You have landed in the genres of music section, where we will get acquainted with each musical direction in more detail. Let's describe what it is, why it is needed and what features it has. Also at the very end there will be articles of this section, which will describe each direction in more detail.

What are genres of music

Before discussing what genres of music are, the following should be mentioned. We need a certain coordinate system in order to be able to put all the phenomena into it. The most serious and global level in this coordinate system is the concept of style or art-historical system.

There is a style of the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque or Romanticism. Moreover, in each particular era, this concept covers all the arts (literature, music, painting, and so on).

However, music has its own categories within each style. There is a system of genres, musical forms and means of expression.

What is a genre?

Each epoch sets musicians and listeners a certain set of stages. Moreover, each site has its own rules of the game. These sites may disappear over time or remain for a while.

New groups of listeners with new interests appear - new stage platforms appear, new genres arise.

Let's say, in the era of the European Middle Ages, approximately, until the end of the 11th century, the church was the only such stage platform for professional musicians. Time and place of worship.

Here are the genres of church music. And the most important of them (Mass and Matet) will go far into the future.

If we take the late Middle Ages, the era of the Crusades, then a new scenic platform appears - a feudal castle, a feudal court of an aristocrat, a court holiday or just a place of leisure.

And here the genre of secular song arises.

For example, the 17th century literally explodes with fireworks of new musical genres. Here things arise that go far ahead of our time and will still remain after us.

For example, opera, oratorio or cantata. In instrumental music, this is an instrumental concerto. There is even such a term as a symphony. Although it may have been built a little differently than it is now.

Appear genres of chamber music. And underneath it all lies the emergence of new stage venues. For example, an opera house, a concert hall or a richly decorated salon of an urban aristocratic house.

Before you, be sure to start exploring various areas. This is then very well reflected in practice. It will be especially useful when creating something new!

musical form

The next level is musical form. How many parts are there in a work? How is each part organized, how many sections does it have, and how are they interconnected? That's what we put in the concept of musical form.

Let's say opera is a genre. But one opera can be in two acts, another in three, and there are operas in five acts.

Or a symphony.

Most familiar European symphonies are built in four movements. But let's say there are 5 movements in Berlioz's Fantastic symphony.

Expressive means

The next level is the system of musical expressive means. Melody in its unity with rhythm.

Rhythm is the deep organizing force of all musical sound. It underlies the existence of music. Because through the rhythm human life is connected with reality, with the cosmos.

Very many labor movements are rhythmic. Especially in agriculture. Rhythmically much in the processing of stone and metals.

The rhythm itself appears, perhaps, before the melody. We can say that the rhythm generalizes, and the melody individualizes.

The feeling of rhythm, as some kind of magic, arises in the very early stages of civilization. And later, in the era of antiquity, such a feeling is realized as an idea of ​​the universal connection of phenomena, which is rhythmic.

Rhythm is associated with number. And for the Greeks, the number was an extremely important representation of the world order. And this whole notion of rhythm persisted for a very long time.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the German composer Michael Pritorius spoke of the early experiences of the Italians in opera (there was no ordered rhythm): “This music is without connections and measure. It is an insult to God's established order!"

The nature of the movement is fast, lively, moderate and calm. They also set the tone for any superstructure that takes place on them. There is also a sense of connection here. 4 sides of the character of movement, 4 cardinal directions, 4 temperaments.

If you delve even more deeply, then this is a timbre or sound coloring. Or let's say how the melody is pronounced. Distinctly divided or connected.

Melody, rhythm and everything else appears as a direct emotional response to reality. And they are formed in those infinitely distant times in the primitive communal system, when a person has not yet realized his own self in comparison with other selves or with nature.

But as soon as a class society appears, then there is a distance between one's own and other selves, between the self and nature. And then the genres of music, and musical forms, and styles already begin to form.

Genres of chamber music

Before talking about the genres of chamber music, let's deal with the direction. Chamber music is music performed by a small number of performers for a small number of listeners.

Previously, such music was often performed at home. For example, in the family circle. Hence, they came up with such a name as a chamber. Camera means room in Latin. That is, small, home or room music.

There is also such a thing as a chamber orchestra. This is such a smaller version (usually no more than 10 people) of a regular orchestra. Well, there aren't many listeners either. Usually, these are relatives, acquaintances and friends.

folk song is the simplest and most widespread genre of chamber music. Previously, very often, many grandparents sang various folk songs to their children and grandchildren. One and the same song could be sung with different words. Like adding something of my own.

However, the melody itself, as a rule, remained unchanged. Only the text of the folk song changed and improved.

