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7/24/2019 Timeline Music Tech

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Music Technology AS Area of Study 2Popular Music Styles since 1910

Date Style Features Artists Technology / Notes

1900s

CountryBlues

Country blues, which developed in the country areas ofthe southern states of the USA, is characterised by

anguished vocals and the use of slide guitar (using abottleneck). This early form of blues was exclusively

acoustic and was often performed by a solo singeraccompanying him/herself.

Blind Willie McTellBlind Blake

Lightnin Hopkins Wax cylinders very expensive, wore outquickly

1887 Emile Berliner invents the gramophone,

which used a flat disc made of shellac as the

recording medium. Rotation speed was 78rpm.

If you wanted music at home you had to DIY piano, voice and violin were popular choices

1914 to 1918 = World War 1

1914-16: American was still in an economic boom

Early juke boxes

Music Hall

Catchy lyrics, simple sing-along style

Frequently just piano (as it had become more affordable)

Daisy Daisy

I do like to bebeside the seaside

Steven Foster

Camptown Races

Ragtime

Piano / syncopation jaunty feel / stride piano playing

Based on the polka, a dance from Poland which wouldhave come to America due to immigration.

Scott Joplin

Maple Leaf RagThe Entertainer

MarchingBand Music

Instruments: percussion, brass, saxophones, woodwind

(NO strings)

Either in 2-time or 4-time (obviously for marching!)

John Philip Sousa

The Liberty Bell

(used as the MontyPython theme tune!)

Washington Post


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20s

Dixieland /Traditional

Jazz

The earliest style of jazz from the 1920s is known asNew Orleans jazzor Dixieland. It generally has a

swung rhythm in a fast tempo. Bands consisted offrontline soloists (e.g. cornet, clarinet and trombone)

who would improvise collectively as well as individually,

supported by a rhythm section of upright bass, piano (orbanjo) and drums.

The term jazz band was applied to most groups of theday, even if the werent truly a jazz band - a bit like theway the term rock band is used today.

Tunes were often influenced by ragtime (as exemplifiedby the work of Scott Joplin) although many other types

of music, including the blues, were given a jazz

treatment. This early style has been revived severaltimes, notably in the UK in the 1950s and 60s, and the

music of such revivals is known as traditional jazz.

Sweet dance bands were so called because theyfeatured clarinets which had a sweeter sound than

saxophones. They also sometimes featured accordions

Louis ArmstrongJoe King Oliver

Jelly Roll Morton &

His Red Hot

Peppers (claimed tohave invented jazz)

Beal Street Blues

Bands that have

revived traditionaljazz include those

led by Kenny Ball

and Chris Barber.

The 20s are often known as the Jazz Age

The Original Dixieland Jazz Band was the first to

make a jazz record, even though they were notoriginal and were in fact all white.

1924/5 - development of the microphone allowedsingers to be boosted. Still expensive though.

1925 the first electrically recorded discs go onsale.

Adrian Rollini - virtuoso bass sax player. Used alot in early recordings as the bass sax could be

heard more clearly than an upright bass.

1920 first commercial radio broadcast took

place in Pittsburgh, America.

Late 20s / early 30s - Cotton Club in Harlem,

New York: infamous for its non-segregation of

blacks and whites.

Paul Whiteman dubbed the king of jazz but hismusic was mostly polite, cocktail bar, sanitised

jazz.

ClassicBlues

Solo female (no mic) and pianoWould sometimes team up with a band 9e.g. Bessie

Smith with Louis Armstrong and his band)

Bessie Smith Thinking Blues

St Louis Blues

Ma Rainey


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30s

Gospel

Gospel music usually comprises large mixed-voce choirs.The style developed among the black population of the

southern states of the USA. It grew from spirituals andblues, and often features a solo singer with the choir

working in a call and response style. The lead singer

often improvised to show technical skill.

The sound still has the same flavour as African choral

singing (check out Ladysmith Black Mambazo). Thismusic covers the 1930s to the present day where agospel choir is sometimes used to give a spiritual flavourto rock, pop or dance tracks.

It is Christian-based (hence the name gospel, from the

Bible) and usually evangelistic, i.e. aiming to convert

others to the faith.

