The Medium of Sound by Johnny Utterback

THE MEDIUM OF SOUND

TABLE OF CONTENTS Music is an art form in which the medium is sound organized in time. It is an expression of one’s emotions and ideas.

Music has

been around for thousands of years and has grown and divided into many areas or “genres”.

Each of these genres in modern

music today have a signature culture associated with their sound.

ROCK

HIP- HOP

ALTERNATIVE

HIP-HOP

POST-ROCK

R&B

PUNK ROCK

GANGSTA RAP

METAL

UNDERGROUND HIP-HOP

ELECTRONICA

TRADITIONAL

AMBIENT

CLASSICAL

IDM

NEW AGE

TECHNO

JAZZ

DRUM AND BASS

FOLK

ROCK

Rock music came about in the early 1960s drawing most of its influence from blues and swing. Rock is often lead by guitar and a rhythm section of bass and drums.

Musicians of rock play instruments such as guitar, bass, and drums. A majority of rock is performed by groups called bands.

Bands contain one

or more of these instuments and are usually lead by a singer. Rock shows are a common

occurance

throughout

the major cities of the world.

SUB GENRES 4 Alternative 5 Post Rock 6 Punk Rock 7 Metal

Alternative

Alternative music is a broad term to describe the underground

FENDA

music that came about from the punk rock movement.

HISTORY: Alternative music made its debut in the early 1980s with the independent music scene. Bands such as R.E.M. relied on a grass roots style of gaining popularity through college radio stations, and constant touring. Alternative rock stayed under the radar until the release of Nirvanaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Nevermind which launched the genre into the mainstream. About 1â &#x201E;2 of all alternative rock is on an independent label. 4

SOUND: Guitars dominate alternative rock, but there is no defined musical style. Sounds range from the filth of grunge to the poppy riffs of Brit pop.

AUDIENCE: The audience of alternative rock consists mainly of young adults and college students.

SUB GENRES: Subgenres include College Rock, Brit Pop, Gothic Rock, Shoegaze, Indie, and Art Rock.

Alternative lyrics address issues of social concern, such as

EQUIPMENT: Typical music instruments include guitar,

depression, environmentalism

bass, drums. Instruments that often appear in alternative

and drug use.

rock include synthesizers, keys, horns, and other vintage instruments.

STYLE: Alternative attire is usually classified by really ironic outfits. Elements of these outfits include vintage clothing, high fashion jeans, unique shoes, and other found clothing and accessories.

Post-Rock Post-rock is a genre of alternative rock characterized by the use of musical instruments commonly associated with rock music, but using rhythms, harmonies, melodies, timbre, and chord progressions that are not found in rock tradition.

HISTORY: Post-rock came about in the early 1990s being heavily influenced by bands such as Velvet Underground, Talk Talk, My Bloody Valentine. The term is loosely

drums

thrown around but has quite a bit of influence on the industry today with the experimental nature of the genre. 5 SOUND: The post-rock sound incorporates characteristics from a

EQUIPMENT: Typical music in-

variety of musical genres, including ambient, jazz, electronica, and

struments include guitar, bass,

experimental. Post-rock compositions often make use of repeti-

drums. Different uses of these

tion of musical motifs and subtle changes with an extremely wide

instruments is often used,

range of dynamics. Vocals rarely appear.

an examples of this bowing a guitar. Other instruments

SUB GENRE: Sub genres

AUDIENCE: The following

such as keys, synthesizers,

are very few, because the

of post-rock is mainly col-

and xylophones make appear-

genre is still young in age,

lege students and people

ances as well.

but has a large following.

involved in the arts.

STYLE: The attire of post-rock is very similar to the alternative style, with the ironic elements, but is more simple, and reflects more of a seperation.

Punk Rock

Punk Rock aimed to be aggressively modern, distancing itself

A FEND

from the bombast and sentimentality of early 1970s rock.