Many favorite romances is also a genre of chamber music. Usually they performed a small vocal piece. It was usually accompanied by a guitar. Therefore, we are very fond of such lyrical songs with a guitar. Many of you probably know about them and have never heard of them.

Ballad- this is a kind of narration about various exploits or dramas. Ballads were often performed in taverns. As a rule, they praised the exploits of various heroes. Sometimes ballads were used before the upcoming battle to raise the morale of the people.

Of course, in such songs, some specific moments were often embellished. But in fact, without additional fantasy, the very significance of the ballad would have decreased.

Requiem is a funeral mass. Such funeral choral singing is performed in Catholic churches. We usually used the requiem as a tribute to the memory of folk heroes.

- song without Words. Usually intended for one singer as a practice exercise. For example, to develop the vocalist's voice.

Serenade- a genre of chamber music, which was performed for a beloved. Usually men performed them under the windows of their beloved women and girls. As a rule, such songs praised the beauty of the fair sex.

Genres of instrumental and vocal music

Below you will find the main genres of instrumental and vocal music. For each direction I will give you small descriptions. A little more touch on the basic definition of each type of music.

Genres of vocal music

There are several genres of vocal music. It is worth saying that the direction itself is the most ancient in the history of the development of music. After all, it is the main key for the transition of literature into music. That is, literary words began to be used in musical form.

Of course, these words played the main role. Due to what such music began to be called vocal. A little later, instrumental music appeared.

In vocal, in addition to vocals, various instruments can also be used. However, in this direction, their role is relegated to the background.

Here is a list of the main genres of vocal music:

• Oratorio- a very large work for soloists, orchestra or choir. Typically, such works dealt with religious issues. A little later, secular oratorios appeared.
• Opera- a huge dramatic work that combines the genres of instrumental and vocal music, choreography and painting. A special role here is assigned to various solo numbers (aria, monologue, and so on).
• Chamber music- was mentioned above.

Genres of instrumental music

Instrumental music- These are compositions that are performed without the participation of a vocalist. Hence the name instrumental. That is, it is performed only at the expense of instruments.

Very often, many artists in their albums use instrumentals as bonus tracks in the album. That is, several of the most popular compositions can be selected and then their versions without vocals can be recorded.

And they can be selected in full, all the songs of the album. In this case, the album is released in two versions. This is usually done to increase the value of the product and raise the price of it.

There is a list for certain genres of instrumental music:

• Dance music- usually simple dance music
• Sonata– used as a solo or duet for chamber music
• Symphony- harmonious sound for a symphony orchestra

Genres of Russian folk songs

Let's talk about the genres of Russian folk songs. They reflect all the beauty of the soul of the Russian people. Usually in such musical works the nature of the native land, heroes and ordinary workers are praised. It also mentions the joys and troubles of the Russian people.

Here is a list of the main genres of Russian folk songs:

• labor songs- sang at work to facilitate the labor activity of a person. That is, it was much easier for workers to work with such songs. They set the rhythm in the work. In such musical works, the main life of the working class people was reflected. Labor exclamations were often used for work.
• Chastushki is a very common genre of folk music. As a rule, this is a small quatrain with a repeating melody. Chastushki carried a great meaning of the Russian word. They expressed the main mood of the people.
• Calendar songs- used on various calendar holidays. For example, on Christmas or New Year's Eve. Also, this musical genre was well used in divination or when changing the seasons.
• Lullaby- gentle, simple and affectionate songs that mothers sang to their children. As a rule, in such songs, mothers introduced their children to the outside world.
• family songs- used at various family celebrations. This genre was reflected very well in weddings. It was also used at the birth of a child, sending a son to the army, and so on. It is worth saying that such songs were accompanied by a certain rite. All this together helped protect against dark forces and various troubles.
• Lyrical compositions- such works mention the difficult lot of the Russian people. For example, the hard lot of women and the hard life of ordinary peasants are often mentioned.

Genres of contemporary music

Now let's talk about the genres of modern music. There are quite a few of them. However, they all deviate from the three main trends in modern music. Here we will talk a little about them.

