Florence Price composed over 300 musical works, and she became the first African-American woman to be recognized as a symphony composer. Price was well aware of the obstacles she would face, as evidenced by her letter to Serge Koussevitzky, a legendary conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, where she said, …
Rhythm and Blues, Hip Hop, and Rap consist of hard-hitting beats from either drums or synthesized beats (computer-made beats). Even though the culture was formed in the 1970s, Rap music was not entirely into the public eye until the 1990s where artists Like Tupac and the Notorious B.I.G. were approaching …
An Alternative Rock Genre coming from Seattle Washington, Grunge exploded in the early to mid-’90s as acts like Pearl Jam and Nirvana overtook the mainstream. Lyrics are typically angst-filled and introspective, often addressing themes such as self-doubt, neglect, betrayal, social and emotional isolation, psychological trauma, and a desire for freedom. Using the handout at home, talk about the last …
In the 1980s, music was dramatically changed by the introduction of MTV (Music Television). This meant that music videos became more and more necessary for artists to gain popularity (especially with the youth) and sell records. Greater importance was placed on the appearance of musicians, and gimmicks became commonplace. A …
Disco originated as a genre of dance music in the late 70s from the urban nightlife scene and can be traced as a reaction to the popularity of rock music at the time and the stigmatization of dance music. Disco was a polarizing genre even when it was popular. What …
An icon for rebellious and alienated teens, punk rock emerged in the latter half of the 1970s. Rooted in garage rock from the 60s, punk rock rejected the advertised excess of popular rock music at the time. The songs are typically short and fast-paced with political and anti-establishment (against powerful …
Coming from musical styles like Jazz, Rhythm and Blues, and Country, Rock ‘n’ Roll refers to the type most popular in the 1950s and 60s. In the 1960s, Rock and roll had a polarizing influence on lifestyles, fashion, attitudes, and language. Rock ‘n’ Roll isn’t just a music genre; it’s …
A popular genre of predominantly African American artists, R&B was formed in the early 40s but didn’t begin to see real commercial success until the 1950s. In the commercial rhythm and blues being performed in the 1950s-70s, the bands usually consisted of a piano, one or more guitars, bass, drums, …