Swing Low, SweetChariot

When the Saints

Go Marching In

Nobody Knows the

Trouble Ive Seen

The movie Sister Actfeatures a lot ofgospel songs.

Overdubbing is achieved by playing along with anexisting record and mixing both signals to anther

recorder.

1932 Bell Labs invented a new replication

system. The shellac recording device was replaced

by a cellulose acetate.

1934 - Les Paul invents the electric guitar. It isnow able to compete with swing band instruments

The first purpose built music recording studiosstart to be built.

Swingexisted during the 20s but it was

underground. Its popularity spread and it becamemore acceptable during the 30s until it became

mainstream.

The term jungle, which now has quite a differentmeaning, was originally coined during the 30s to

mean a type of swing with very heavy drums -listen to the track Sing with a Swing

Big-band

Jazz

Swing

This refers to a style of jazz that emerged in the 1930s

and 40s, using larger ensembles. Typically there wouldbe a horn section of 3 trumpets + 3 trombones, a reed

section of 4 saxophones and a rhythm section of piano,

guitar, drums, and upright bass. The larger numbersmade collective improvisation impractical and so the

music had to be arranged and written down, althoughscores still left room for solo improvising, particularly by

the band-leader.

The musical style of the period, in both pop music and

jazz, is known as swing. It emphasises four equally-

weighted beats in the bar, each divided into swingquavers. Much big-band jazz was based on the chordpatterns (although not the melodies) of popular hits of

the day.

Big Band leaders

include:Duke Ellington

Black and Tan

Fantasy

Count Basie OneOclock Jump

Fletcher Henderson

The dance-band

style is typified byGlenn Miller and hisOrchestra


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40s

ChicagoBlues

Rhythm nBlues

UrbanBlues

This form of blues developed in the city of that name as

the African-American population moved to urban areassearching for work and better lifestyle opportunities.

The music became electronically amplified and bands

featuring bass, drums, harmonica and piano alongside theguitarist were more common than soloists. This gritty

and driving sound, often known as rhythm n blues,

developed through the 40s and 50s and gave birth torock n roll

Muddy WatersHowlin Wolf

B.B. KingT-Bone Walker 1939 to 1945 World War 2

The appalling conditions of trench warfare during

WW1 had resulted in many suicides over theliving conditions. So during WW2 swing was kept

artificially alive and swing bands were employed as

a vital part of entertaining the troops and keepingup moral.

By the end of WW2 almost all big bands were

dissolved. 2 notable exceptions were CountBasies and Duke Ellingtons.

The ability to put recorded sound on filmwasdeveloped the first talkie was also a sing-y!

The Jazz Singerstarring Al Jolson (who came from

the music hall tradition)

1948 the LP was invented. It was called themicrogroove vinylite recorder. It allowed 23 mins

of mono recording per side).In the same year the 33 1/3 rpm disc was also

introduced.

1949 the first ever Top 40was broadcast.

Bebop (orBop)

Emerged in the 40s, partly as a reaction to the increasingcommercialisation of swing (which was being taken over

by white musicians despite its black origins) and partlydue to the financial difficulty of maintaining big bandsduring and after World War 2. The style used much

smaller ensembles and focussed once again onimprovising, often in a very technically demanding way.

Bebop is generally fast, frenetic, exciting and often highlydiscordant (sounds out of tune)

Charlie Parker (alto

sax)Dizzy Gillespie

(trumpet)Charlie Mingus(double bass)

Thelonious Monk(piano)

Gerry Mulligan

(baritone sax)

Salt PeanutsNight in Tunisia

Bluegrass

A form of Country & Western, blues based music.

Instruments include guitar / banjo / fiddle / double bass.Also homemade percussion like the washboard.

Earl Scruggs

Foggy MountainBoys


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50s

Rock n

RollSpecial

Focusstyle

A style that grew out of rhythm and blues, country

music and gospel - and then took over the world! Songsoften used only 3 chords in a 12- or 16-bar blues

pattern, were fast, danceable and had catchy hooks.

Lyrically, there was a sense of rebellion with the lyricsoften referring to rock n roll itself, the freedom of

dancing and teenage love (although some lyrics

contained slang words for sex, which many people didntunderstand). Rock n roll was taken up by whitemusicians, some of whom kept up the vigorous energyof the original form while others sanitised the form to

make it less frightening for the moral majority.