Rock

Rock is popular these days. Maybe not in the same way as before, but in our time it has been reliably strengthened. Therefore, it is impossible not to mention it. And the direction itself gave impetus to the birth of many genres. Here is some of them:

• folk rock- elements of folk songs are well used
• pop rock- music for a very wide audience
• Hard rock- heavier music with a sharp sound

Pop

Popular music also covers a lot of genres that are often used in modern music:

• House- electronic music played on a synthesizer
• Trance- electronic music with a predominance of sad and cosmic melodies
• Disco- dance music with copious rhythmic drum and bass sections

Rap

In recent years, rap has been gaining momentum quite well. In fact, this direction has practically no vocals. Basically, they don’t sing here, but read as it were. This is where the phrase rap came from. Here is a list of some genres:

• rapcore- a mixture of rap and heavy music
• alternative rap- a mixture of traditional rap with other genres
• Jazz rap- mix of rap and jazz

Genres of electronic music

Let's take a look at the main genres of electronic music. Of course, we won't cover everything here. However, we will analyze some of them. Here is the list:

• House(house) - appeared in the 80s of the last century. Originates from the disco of the 70s. Appeared thanks to the experiments of DJs. Main features: repetitive beat rhythm, 4×4 time signature and sampling.
• Deep house(deep house) - lighter, atmospheric music with a deep dense sound. Includes jazz and ambient elements. When creating, keyboard solo, electric organ, piano and female vocals (mostly) are used. Developed since the late 1980s. Vocals in this genre are always in a secondary place. On the first are melodies and sounds to draw the mood.
• Garage house(garage house) - the same as deep house, only vocals are taken out for the main role.
• new disco(nu disco) is a more modern musical genre based on the resurgent interest in disco music. Now it is very popular to go back to the roots. Therefore, the basis of this genre is the music of the 70s - 80s. The genre itself appeared in the early 2000s. Synthesized sounds similar to the sounds of real instruments are used to create disco from the 70s and 80s.
• Soul full house(soulful house) - the basis is taken from house with a 4x4 rhythmic pattern, as well as vocals (full or in the form of samples). The vocals here are mostly soulful and very beautiful. Plus the use of a variety of musical instruments. Such a rich presence of instruments very well enlivens the music of this genre.

Rap genres

Let's move on to consider the main genres of rap. This area is also actively developing. Therefore, it would be nice to touch on him. Here is a short list of genres:

• comedy rap- intelligent and funny music for entertainment. Has a mix of real hip-hop and casual humor. Comedy rap appeared in the 80s.
• Dirty rap- dirty rap, characterized by a pronounced heavy bass. Basically, this music is intended to plant the public at various parties.
• gangsta rap— music with a very hard sound. A genre of music appeared in the late 80s. Elements from hardcore rap were taken as the parent basis for this direction.
• hardcore rap- aggressive music with noisy samples and heavy beats. Appeared in the late 80s.

Genres of classical music

There are works divided into many genres of classical music. They became especially widespread in the 18th century. Here is a partial list of destinations:

• Overture- a short instrumental introduction to a performance, plays or works.
• Sonata- a work for chamber performers, which is used as a solo or duet. Consists of three parts connected with each other.
• Etude- a small instrumental piece designed to hone the technique of performing music.
• Scherzo- the beginning of music with a lively and rapid pace. Basically conveys to the listener comic and unexpected moments in the work.
• Opera, symphony, oratorio- they were mentioned above.

Genres of rock music

Now let's look at some genres of rock music other than those already mentioned above. Here is a short list with a description:

• gothic rock- rock music with a gothic and gloomy direction. Appeared in the early 1980s.
• Grunge- music with a solid guitar sound and gloomy depressive lyrics. Appeared sometime in the mid-1980s.
• folk rock- was formed as a result of mixing rock with folk music. Appeared in the mid 1960s.
• Viking rock- punk rock with elements of folk music. Such works reveal the history of Scandinavia and the Vikings themselves.
• trashcore- faster hardcore. Items are usually small.

Genres of sacred and secular music

Let's look at some genres of sacred and secular music. First, let's define these two areas. You will find out what it is and what is the difference. After that, let's go through several genres.

Spiritual music

Spiritual music is designed to heal the soul. Such works are used mainly in the service in churches. Therefore, some also call it church music. Here is a short list of her genres:

• Liturgy- Easter or Christmas liturgy. It is performed by the choir, and can also additionally connect individual soloists. As a rule, various scenes of events from the Holy Scriptures were inserted into the liturgical drama. Theatrical elements were often used.
• Antiphon- repetitive music performed by alternating several choral groups. For example, the same verses can be performed alternately by two faces. There are several types of antiphons. For example, festive (on holidays), sedate (Sunday), everyday, and so on.
• Rondel- was created on the original melody in the form of a special form with the next introduction of vocals to the same motive.
• proprium- part of the mass, changing depending on the church calendar.
• ordinary- unaltered part of the mass.

secular music

Secular music is recognized to show the national character of different cultures. Described mainly the main image and life of a common man. This direction of music was very common among itinerant musicians in the Middle Ages.

