At this time, music has become a symbol of the human mood, again confusing those who listen to sad music, while again happy listening to music that suits his heart’s content.
Music is a complicated part of everyday life to separate from the human being. When you wake up, sometimes in the bathroom, when working, when your boyfriend decides, even your cell phone ringtones use music. Music is a part of us.
Well, there are many music genres that we must know, which can be seen from each genre’s characteristics.
Definition of Music
Before understanding music genres and the various genres of music that exist today, let’s first discuss the meaning of music. Music contains rhythm, song, and harmony obtained through the arrangement of tones or sounds in such a way.
“Music” originally came from the Greek word “music.” Musik comes from the phrase muse-muse, which means the nine Greek gods under the god Apollo, the protector of art and science.
The art of music is considered something that produces a work of art, which in this case is a sound that is a song-shaped composition, an outpouring of the creator’s thoughts and feelings by combining the music’s main elements. There is rhythm, harmony, melody, and form or arrangement of songs. , expression, and feeling as a whole.
Music is an exciting thing to learn and even hear daily. Listening to music makes life more colorful. Well, know it or not, you guys, there is a classification based on the characteristics inherent in the music, usually called the genre of music. In this article, we will discuss the understanding of music genres in more depth and understand what music genres exist today.
Understanding Music Genres
After understanding music, then we will understand the genre of music and any genre of music that exists. You must be very curious about what the genres of music are.
Before that, we must first understand the meaning of the genre of music. A music genre is defined as a classification of music based on their similarity to each other. This classification can also be adjusted to different criteria, such as geographical similarity.
Musical techniques, contexts, styles, and musical themes can serve as a definitive reference in a musical genre. The genre of music cannot be clearly defined because when the genre is characterized by a person, then that person defines it without looking at aspects from the other side. In fact, sometimes, in a song, there are two genres in it, but it is only defined as one genre only.
Types of Music Genres
After understanding the meaning of the genre of music, we will further understand the various genres of music and the history of the genre was born, namely:
1. Jazz Music Genre
The jazz music genre is considered a type of music that emerged due to the incorporation of other music genres, namely blues, ragtime, and European music, including band music.
Given the understanding of music genres earlier, if there are basically several genres of music in a song, that is eventually made into a genre. There are several sub-genres in the jazz music genre; those subgenres include Dixieland, bebop, cool jazz, swing, hard bop, free jazz, fusion jazz, cafjazz, and smooth jazz.
Musical instruments commonly used in this genre of music are trombone, trumpet, piano, saxophone, and guitar. Sometimes not everyone can enjoy this genre of jazz music. In the use of tones, the tones of this genre are very unique and have a distinctive feature in the musical game.
2. Blues Music Genre
The genre of blues music genre originated in the United States, both vocal and instrumental music. It emerged from praise and spiritual music, which initially appeared from the community of formerly enslaved Africans in the United States.
This is evidenced by the use of song lyrics and the use of blue notes and the application in the pattern of call and response (in this case, there are two sentences sung by two people in succession, and in the second sentence, considered as “answer” to “question” in the first sentence).
3. Country Music Genre
The country music genre is a genre of mixed elements of American music, which is a combination of the Appalachian Mountains and the southern United States. The music has a cheerful tone and a relaxed and light disposition.
This country music originally came from North American folk songs, gospel music, and kelt music, and it has evolved since the 1920s. Around the 1940s, the term country music began to be used, replacing the term hillbilly music, which, in a sense, seemed degrading.
Then in the 1970s, the term became popular. There are other terms for this genre of music, namely country and western, but they are rarely used, except in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Famous artists who use this country genre is Taylor Swift, for example, with the title song Red.
4. Techno Music Genre or EDM
This one music genre is a genre of music whose music streams usually use futuristic themes. Nightclubs usually use these genres of music, and usually, the music is played by a DJ (disc jockey).
Using digital musical instruments such as DJ Maker, which is always used to me remix existing music into music that has a futuristic theme. Due to the use of digital musical instruments, this genre of music cannot be played by traditional musical instruments, such as guitars, Zalando, or drums. The music group that uses this genre of music is Daft Punk.
5. Reggae Music Genre
Reggae music became a genre of music that was first developed in Jamaica around the end of the 60s. Usually, this naming is used more widely to name all types of music that exist in Jamaica.
This reggae music is based on an accent on syncopation or off-beat to characterize a rhythmic style of music; this is called skank. See, this reggae music usually takes longer. Here are the Reggae musicians: Jimmy Cliff and Bob Marley.
6. R&B Music Genre
In the genre of R&B music, it became popular because it merged with several other music genres, such as jazz, blues, and gospel. It was introduced initially by musicians of African-American descent.
Well, R&B music is an abbreviation of Rhythm and Blues. The artist who uses the R&B music genre is Justin Timberlake. Well, the song with R&B music that writers often hear today is At My Worst by Pink Sweats.