HISTORY: Punk Rock developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed the perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock. 6

SOUND: Punk Rock guitar

STYLE: The classic punk rock look harkens back to the T-shirt, mo-

parts tend to include highly

torcycle jacket, and jeans ensemble favored by American greasers

distorted power chords or

of the 1950s . Black with bright colors and patterns and studs are

barre chords, creating a

very typical of punk rock. The mohawk and skinhead look are very

characteristic sound called the

closely associated with punk rock.

“buzzsaw drone.” Bass and drum lines are often uncomplicated; the quintessential approach is a relentless, repetitive “forced rhythm”.

AUDIENCE: Punk rock followers are young adults and teenagers, typically very radical.

SUB GENRES: Sub genres include, Emo, Hardcore, Garage Punk, and Art Punk.

EQUIPMENT: Typical music instruments include guitar, bass, drums.

Metal

Metal is used to describe a fast, abrasive, highly technical genre associated with a rougher crowd.

HISTORY: Metal originated in the late 1960s and early

EQUIPMENT: Typical music in-

1970s mainly in England and the United States. Roots lie

struments include guitar, bass,

in blues-rock and psychadelic rock. Early metal bands

drums. Stage performace is

like Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath attracted massive

usually elaborate with props,

audiences and set the standard for metal.

lights, and pyrotechnics.

SUB GENRE: Sub genres

thick, massive sound, char-

include thrash, death, black,

acterized by highly amplified

power, speed, viking, doom

distortion, extended guitar

and gothic metal.

FENDA

7 SOUND: Metal developed a

solos, emphatic beats, and loudness. Metal lyrics and performance styles are gener-

AUDIENCE: The metal

ally associated with machismo

fanbase is largely young,

and masculine sexuality.

white, male, and bluecollar.

STYLE: Black is a popular color amoungst the metal followers. Chains, metal studs, skulls, leather and crosses are popular acessories as well. The classic metal follower usually has long down-the-back hair.

ELECTRONICA Electronica is an umbrella term that has been widely used to describe music made with electronic music instruments and production. Electronic music rose to popularity in the 1990s and had a large influence. Since then majority of popular music features elements of electronica.

Musicians of electronica use a variety of instruments and

techniques but common instruments

are

synthesizers,

drum machines sequencers, keyboards, samplers, and a variety of vintage electronic instruments. The majority of electronica is solo material, and performances are rare.

SUB GENRES 10 Ambient 11 IDM 12 Techno 13 Drum and Bass

Ambient

Ambient music is a musical genre in which sound is more important than notes.

SUB GENRES: Sub genres include dark ambient and drone.

HISTORY: Ambient music evolved from early 20th century forms of semi-audible music, from the impressionism to Brian Eno’s deliberate sub-audible approach. Brian Eno is generally credited with coining the term “ambient music” in the mid-1970s. The term refers to music that, as he stated, can be either “actively listened to with attention or as easily ignored, depending on the choice of the listener.” 10

AUDIENCE: Ambient music has a small following, predominantely young adults and people involved in the arts and self help.

EQUIPMENT: Tools used in ambient music production are very diverse, examples of this include guitars, reel to reel tape players, distortion pedals, microphones, production software, field recordings, and other analog equipment.

SOUND: Ambient is generally identifiable as being broadly atmospheric and environmental in nature. Ambient usually consists of loops and layers, which are a very prevalent element in ambient music.

STYLE: Ambient attire usually consists of a natural pallete of clothing, A majority of the colors are very organic, very earthy.

Intelligent Dance Music IDM tends to rely upon individualistic experimentation

rather than on a particular set of musical characteristics.

HISTORY: IDM was used to refer to a number of post-techno artists who were engaged in experimental electronic dance music (EDM) production during the late 1980s and early 1990s. By 1992, Warp were marketing the music using the description electronic listening music but this was quickly replaced by intelligent techno. 11 SOUND: IDM is about ex-

EQUIPMENT: IDM relies heav-

perimentation of melodies

ily on production software for

and beats, defying rhythmic

its creation. Field recordings

convention and using obscure

are often used to give the

sounds in production. Sounds

music an organic feel.

are very organic and digital at the same time. Rich melodies

SUB GENRE: Sub genres

AUDIENCE: Young adults,

are woven into a patchwork

have not been established

graphic designers, pho-

quilt of sounds that emcom-

because IDM is a very

tographers.

pass a range of emotions.

new genre.

