Music CultureChapter 2

Explain what the music of various cultures teaches us about the cultures and their people.

Identify classifications and specific types of musical instruments and the sound each produces.

Analyze examples of traditional music form distinct world cultures.

Describe the history and contribution of Motown to American popular music.

Discuss the characteristics of classical music.

What You Will Learn

Anthropologists Ethnomusicologists Culture Music culture Rhythm Timbre Genre

Musical style Traditional music Popular music Classical music Gamelan Chamber music

Vocabulary

Berry Gordy Jr.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Musician Profiles

Cultural foundations of music◦ Instruments have been found dating back to 2000

B.C.◦ Ancient artwork shows people playing instruments

Art was important Art helped define the culture

Music Cultures and Instrumental Timbres

Many cultures have unwritten musical traditions◦ Two groups study these traditions◦ Anthropologists –

Scholars who study the physical and cultural characteristics and social customs of a group of people

◦ Ethnomusicologists – Scholars who study the music of different cultural

groups◦ They both study written and unwritten music and

how music and culture influence one another

Exploring Music and Culture

Culture –◦ The customs, beliefs, language, arts and institutions

of a group of people that are learned and transmitted within the group

Culture can apply to any specific group within a society

Music Culture –◦ The performance practices, means, traditions, uses,

and beliefs about music of a group of people, either from a specific time or place

◦ Many cultures have unwritten musical traditions◦ Music traditions are best view in the context in which

they originate

Toward a definition of culture

Melody –◦ Logical succession of musical tones

Rhythm –◦ The way the beats or pulses are organized and

subdivided Timbre –

◦ The distinct tonal quality of an instrument or voice, which is clearly identifiable by the ear (tone color)

Pitch –◦ The highness or lowness of sound determined by

its frequency of vibration

Elements of Music

Aerophone–◦ Instruments that produce sound by a vibration of

air – flutes, oboes, trombones

Identifying instrumental timbres

Idiophones –◦ Simple solid instruments that produce sound by

being struck, scraped, or shaken – gongs, cymbals, rattles, xylophone.

Identifying Instrumental timbres

Membranophones – ◦ Instruments that produce sound by striking or

rubbing a skin or membrane stretched across a resonating air chamber – conga, drums, timpani

Identifying Instrumental timbres

Chordophones – ◦ Instruments that create sound by striking,

rubbing, or plucking a taut string – guitar, harp, violin

Identifying Instrumental timbres

Electrophones – ◦ Instruments that generate sound from electricity –

electric organs and synthesizers

Identifying Instrumental timbres

Categorizing familiar musical instruments◦ Create a list of music instruments with which you

are familiar.◦ Classify the instruments into the five basic

categories: aerophones, idiophones, membranophnes, chordophones, or electrophones.

◦ What characteristics of the instruments helped you classify them?

◦ Are there any instruments that might fall into more than one category? How did you decide?

Activity 1, p. 27 CD

Instruments are identified by the range of pitches they can play

Pitch is effected by the size of the instrument – larger is lower

Stretching a membrane raises pitch

Identifying instrumental pitch ranges

For each excerpt, describe all the timbres and identify the instruments producing the sounds your hear. Locate the general pitch range you hear for each instrument on the chart on p. 28. then, classify the instruments according to their appropriate category.

Excerpt 1◦ “Moto Perpetuo”◦ Metal timbre◦ Steel pans◦ Range about that of a piano◦ idiophone

Activity 2, p. 28 1:25-32

Excerpt 2◦ “Exploration”◦ Horn timbre◦ Conch shells, drums◦ Range of trombone◦ Aerophone & idiophone

Excerpt 3◦ “Libertango Tango Suite”◦ String, accordian timbre◦ Cello, bandoneon◦ Range of cello – clarinet◦ Chordophone & aerophone

Activity 2, p. 28

Excerpt 4◦ “Three-Part Invention No. 15”◦ String & wood timbres◦ Banjo, violin, marimba◦ Range from cello – violin◦ Chordophones & idiophones

Excerpt 5◦ “Piano and Woodwind Quartet”◦ Woodwind timbres◦ Flute, oboe, clarinet bassoon, horn◦ Range from horn – flute◦ aerophone

Activity 2, p. 28

Excerpt 6◦ “Flight of the Bumblebee”◦ Brass timbre◦ Trumpet, horn, trombone, tuba◦ Range of tuba-trumpet◦ Aerophone

Excerpt 7◦ “Papa Was a Rolling Stone”◦ Guitar and drum timbres◦ Electric guitar◦ Range bass guitar-lead guitar◦ electrophones

Activity 2, p. 28

Excerpt 8◦ “What Child is This?”◦ electronic timbres◦ English horn, synthesized bass◦ Range bass guitar – English horn◦ Aerophone & electrophone

Activity 2, p. 28

Design an instrument from each category(except electrophone). Either build the instruments or write a short paragraph about how you would build each instrument. You can build some instruments and write about others.