Featured guitars, upright bass (later replaced by the bass

guitar), drums, piano and vocals. Many artists used abacking vocal group in a call-and-response manner.

Songs were largely in 4/4 and had a shuffle rhythm. Rock

n roll lasted until the end of the 1960s but continued tohave a huge influence on the development of popularmusic in general through its energy and attitude.

See also additional information.

Elvis Presley -

Heartbreak Hotel,Hound Dog

Jerry Lee Lewis

Chuck Berry Rock

and Roll Music

Bill Haley and theComets Rock

Around the Clock -the bands music was

featured in the film

Blackboard Junglewhich was all about

rebellious high

school teenagers.

Domestic tape recorders on the market in 1951

The 50s really saw a revolution in the mass

production of vinyl, particularly when records

became available as 45rpm.

Anti-communism was extremely strong in

America - the Senator Joseph McCarthy witchhunts. Musicians didnt bring their politics into

their music for fear of being hounded.

1954 the acoustic suspension loudspeaker wasinvented by Edgar Vilchur and Henry Kloss,

creating the possibility of a deeper bass.

Music charts - songs became associated with

particular performers and charts were based on

radio airplay, sheet music sales and singles sales.

1958 - stereoLP started to be released but only

in classical music - it wasnt seen as necessary inpop music.

Late 50s - early 60s saw a significant revival ofTrad Jazz in Britain

The Beatles formed in the late 50s.

Cool Jazz

A very improvisation based style - a reaction against be-

bop, mostly lead by Miles Davies

Miles Davies -

trumpet

Gerry Mulligan

(baritone sax)Lester Young - sax

60sPsychedelicRock

(mid 60s)

Also known as acid rock, this style of music was inspired

by drug-related experiences. Emerging in the 1960s,psychedelic rock featured loudness, distortion, strange

sounds and bizarre electronic effects to mimic theexperience of LSD or marijuana. As with prog rock,

Pink Floyd

Grateful DeadJimi Hendrix

CreamJefferson Airplane

Skifflewas very big in Britain during the late 50sand early 60s. It is interesting to note that The

Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Fleetwood Mac allstarted life as Skiffle Bands. Skiffle is closely related


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70s

Prog Rock

Sometimes known as art rock, was built on classicalforms and structures, moving very much away from the

3-minute, verse-chorus single format. Often usedextended structures and shifting or unusual time

signatures to create complex pieces. Emphasis placed on

clear compositional technique as well as instrumentalvirtuosity- stage shows were often as grand and

pretentious as the music sometimes was. Often featured

extended solos and vague poetic lyrics.

YesGenesis

Pink FloydMoody Blues

Tommy the firstrock opera

Queen

The development of the synthesizerand theelectric keyboard was key to musical

development in the 70s. Most early synths were

monophonic and could only play 1 note at a time(i.e. they couldnt play chords!) Pete Townsend of

The Who and Rick Wakeman of Yes wereparticularly interested in using and creating music

with synths.

Amplifiers became transistorised instead ofvalve based which meant they cold play much

louder and did not over-heat!

The electric programmable drum machinewasalso invented and developed and had a big impact,

particularly on Disco.

Electric

Folk

(late 60s,early 70s)

A sub-genre of folk music where traditional tunes or

modern folk tunes were played by a more rock-based

line up including drums, electric guitars and bassalongside fiddles, accordions and acoustic guitars.

Bob Dylan

Steeleye Span

Fairport Convention

Glam Rock

Combined structures and rhythmic elements of rock n

roll, the distorted guitars of heavy metal and the catchyhooks of pop. It was light weight music and the lyrics

often dealt with rock n roll or teenage issues. Songswere short and showed little development. Used a

typical line up. Glam rockers were famous for their lookoften wearing sequins, platform shoes & make up.

T Rex

David BowieThe Sweet

Gary GlitterElton John

Kiss

Punk Rock

Punk rock was a reaction against the pretensions ofprog rock. Punk attempted to present raw music, which

had nothing more than a few chords and high energylevels. Much of its intention was to shock, both lyrically

and visually. Hardcore punk to the style to an extreme

with very fast tempos and shouted lyrics.