STYLE: The style of IDM is a very fresh design based aesthetic, with clean clothing, obviously organized and well collected.

Techno

Techno is used to describe electronic dance music with a constant beat and melody.

HISTORY: Techno is a form of electronic dance music that emerged in Detroit, Michigan, USA during the mid to late 1980s. The first recorded use of the word techno, in reference to a genre of music, was in 1988. 12

EQUIPMENT: Production software is essential to techno for creaton of sound. For live shows, or “raves,” turntables are popular to use on stage, with live mixing using sequencers and samplers.

SUB GENRES: Sub genres of

SOUND: Techno is very DJ friendly, being mainly instrumental and

AUDIENCE: The audience of

is produced with the intention of its being heard in the context of

techno is mainly party go-ers

a continuous DJ set, wherein the DJ progresses from one record to

and others who are looking

the next via a synchronized segue or “mix.”

for a good time.

techno include acid techno, industrial techno, minimal techno, raeggeton

STYLE: Techno attire consists mainly of basic clothing from Armani Exchange and other high fashion brands of clothing.

Drum and Bass

Drum and Bass is a type of electronic dance music, also known as jungle, which emerged in the late 1980s. HISTORY: Drum and bass began as an offshoot of the UK’s rave scene of the very early 90s, and over the first decade of its existence there were many permutations in its style, incorporating elements from different musical genres.

13 SOUND: Drum and bass is a form of dance music, mostly designed to be heard in clubs. It exhibits a full frequency response which often cannot be replicated on personal speakers. The bass element of the music is particularly pronounced, with the comparatively sparse arrangements of drum and bass tracks allowing room for basslines that are deeper than most other forms of dance music.

SUB GENRE: Darkcore, dark-

AUDIENCE: The audience of

EQUIPMENT: Turntables are

step, drumfunk, hardstep, and

drum and bass are hardcore

essential in the drum and bass

intelligent d & b are various

party go-ers called “junglists”

live show, making vinyl the

subgenres of drum and bass.

staple of the genre.

STYLE: The typical junglist attire consists of baggier clothing and graphic tees. Darker pallete of clothing is very common.

HIP-HOP

Hip-hop is a cultural revolution that began in the Bronx in the 1970s. It typically consists of a rhythmic vocal style called rap which is accompanied with backing beats. The term rap is often used synonymously with hip-hop music.

Musicians of hip-hop do not usually play instruments, but are skilled producers and lyricists. Typical tools of the genre include turntables, production software, drum machines, and samplers.

Rap

performers

can be groups or solo artists .

SUB GENRES 16 Rap 17 R&B 18 Gangsta Rap 19 Underground Hip-Hop

Rap

Rap typically is a rhythmic vocal style called rap, accompanied with backing beats.

HISTORY: Hip-hop is a cultural revolution that began in the Bronx, in the 1970s. Hip Hop was based around DJs who created rhythmic beats by looping breaks on two turntables, this was later accompanied by rapping. The term rap is often used synonymously with hip-hop music. 16

SOUND: Rap has a strong backbone of a driving beat and thick basslines. using sampled sounds and synthesizers for the melodies. Lyrics are usually rapped over top of that.

SUB GENRES: Sub genres of Rap include Crunk, Gangsta, East Coast, West Coast

EQUIPMENT: Typical music instruments include production software, drums, bass, guitar, turntables, sequencers, and samplers.

AUDIENCE: The audience of rap is primarily african american, but is very popular according to the Billboard Top 40 charts.

STYLE: Rap style consists of loose and baggy clothing, fitted hats, and jewelery. Everything is very colorful and stylized, oversized patterns and gold are popular.

