Chapter TwoMusic as Culture

Cultural Foundations of Music

Exploring Music & Culture Many cultures throughout world with unwritten musical

traditions Scholars study both written and unwritten music

traditions How music and culture influence one another

Toward a definition of culture Culture can apply to any specific group within a society Music culture – association of certain sounds with

certain cultures

Elements of Music

Regardless of cultural origin, all music shares several common elements: Melody Rhythm Timbre (tam-bur), a.k.a. “tone color” Pitch

Identifying Instrumental Timbres

Each culture makes instruments out of natural materials of their region.

Ethnomusicologist have classified all musical instruments based on how sound is produced: Aerophones – a vibrating column of air Idiophones – simple, solid instruments that are struck,

scraped, or shaken Membranophones – striking or rubbing a skin or

membrane stretch across a resonating air chamber Chordophones – striking, rubbing, or plucking a taut

string or chord Electrophones – generate sound from electricity

Identifying Instrumental Pitch Ranges

Instruments range in audible pitch from very low to very high.

Some have no discernable pitch.Usually affected by size of instrument

Longer the instrument, lower the sound. Shorter the instrument, higher the sound.

Musical Categories

Identification of musical style The way music is written Behavior/dress of musicians and audience Social and cultural context

Help us to better understand the culture that created the music

Lead to a greater appreciation of the music

Traditional Music

Sometimes called “Folk Music”Participatory musicClosely tied to language, environment, &

social customs of the peopleOldest and most prevalent categoryAlmost all societies or cultures have

traditional music

Popular Music

Primarily form of entertainment Sometimes participatory

Often have roots in classical or traditional music

Not restricted to particular uses/settings.Commercial aspects of music

Classical Music

Developed in many parts of the world, but not as widespread.

Musicians tend to have formal trainingMore refined, less spontaneous

performancesAudience participation not encouragedOriginally associated with more educated

and wealthier members of society

Traditional Music Cultures

Mexico Religious and social music were important to

native Mexican cultures Spaniards, Africans, and Carribean influences

created mestizo culture All musical forms use Spanish instruments Veracruzan music performed on 4 instruments

Arpa – 36-string harp (melody & bass) Requinto jarocho – 4-string guitar (melody) Jarana – thin guitar (rhythm & harmony) Six-string guitar (rhythm & harmony)

Traditional songs called sones jarochos

Traditional Music Cultures (cont.)

Bali Known for uniquely ritualistic forms of music, drama, &

dance inspired by Hinduism All citizens participate: male, female, & children Gamelan is “gong-chime” orchestra throughout

Indonesia & can have 25 performers or more Metallophones, gongs, cymbals, drums, flute, 2-stringed

fiddle Men play in ensemble and women dance using difficult

movements Relates to religious stories (no dance or drama without

music) Barong Dance – struggle between good and evil

Popular Music Cultures

Motown (“motor city” - nickname for Detroit) One of the most successful and influential music

empires in the world Founded by songwriter/producer Berry Gordy, Jr.

Started Tamla Record Company in late 1950s in Detroit First hit was a song named “Money” Many hugely successful recording artists (Supremes,

Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, Tempations, Marvin Gaye, Michael Jackson, etc.)

New and distinctive style and influenced attitude and dress of the period

Helped propel African American artists into mainstream

Popular Music Cultures (cont.)

Motown (cont.) “Hit Ratio” of successful songs was almost 75%

Weekly quality control meetings Staff to choose between sandwich and song

Cover – one musician’s playing or recording of a song made famous by another artist

Much Motown music simple, happy, up-tempo Often meant for dancing

Classical Music Cultures

Produced by many cultures throughout different historical periods

Commonly associated with Europe between 1750 and 1830 Composers depended on system of patronage Emerging middle class increased wealth and wanted

to share the entertainment of the elite Composers catered to tastes of middle class

Theme & variation a very popular musical form of the era Chamber music took place in smaller rooms in private

homes for social gatherings and parties

Vocabulary

Anthropologist – scholars who study the physical and cultural characteristics and social customss of a group of people

Ethnomusicologist – scholars who study the music of different cultural groups

Culture – the customs, beliefs, language, arts, and institutions of a group of people that are learned and transmitted within the group

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

Rhythm – the way beats or pulses are organized and subdivided

Timbre – the distinct tonal quality of an instrument or voice, which is clearly identifiable by the ear

Genre – a particular type of music with a distinctive form or sound

Vocabulary (cont.)

Musical style – a form of expression within a musical genre

Traditional music – informal music that develops within and is strongly associated with a cultural group or region

Popular music – music intended for a wide audience, often featuring prominent melodies

Classical music – a style of “art” music that stands apart from traditional or popular music

Gamelan – a Balinese music ensemble, or performing group

Chamber music – music written during the Classical Period for small ensembles