Sex PistolsThe Buzzcocks

Stiff Little FingersThe Damned

Fusion

A blend of styles as rock became more complexthrough the 70s it was mixed with jazz, taking elements

from both genres, particularly using unusual or changing

time signatures and the use of keyboards and effects.

Weather ReportPat Methaney

Return to Forever

Disco

Combines elements of funk (drum rhythms, energeticguitar lines) with elements of soul (orchestral

instruments). Includes four-on-the-floor bass drumand off-beat hi-hatpatterns that later became features

of dance music. Typically also has a catchy melody andwah-wah guitar.

Village PeopleDonna Summer

KC and the SunshineBand

The Bee GeesVan McCoy


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80s

House

(late 70s /early 80s)

Takes its name from the Warehouse Club in Chicagowhere DJ Frankie Knuckles used a tape recorder and

a drum machine to manipulate the disco, funk and soultracks he was playing. He lengthened and repeated

certain sections, and used pre-set percussion patterns

to emphasize the solid beats.Features four-on-the-floor bass drum, samples,

repetitive synthesiser riffs, drum rolls, artificial hand

claps and off-beat hi-hat patterns.May include parallel piano chords and vocals (or vocal

samples), rather than purely synthetic soundsaround 120 bpm

Move Your BodybyMarshall Jefferson

The Shamen

Coldcut

Soul II Soul

Disco was still around and developed in to therave scene of the 80s.

Music videosreally took off in the 80s the

track Video Killed The Radio Star was used tolaunch the new music channel MTV. To some

extent the quality of music in some genres

1982 the first CDs were marketed.

1987 Digital Audio Tapes were introduced.

They would become the standard n theprofessional audio industry for a long time.

1989 record companies discontinued LP salesand swapped to CDs. However LPs were (and

are) still sold.

Acid

House

Acid Houseis characterised by use of the RolandTB303, a small synth that creates bass sounds that are

abrasive and squelchy (i.e. acid sounds).

Acid Tracksby Phuture

Rap -

SpecialFocusStyle

Rapping, or talking rhythmically over music, began in the

late 1970s, became popular in the 1980s and continuesto the present day. Rap relies on solid rhythmic

elements, often sampled, against which to rap themessage or political/social commentary.

See additional information provided.

Snoop Doggy Dog,

Ice T, Public Enemy,Eminem, MC

Hammer, Puff Daddy

Techno

Percussion based style - shares similar drum patternswith house but makes greater use of purely synthetic

sounds.Very few vocals, sometimes none at all

There is often little or no chord movement.

around 120-140 bpm

OrbitalAphew Twin

The Prodigy


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90s

Grunge

Developing in Seattle in the USA, this style featuresmuddy, dark guitar sounds, and is a hybrid of heavy

metal and punk. Typically morose or angst-ridden lyricsand dynamics which often build and suddenly cut are

features of the genre. This was the most popular heavy

rock style of the 90s.

MudhoneyStone Temple Pilots

SoundgardenNirvana

Sequencing software for computers developed

through the 90s, significantly changing therelationship between recorded music and the

music studio.

1991 the world wide web project was

publicised by CERN. It is estimated that during the

90s the Internet grew by 100% per year, with aparticularly explosive period of growth in 96/97.

Its impact on the music industry is huge.

1995 DVD became an accepted standard (DigitalVersatile Disk / Digital Visual Disk

1997 mp3 format came online

1998 the first 24-bit recording was made

New

Country

With the huge success of Garth Brooks in the 90scountry music became more mainstream and started

having success in the pop charts. Country began tomerge with commercial pop and rock styles and became

known as new country. Familiar elements of country

are combined with a punchier rhythm section, more useof keyboards, very commercial hooks and production

values.

Faith HillReba McIntyre

Billy Ray CyrusShania Twain

New Age

Often referred to as crossover, this style of music is ahybrid of classical, minimal, and Celtic folk-influenced

styles. The aim of the music is to be meditational,spiritual and calming. The roots of new age may lie in

the ambient music of Brian Eno, who experimented withmusic that was ignorable as it was listenable to. Muchnew age music uses a combination of washy synths andsamples of sound effects (birdsong, whalesong, sea

noises etc), traditional instruments and multilayeredvocals. Structure is often less important that texture and

the vibe.

EnyaAdiemus

David Van TeighemBrian Eno

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