7. Rap Music Genre
Rap music has become one of the elements of hip-hop music. If you usually listen to this genre, usually the vocal technique used is to speak fast. Singers of this genre are known as rappers.
Rap is usually accompanied by music by a band or DJ. The rapper is also included in the regular singers who sing solo; the rappers are Xzibit and Jay-z. In addition, there are rappers who are members of a band, for example, Linkin Park.
8. Death Metal Music Genre
Death metal music, this genre is a subgenre of heavy metal music that initially evolved from thrash metal in the early 1980s. The typical style of this genre of music is in the lyrics, which are generally themed on death or violence. The band that uses this genre of death metal music is The Berzerker.
The following is a list of bands and musicians in the metal genre:
- Metalica
- Avenged Sevenfold
- Rash
- Slayer
- Diamond Head
9. Dangdut Music Genre
When you hear the term “dangdut,” you must be very familiar with this genre of music. Dangdut is one of the most popular music genres in Indonesia. The hallmark of this music is the playing of drums or tabla instruments.
If you listen to this one genre of music, you must be familiar with Bollywood music because, basically, dangdut music is influenced by Classical Indian music and Bollywood.
In addition, if viewed from the original elements of the musical style, dangdut is a combination of Malay, Hindustani, and Arabic parts. Considering that dangdut music is a blend of aspects of Arabic music as well, this is seen from the crookedness and harmonization of the tone.
The beginning of presence of dangdut music began in the 1960s; this accompanied the popularity of Bollywood films in the 1950s. In fact, it is also rooted in the existence of Malay music in the 1940s.
Well, in 1968, Rhoma Irama was one of the pioneers of dangdut music in Indonesia. Beginning in the 1970s, dangdut music became widely popular in Indonesia. Even in the 1970s to 1980s, this genre of music became a genre of prima donna music that is loved by people in Indonesia.
The term dangdut is actually an onomatopoeia, which comes from a drum or tabla that is usually filled with the sounds of dang and nut. And in further development, it is called dangdut. The artist who uses this genre of music is Rhoma Irama, who has the nickname of the King of Dangdut, and Elvy Sukaesih, who is nicknamed the Queen of Dangdut in Indonesia.
10. Pop Music Genre
Well, the following genre of music is the genre of pop music. Pop music tones and lyrics are made to be simple and related to everyday life. Therefore, the theme of this genre is easier to digest and, straightforward to sing, even easy to memorize the lyrics. This genre has become a universal genre of music because it can be accepted by people well.
This genre of music is also called a popular music genre and originated in more modern forms that existed in the United Kingdom and the United States since the mid-1950s. The limitation of this genre is to refer to music that has tremendous appeal, given that the term music genre is a popular music genre.
11. Ballad Music Genre
There is a genre of ballad music, which is a type of music that harmonizes the song slowly, and usually, the themes used are themes about love.
Use poetic lyrics and use slow music. Specifically in the grouping of genres, ballads have unique characteristics, namely the presence of poetry and melancholy songs. This genre comes as a slow form of popular love songs.
Ballad music itself, the term is taken from the English language, namely “ballad,” which has the meaning of music in the form of narrative. It began popular in the Middle Ages to the 19th century, then spread throughout Europe and then America, Australia, and North Africa. A song that is perfect for those who are in love or heartbroken!
12. Classical Music Genres
This genre of music is defined as a type of music that is intellectual and beautiful and can be enjoyed by almost any age. It initially originated in Europe during the years 1750 to 1825. Usually, in this classical music, there is a division based on a specific period.
More precisely, there is a division into three eras. Namely, there is Medieval and Renaissance, there is Classical and Romantic Baroque, and there is Modern and Contemporary. From this division, there are several musicians from the genre of classical music that are famous to date, among them, namely:
- Mozart
- Johann Pachelbel
- Chopin
- Beethoven
- and others.
Of the four musicians mentioned by the author above, the most famous and popular is Johann Pachelbel. Maybe his name is entirely foreign to our ears, but his work entitled “Canon in D” may be some who are familiar with his song.
This classical music is an inspiration for the music and musicians that are emerging today. Classical music is a piece of soothing music; the serenity brought in this genre brings many benefits to human beings.
Even according to research, classical music has many benefits, one of which is to minimize hypertension and calm emotions.
Some examples of classical music genres are Symphony 40, Piano Sonata No. 16, which is a work of Mozart, and Moonlight Sonata by Beethoven. Mozart, one of the classical music musicians who has a big name and is recognized around the world, has a life story behind his success.
The next musician, Beethoven, was the next famous classical musician; in his life had difficulties and problems with his hearing, but that did not prevent his work from being successful. Beethoven’s book by Edmund Morris tells the life journey of this world’s classical musician.
Well, that’s some music genre that exists in the world, along with examples of singers and songs. Each of these genres has its own patterns and characteristics, even the history of the formation of different music genres.
However, these music genres have one purpose, which is to entertain the listener. So, after understanding each of the existing music genres, which is your favorite music genre?