A service list of articles created to coordinate work on the development of the topic. This warning did not install ... Wikipedia

- ... Wikipedia

PUBLISHING HOUSES AND EDITIONS SPIRITUAL AND MUSICAL- state, church and private organizations in Russia and other countries that issued printed editions of Orthodoxy. church hymns and their publications. In Russia in the XVII beginning. 20th century In the 17th century publication of hook singers. books in Russia did not take place either in 1652, when ... ... Orthodox Encyclopedia

Musical styles inherent in the work of the band: Aggro Industrial, EBM, Future Pop Once someone said that MAGIK BRITE is playing: Metal, Post Industrial If you discard labels and divide the band's sound into components, it turns out that MAGIK ... ... Wikipedia

Alternative music (alternative) Direction: Rock Origins: punk rock, post-punk, hardcore punk, new wave Place and time of origin: late 1970s, early 1980s, USA and UK ... Wikipedia

Movement: hip hop Origins: jazz, fusion, jazz funk, hip hop Place and time of origin: Late 1980s, Eastern USA Heyday: late 1980s; rub ... Wikipedia

Direction: rhythm and blues Origins: soul, gospel, jazz Place and time of origin: 1960s, southern states of the USA Heyday ... Wikipedia

Nerdcore Direction: hip hop Origins: nerd subculture, nintendocore, hip hop, alternative hip hop Place and time of origin: Late 1980s, USA Nerdcore (English ... Wikipedia

Direction: Reggae Origins: rocksteady, ska, reggae, dancehall Place and time of origin: 1980s, Jamaica Heyday: 1980s ... Wikipedia

- (빅뱅) ... Wikipedia

Books

• Composers of the world. Reference calendar, . The reference calendar is addressed to music lovers and professional musicians, students and teachers of music schools, librarians, mass media workers…
• Music. 4th grade. Textbook. In 2 parts (set of 2 books + CD-ROM), VV Aleev. The textbook is intended for 4th grade students. The main theme of the year is "Musical Journey". Schoolchildren get acquainted with the musical culture of Russia, as well as countries of near and far abroad - ...

There are a great variety of musical genres and trends. If you start listing the genres of music, the list will be simply endless, since dozens of new musical trends appear on the borders of different styles from year to year. This is due to the development of musical technologies, new developments in the field of sound production, sound production, but first of all, with the need of people for a unique sound, with a thirst for new emotions and sensations. Be that as it may, there are four broad musical directions that, in one way or another, gave rise to all other styles. There are also no clear boundaries between them, and yet the production of a musical product, the content of the songs and the structure of the arrangements differ markedly. So what are the genres of vocal music, at least the main ones?

Pop

Pop music is not only a direction, but also a whole mass culture. The song is the only form that is acceptable for the pop genre.

The key points in creating a pop-composition are the presence of the simplest and most memorable melody, the construction on the principle of a verse-chorus, and the rhythm and human voice are brought to the fore in the sound. The purpose for which pop music is created is purely entertainment. A pop-style performer cannot do without a show ballet, production numbers and, of course, expensive video clips.

Pop music is a commercial product, so it constantly changes in sound depending on the style that is at the peak of popularity. For example, when jazz was in favor in the US, artists like Frank Sinatra became popular. And in France, chanson has always been in honor, so Mireille Mathieu, Patricia Kaas are a kind of French pop icons. When there was a wave of popularity of rock music, pop artists widely used guitar riffs in their compositions (Michael Jackson), then there was an era of mixing pop and disco (Madonna, Abba), pop and hip-hop (Beastie Boys), etc.

Modern world stars (Madonna, Britney Spears, Beyonce, Lady Gaga) picked up the wave of rhythm and blues and develop it in their work.

Rock

The palm in rock music is given to the electric guitar, and the highlight of the song, as a rule, is the expressive solo of the guitarist. The rhythm section is weighted, and the musical pattern is often complicated. Not only powerful vocals are welcome, but also mastery of the technique of splitting, screaming, growling and all kinds of growls.

Rock is a sphere of experiments, expression of one's own thoughts, sometimes - revolutionary judgments. The problems of the texts are quite broad: the social, political and religious structure of society, personal problems and experiences. It is difficult to imagine a rock artist without his own group, since performances are carried out only live.

The most common rock music genres - list and examples:

• rock and roll (Elvis Presley, The Beatles);
• instrumental rock (Joe Satriani, Frank Zappa);
• hard rock (Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple);
• glam rock (Aerosmith, Queen);
• punk rock (Sex Pistols, Green Day);
• metal (Iron Maiden, Korn, Deftones);
• (Nirvana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, 3 Doors Down) etc.