Assignment

Brainstorm a definition of each of the three musical categories: traditional, classical, and popular.

Musical Categories

Genre -◦ A particular type of music with a distinctive form or

sound Musical style –

◦ A form of expression within a musical genre You can identify music by making certain

distinctions◦ What instruments are playing – symphony or rock

band◦ Behavior and dress of the musicians◦ Social and cultural context – also helps us

understand the culture

Traditional, Popular, and Classical music

Informal music that develops within and is strongly associated with a cultural group or region – “folk music”◦ Closely tied to language and customs◦ Participatory◦ Oldest and most prevalent category◦ Ceremonial, religious, celebratory, or

entertainment◦ Rarely written down or used for commercial

purposes◦ Taught by word of mouth in social settings

Traditional Music

Music intended for a wide audience, often featuring prominent melodies◦ Mostly for entertainment◦ Participatory◦ Has roots in traditional and classical music

Popular Music

A style of art music that stands apart from traditional or popular music◦ Musicians have formal training◦ Not participatory◦ Associated with more educated members of

society◦ At one time, only wealthy citizens and leaders

were allowed this music.

Classical music

Categorize and evaluate music in terms of genre◦ Listen to the first two examples. Then, describe

the following. Its social function: Where would your hear it? What

function does it serve? Its music qualities: What do you hear? Do you hear

repetition? A strong beat or melody?◦ Now listen to two different recordings of the same

pieces. Would you categorize these in the same way? Do you think the function or intended audience is different? Explain.

Activity 3, p. 31 CD 1:33-36

Some cultures have musical expressions so distinctive that they are immediately recognizable

Mexico – large country with many regions◦ Music plays a central role in the lives of the

people

Traditional Music Cultures

Influences◦ Native cultures - Religious and social music was

important◦ Spanish - introduced a wide variety of music and

instruments◦ Enslaved Africans and Caribbean immigrants

influenced Mexican music◦ This blend is called mestizso – mixed culture

The Music of Mexico

Each region produces its own unique musical forms

All use Spanish instruments Music used for baptism, birthdays,

weddings, anniversaries, funerals, civic ceremonies, and religious holidays

The Music of Mexico

East – Veracruz◦ Played on 4 instruments

Arpa – 36 string harp that plays melody and bass Requinto jarocho – 4 stringed guitar that plays

melody Jarana – thin guitar that plays rhythmic and harmonic

accompaniment Six-string guitar – rhythmic and harmonic

accompaniment◦ Sones jarochos – traditional songs◦ Activity 4, p.33 – CD 2:33 La Bamba

Regional Music

Province of the Republic of Indonesia, north of Australia

People are know for their uniquely ritualistic forms of music, drama, and dance

Islam is the predominant religion in Indonesia

Hindu is the most common in Bali

Bali

Nearly everyone in Bali is an artist

Gamelan – ◦ A Balinese music ensemble or

performing group◦ Many types of groups◦ Musicians play metallophones,

gongs, cymbals, drums, flutes, and a 2-stringed fiddle

◦ Musicians are male, the women dance

◦ Dances relate to religious stories of the region

The Music of Bali

One of the most popular dance dramas Struggle between good and evil Accompanied by a gamelan orchestra

The Barong Dance

Overture to the Barong Dance (Balinese Gamelan)

Can you detect two distinct moods? Describe them.◦ One is dramatic and spirited the other is calm and

peaceful. The moods represent the struggle between good and evil

Is there any repetition?◦ Yes, there a repeated patterns.

Does the tempo stay the same or change often?◦ The tempo changes from fast slow and back

What instrument leads the group?◦ Drums

Activity 5, p. 35 CD 2:1

Where and what is Motown Motown is the nickname for

Detroit, Michigan In music it means the name of

one of the most successful and influential music recording and publishing empires in the world

At one time it was the largest business in the US owned by African Americans

Popular Music Cultures

Berry Gordy, Jr. (assembly line worker) started Motown records in the late 1950’s with a borrowed $800

The first hit was in 1960 “Money” In 1961 he signed the Supremes Motown of the 60’s established a sound and a

style of dress and performance It helped propel African American artists into

the mainstream

The history of Motown records

The Supremes

Berry Gordy Jr.

Berry Gordy built Motown into a powerful force with groups like Smokey Robinson and the Miracles, The Temptations, and Marvin Gaye

75% of Motown releases became hits In 1988 he was inducted into the Rock and

Roll Hall of Fame That year he sold Motown records for $61

million. Most of the music was simple and happy

Motown

Gordy was famous for asking, “Let’s say you’ve got a dollar and you’re hungry. Would you buy a sandwich or would you buy this record?”

