HISTORY

Jazz is a musical movement that was born in USA from the mixture of the folklore brought by African slaves and music of the colonists.

The main features of this music are related to rhythm, like the use of syncopation or the swing, and improvisation as part of the shape of a song.

The groupings in jazz range from the acoustic trio (piano, electric bass and drums) to the big bands (brass, woodwind, percussion and the acoustic trio) although originality is always present in the groupings.

Some of the most important Jazz musicians were: Frank Sinatra, Miles Davis or Keith Jarret.

Jazz was a kind of music that belonged at first to black population in USA. As a response to this influence, white musicians created the rhythm and blues (or R&B). This is the origin of Rock and Roll, a music based on blues that evolved in very different ways like the Hard rock.

The use of the electric guitar was predominant, accompanied by the electric bass and drums, as well as the vocal soloist. Music that can be included in this term is very broad, with a great variety of artists like Elvis Presley, Rolling Stones, Deep Purple, Led Zepellin or Queen. 

Other styles derive from Rock like Hard Rock, Glam Rock or Heavy Metal; with groups like AC/DC, Sepultura or Iron Maiden.

Pop music emerged in England in the mid sixties.

Melodies in this style were catchier than the ones in rock, and their form different to the one in blues (verse-chorus-verse) so they were very easy to remember.

This coincides with the period of great concerts and festivals. A good way to attract the audience was to include complex choreographies in the show or play of lights. Music was kept on the back burner, and the most important thing was the show itself.

One of the first pop groups was the Beatles. You know them, don’t you? Their fame reaches our days.

Other musicians who are still famous today are Michael Jackson, his songs and feet moves made him the “king of pop”, and Madonna.

From the 70s, discos replaced the dance hall, and a new musical style appeared: disco music. It was a very rhythmic and repetitive music, made for dancing. For example, music by Village People or Gloria Gaynor. 

As the rest of styles, this one also evolved and it gave place to dance music. Equally repetitive and rhythmic music but made with synthesizers and computers. This is the music of disc-jockeys, who are musicians that use records previously recorded to create new sequences. There even are competitions!

From this electronic music a new style emerged in New York, hip-hop. It had activist lyrics (rap) with marked rhythms and almost absence of melody. Improvising lyrics was very typical, in a question and answer format. Dancing and graffiti are elements that define this music. For example, music by DJ Kool Herc or Eminem