Jazz

Describing modern genres of music, the list should start with jazz, since it had a huge impact on the development of other areas, including pop and rock. Jazz is music based on African motifs brought to the United States from West Africa by black slaves. Over the century of its existence, the direction has been significantly transformed, but what is unchanged is the passion for improvisation, free rhythm and widespread use. Jazz legends are: Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington and others.

Electronic

The 21st century is the era of electronics, and the electronic direction in music today occupies one of the leading positions. Here, bets are made not on live instruments, but on electronic synthesizers and computer sound emulators.

Here are the most popular and in-demand electronic music genres, a list of which will give you a general idea:

• house (David Guetta, Benny Benassi);
• techno (Adam Beyer, Juan Atkins);
• dubstep (Skrillex, Skream);
• trance (Paul van Dyk, Armin van Buuren), etc.

Musicians are not interested in sticking to the framework of style, so the ratio of performers and styles is always rather arbitrary. Genres of music, the list of which is not exhausted by the above areas, have recently tended to lose their characteristic features: performers mix musical genres, there is always a place in music for amazing discoveries and unique finds, and the listener is interested every time to get acquainted with the next musical novelties.

Music genres- historically established genera and types of musical works, united by a common content, form, conditions (place) of performance and composition of performers.

In musical science, various classifications of genres of composer creativity have developed. They depend on which of the factors that determine the genre is considered as the main one. According to the composition of performers genres are divided into instrumental and vocal (including vocal-instrumental). In turn, in each group, solo, ensemble, orchestral / choral genres can be distinguished.

Place of performance genres are chamber (for performance in small rooms by a solo or ensemble), concert (for performance from a concert stage by an orchestra and / or choir), musical and theatrical. Household genres (song, dance, march) stand apart.

The cumulative effect of these criteria in relation to the main genres of academic music can be represented in the form of the following table:

	Vocal genres	Instrumental genres
	Song	Dance March	Household genres
Solo genres	Romance	Instrumental piece Sonata	Chamber genres
Ensemble genres	Vocal duets, trios, quartets, etc.	Instrumental duets, trios, quartets, etc.
Choral/Orchestral genres	Cantata Oratorio	Instrumental concerto Symphony Overture Symphonic poem (picture) Symphonic suite	Concert genres
Opera Operetta Musical	Ballet	Musical and theatrical genres

By shape genres are divided into miniatures (small one-movement works - songs, romances, plays), large one-movement works (overture, symphonic poem), cycles (works consisting of several parts - sonata, concerto, symphony, suite).

By content musical works, like literary works, are lyrical, dramatic and epic. However, the classification of musical genres on this basis is the least accurate, because in music the qualities of narrative, expressiveness, and effectiveness are sometimes difficult to differentiate. Thus, a romance can go beyond the lyrical genre in the presence of a dramatic development. And a dramatic symphony can acquire the quality of a confessional lyrical statement.

Summarizing several criteria, the following definitions of the main musical genres can be given:

The song is the most common genre of vocal music, folk and professional (author's). Solo or choral musical and poetic work. It may be intended for performance at home, for chamber or concert performance.

Romance is a chamber vocal work for voice with instrumental accompaniment. Lyric miniature.

Cantata is a concert vocal and instrumental genre, a work for a choir, one or more soloists and an orchestra. Includes arias, recitatives, choirs.

The oratorio is a major vocal and instrumental work for the choir, singer-soloists and orchestra. Includes arias, recitatives, choirs. It differs from the cantata by its larger size, from the opera by its intended use for concert performance.

Opera is a musical and theatrical genre based on the synthesis of words, stage action and music. Includes arias (solo forms with singsong melody), recitatives (solo forms with melody approaching natural speech), ensembles, choirs. Opens with an overture (orchestral introduction), may contain other instrumental episodes (introductions to individual actions, dances)

An instrumental piece is a generic name for chamber, mostly solo instrumental miniatures. It has dozens of genre varieties and author's designations (nocturne, impromptu, musical moment, "song without words", "album sheet", etc.)

Sonata is one of the main genres of chamber instrumental music, a work for a soloist or a small ensemble. Three-part (rarely four-part) cycle with fast extreme parts.

Symphony is one of the main genres of concert instrumental music, a work for a symphony orchestra. The cycle is usually in 4 parts.

Concerto - a work for one, less often several solo instruments with a symphony orchestra. A cycle of 3 parts, contrasting in tempo (fast, slow, fast). There are also concertos for one instrument (without orchestra), for orchestra (without selection of soloists), for voice and orchestra, for choir a capella (without instrumental accompaniment).

Suite is a genre of instrumental music, chamber and concert. Composition for solo instrument, ensemble, orchestra. A cycle consisting of an arbitrary number of parts, usually contrasting in tempo, rhythm, character.