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Overview of music styles


Amy Lane shares with us today an overview of the common types of music, her love for this topic and some interesting things to follow up using an online search, if you are so inclinded. Check out her site at:  http://www.musicalinstrumentsrow.com


The Types and Styles of Music

Music is a melody of words. A lover's song to his love. A vent for anger. A sight painted by a musician for a blind man. A plea for deliverance. It brings happiness to the heart. It is the expression of life. Music has thousands of meanings. To explain all the ways it touches the heart is rather difficult, but the essence of music is to reach out and communicate a message not understood. It has evolved in style and composition over the ages, which resulted in different types and forms. Music evolved as civilizations evolved and made their mark in the human history.


Instrumental music uses a composition of instruments to create the perfect rhythm and beat whether it is classical, jazz, opera, or other musical styles. This type of genre is different as there are no vocals and no lyrics and is enjoyed by many. It just uses the beat of a drum, the strings of a guitar, the chords of a violin, the sound of a trumpet and a range of other instruments to create music. Gary Gable, Richard Amos and John Adams are some of the most famous instrumental music composers.

Trance music style uses the electronic medium to create the melody. It had originated in the 1990s. The melodious notes take the listener to an emotional high. It uplifts the mood giving the listener an out of the world experience. Goa trance is a subset of this music type which originated in the late 1980s in Goa, India. This type of music has been the icon of hippie culture. Tiesto is one of the globally recognized, famous trance players. He wanted to share his music with others.

Country music finds its inspiration in traditional folk, Celtic, and Gospel. Country music brings the listener closer to home, inducing a feeling of warmth and nostalgia. Garth Brooks, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn and Merle Haggard are some of the most famous country music composers and singers of all time. The origin of the country music dates back to the 1940s.

Hip hop is rhythm, its style, it's shaking your leg to the very rhythmic vocal. It originated in the 1970s. Hip hop is much influenced by African American culture and the Jamaicans. The funky style of music is famous among teens for its easy style and rhythm. This is a different music; it is very urban, chic and contemporary.

Classical musical is divided into many classical genres which include Baroque, Chamber Music, Opera and Romantic just to name a few. However, Indian classical music is one of the most popular in this category. It originates from the Vedas, bringing in the 7 notes to make different ragas. Bade Ghulam Ali Khan, Begam Akhtar, Amir Khan and Kishori Amonkar are some of the legendary classical singers.

The sumptuous notes of Latin melodies gets the world grooving at its feet. The beat, the rhythm, the mandolin and the plucking of strings are incredible. Dances like the Salsa, the Mambo and the Cha, Cha, Cha evolved to enjoy this style of music. Latin music style makes the world come alive.

It is a Herculean task to put down so many types of music. These are just a few popular ones, which the world has discovered. However, the traditional folk style, Jazz and the magic it creates with the saxophone, the Blues which sing the song of the heart and the Tribal music which comes straight from the jungles are some other melody types. The styles of music will keep evolving and continue to remain an integral part of human development. Yes, of course, we are an outcome of its transformation. Let's not forget that it is the music of the heart, its beat and rhythm that gives us life and love!



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