The Immaculate Collection, Like a Virgin and True Blue, are among the top 100 certified albums according to the RIAA. She is also recognized as the world’s best-selling female recording artist of all time by the Guinness World Records for a total record sales of more than 300 million units worldwide.
On the other hand, Thriller of Michael Jackson is one of the top 20 best-selling albums of all time. Jackson and Thriller were named the “Top-selling R&B/pop Artist of the Century” and “Top-selling Solo Studio Album of the Century” by the RIAA, respectively. Other notable stars of the Pop Music sky are – Celine Dion, Shania Twain, Adele, ABBA, Mariah Carey, Elton John, Britney Spears, etc.
“The function of Pop Music is to be consumed” & “Pop Music will never be Low-Brow”
Music is a big part of our life. For every occasion, festival, and emotion, there is a form of music. Some music makes us laugh, some make us go down the memory line, some make us feel alive, some pushes us to adventure, etc. There are many emotions that arise while listening to music and music is always the solution to any kind of problem. Therefore, Three Cheers to music and creative musicians all over the world – Without you, life would have been a desert!
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