Rhythm and Blues R&B is a popular African American music genre combining jazz, gospel, and blues influences.

HISTORY: Rhythm and blues have its roots in the early 1940s but underwent a revival in the early to mid 1980s, with new stars such as Prince and Michael Jackson who rose in pop. Jacksonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Thriller re-popularized black music with pop audiences after a post-disco backlash among United States mainstream audiences.

17 SOUND: R&B has a slick, electronic record production style, drum

EQUIPMENT: Typical music in-

machine-backed rhythms, the occasional guitar riff to give the

struments include production

song a rock feel, the occasional saxophone solo to give a jazz feel,

software, drums, bass, guitar,

and a smooth, lush style of vocal arrangement.

and a variety of classical instruments.

SUB GENRE: Smooth, Urban

AUDIENCE: R&B is aimed to

Contemporary, and Soul are

African Amercans, but con-

all sub genres of R&B.

sists mainly of white listeners.

STYLE: R&B attire consists of a very sleek, classy high-fashion style, taking from the 1940s aesthetic.

Gangsta Rap

Gangsta rap is a genre of hip hop that reflects the violent lifestyles of some inner-city youths.

HISTORY: The genre was pioneered around 1983 by Ice-T with songs like Body Rock/Killers and was popularized by groups like N.W.A in the late 80s. After the national attention that Ice-T &

SUB GENRES: Gangsta rap is too gangsta for sub genres.

N.W.A created in the late 80’s, gangsta rap became the most commercially lucrative subgenre of hip hop.

SOUND: Gangsta rap usually sounds much like hip-hop, but with a sound that is a lot more

AUDIENCE: Young urban adults and teenagers primarily African American and Latino.

raw than the mainstream. High frequency synth lines were very

EQUIPMENT: Typical music instruments are turntables,

common in the 1990s

synthesizers, keys, samplers, and sequencers. Lyrics are

gangsta rap.

based on inner city struggles and are usually very intense and are often filled with threats and self glorification.

STYLE: Attire for gangsta rap is much like hip-hop attire, only a lot more brazen. Jewelery, watches and other expensive accessories, refferred to as “bling” are an essential part of gangsta rap.

Underground Hip-Hop

Underground hip-hop describes hip-hop and rap music outside the general commercial canon.

HISTORY: At the same time that N.W.A. was pioneering the sound

EQUIPMENT: Production soft-

that would become gangsta rap in the early 1990s, rappers such as

ware and turntabes are the

Organized Konfusion, Del tha Funkee Homosapien, and Common

primary ways artist produce

were creating the sound which would later be â&#x20AC;&#x153;undergroundâ&#x20AC;?.

their sounds.

19 SOUND: Underground production tends to be diverse, drawing on such musical styles as jazz, funk, electronica, and techno, as well as more traditional hip-hop for beats. Underground artists tend to focus more on personal issues, politics, relationships, and philosophy, and tend to be more introspective and self-critical.

STYLE: Underground hip-hop

AUDIENCE: Young urban

SUB GENRE: Sub genres

attire is pretty consistent with

adults tend to listen to under-

include Hardcore Hip-Hop and

hip-hop attire, only the brands

ground hip-hop a lot more

Concious Rap

supported are smaller and

due to the urban exposure..

more independent.

TRADITIONAL Traditional music is considered to be the roots of popular music. The music within this section is from a wide range of time periods and areas, but each will always be a timeless staple in music.

Muscicians of traditional music usually play brass, string, or

woodwind

instruments

with a backing of a variety of percussion instruments.

Tra-

ditional music groups can be solo to entire orchestras, and performances range from coffee shops to concert halls.

SUB GENRES 22 Classical 23 Jazz 24 New Age 25 Folk

Classical

Classical music refers to mainstream music produced in, or rooted in, the traditions of Western liturgical and secular music, encompassing a broad period from roughly the 9th century to present times.