“Dancing in the Street” List 4 reasons why you believe this song

clearly was preferred over the sandwich. As you listen, try to name the major cities

the group sings about.◦ Chicago, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia,

Baltimore, D.C., Detroit, LA

Activity 6, p. 39 CD 2:2

Cover –◦ One musicians’ playing or recording of a song

made famous by another artist Activity 6, p. 39 CD 2. 3 & 4

◦ Which version is the cover?

Original Tunes and Covers

“Do You Love Me?”◦ Written by Berry Gordy◦ Recorded by The Contours in 1962 – went to #3

on the charts◦ Recorded by the Dave Clark Five in 1964 and

went to #11◦ Released in 1988 and returned to #11.

Activity 7, p. 40 CD 2:5

Many cultures have produced classical music throughout history

Classical music is usually associated with Europe between 175 and 1830

The Classical Period◦ Patronage system

Composers and musicians were supported by the rich(royalty and church leaders

They were employees and taught the wealthy students

Classical Music Cultures

As the period advanced, more people made more money

As they made more money, the middle class wanted to share in the cultural entertainments of the elite class

Their children took music lessons Composers were influenced by the tastes of

the middle class◦ Some wrote music for amateur musicians◦ They used familiar folk and popular tunes in their

music◦ Mozart and Haydn wrote dance music for public balls

The emerging Middle Class

Music written during the classical period for small ensembles

Music was played in small private homes, not concert halls

Theme and variations was popular during this period Activity 9, p. 44 CD 2:6 Quintet for Clarinet and

Strings in A Major by Mozart◦ How is a sense of unity achieved?

Each variation is based on the same theme◦ How is variety achieved?

Changes in tone color, tempo, dynamics, tonality, & articulation◦ What in the music suggests that Mozart had a sense of

humor? Use of staccato, tempo changes, and the surprising ending

Chamber music

1756-1791 One of the world’s most celebrated composers Musical genius Child prodigy – performing for royalty and composed his

first symphony at age 8 and his first opera at age 11 Wrote sacred works, piano music, orchestral works, vocal

music, chamber music concertos, and operas Operas – The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, and

The Magic Flute (still performed today) His music reflects his wide range of moods, formal

perfection, rich harmony, ingenious coloration and melodic beauty

Died in poverty at age 35

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Music written during the Classical period for small ensembles◦ Chamber music

Form of expression within a musical genre◦ Musical style

Scholar who studies the music of different cultural groups◦ Ethnomusicologist

The name of music intended for a wide audience, featuring prominent melodies and simple chordal accompaniment◦ Popular music

Review - terms

Designates a particular type of music with a distinctive form or sound◦ Genre

Instruments that produce sound by a vibrating column of air◦ Aerophones

The distinct tonal quality of an instrument or voice, which is clearly identified by the ear◦ Tone color

Balinese music ensemble◦ Gamelan

Review – more terms

Performance practices, means, traditions, uses and beliefs about music of a group of people, either from a specific time or place◦ Music culture

Simple solid instruments that produce sound by being struck, scraped, or shaken◦ Idiophones

Instruments that generate sound from electricity◦ Electrophones

The oldest more prevalent category of music◦ Traditional music

Style of “art” music that stands apart from traditional or popular music?◦ Classical music

Review – even more terms

ReviewMotown• one of the most successful and influential music recording and publishing empires•Located in Detroit, Michigan•One of the most distinctive rock and roll music styles of the 20th century

All Music shares these common elements:•Melody•Rhythm•Timbre•pitch Influences of Mexican

music:•Spanish •African

Music Traditions•Many cultures have unwritten musical traditions•Music traditions are best viewed within the context of the culture

Random Information•The theme and variation was popular during the classical period•The larger the instrument the lower the pitch

Describe the history and contribution of Motown to American popular music. Name some of the artists.◦ History

late 1950’s Berry Gordy Jr., song writer and music producer, started a record company in Detroit

After his first hit, “Money”, in 1960 he looked for new artists

◦ Contributions New distinctive sound Influenced attitude and dress

◦ Artists The Supremes Marvin Gaye Smokey Robinson Michael Jackson

Explain the difference between traditional and popular musicTraditional Popular

Folk music Associated with

specific cultures or areas

Participatory Tied to language and

customs

Intended for wide audience

Reflects culture but can create its own culture

entertainment

Group 1◦ Brandon◦ Jory◦ Dakota

Chapter 2 project – Music Culture in Your Community

Group 2◦ Nataliya◦ Aaron◦ Kimberlee

Group 3◦ Kelly◦ Lindsy◦ Derek

Group 4◦ Kayla◦ Austin◦ Blake