HISTORY: The roots of western classical music lie in early

EQUIPMENT: Classical music

Christian liturgical music, and its influences date even

performing groups such

further back to the Ancient Greeks. The central norms of

as symphony orchestras,

classical music became codified between 1550 and 1900,

often contain as many as 5

which is known as the common practice period

or so different types of string instruments including violins,

SOUND: There is no defined

SUB GENRES: Major time

violas, cellos, double basses

sound for classical music, it is

periods include the Medieval,

and harp, 7 or more types of

often performed by various

Renaissance, Baroque, Classi-

woodwind instruments, 4 or

orchestras and conduc-

cal, Romantic, 20th Century,

so types of brass instrument,

tors, and there is no uniform

and Contemporary.

and many diverse percussion

sound for classical music due

instruments, sometimes as

to the variety of styles and

AUDIENCE: A majority of

composers

classical music listeners are

many as 10 different types.

older adults.

STYLE: Due to its diverse nature that encopmasses large audiences, classical music has no uniform or style.

New Age

New Age music is peaceful music of various styles, which is intended to create inspiration, relaxation, and positive feelings.

HISTORY: New age music has its basis in the work of 1960s Euro-

STYLE: New age listeners are

pean and American electronic and acoustic musicians exploring

one with their world, using

music for creating expanded consciousness. In the late 1970s,

mainly recycled clothing they

music began to be recorded specifically for the purposes of medi-

made for themselves.

tation and relaxation.

23 EQUIPMENT: New age combines elements of piano, synthesizer,

AUDIENCE: The audience of

sampler, sequencer, computer, strings, found sounds, folk and eth-

New age is an older crowd

nic instruments, acoustic guitar, flutes, harp, sitar, tamboura, tabla,

interested in expanding ones

organ, and studio effects.

boundries.

SOUND: New age music includes both electronic forms, frequently

SUB GENRE: New age has not

relying on sustained pads or long sequencer-based runs, and

developed enough in order to

acoustic forms, featuring instruments such as flutes, piano, acous-

have developed genres.

tic guitar and a wide variety of non-western acoustic instruments. In many cases, high-quality digitally sampled instruments are used instead of natural acoustic instruments.

Jazz

Jazz is an American musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the South from a confluence of African and European music traditions.

HISTORY: Jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th century American popular music. The word jazz began as a West Coast slang term of uncertain derivation and was first used to refer to music in Chicago in about 1915

SOUND: Characterized by a

SUB GENRES: Sub genres

EQUIPMENT: Instruments

strong but flexible rhythmic

include Avante-Garde jazz,

closely associated with jazz

understructure with solo and

Dixieland, big band, bebop,

are the saxophone, trumpet,

ensemble improvisations on

brazilian, jazz-rock, acid jazz.

trombone, clarinet, piano, gui-

basic tunes and chord pat-

tar, double bass and drums.

terns and, more recently, a highly sophisticated harmonic

AUDIENCE: Jazz has an aim

idiom. Mainly assembled of

to and older audience due to

horns and percussion.

its timeless nature.

STYLE: Jazz is usually associated with nice dress clothes and night club attire. Most musicians are ahead of the trend and are the ones who are establishing the style.

Folk

Folk songs are commonly seen as songs that express something about a way of life that exists now or existed in the past or about to disappear.

HISTORY: Folk has always been around, primitive or

AUDIENCE: The audience of

tribal, elite or art and folk are many of the popular names

folk is mainly concerned with

for the genre. Folk music is associated with a lower class

cultural aspect of folk music,

in societies which are culturally and socially stratified

making them an older more conservative crowd.

25 SOUND: Folk music

EQUIPMENT: Folk instruments

exists in the globally in

depend on the genre of music.

the world today. Being

Common for American folk is

from a variety of areas,

guitars, and other traditional

the sound for folk music

instruments.

cannot be pinned down, it usually consists of a solo

SUB GENRE: There are a large

artist or group, looking to

number of sub genres, most

pass on a story.

solely based on the reigon which they originated from.

STYLE: Folk style is based on the cultural heritage of ones society.