Essay on Comparison Between Pop Music and Classical Music

2. What defines a music as "classical" as opposed to "folk" in the European context? How

Those terms are used as opinions placed on genres or certain pieces of music. Opinions may differ from person to person and even culture to culture, as popular music will be different depending on what country you are in. By classifying music in such a way, we could be less inclined to like music that isn’t the same, and therefore stereotyping new stuff for the simple fact that they are new.

In ours’, it’s everything from MTV hits, to Breaking Bad to Miley Cyrus. But historically, pop culture derived from the lower classes and the “low” culture, the exiled counterpart to “high” culture. High culture was considered to compose of art, literature, and classical music created by and for the most prestige. Over time “pop culture” slowly began to replace the phrase “ low culture,” pop culture or low culture was defined by what it wasn’t; elegant, refined, high culture, than rather by what it was. Mass culture. The masses looked for entertainment and distraction, soon enough it was assumed for pop culture to simply just amuse. However, pop culture can never be dismissed as being “just” entertainment or for “only” amusement.

During the 18th century, music was used as a social enhancement on the rising middle class who showed interest in intellectual ideals of Enlightenment. The rising middle class were people who would come between the working class and the upper class. Such as craftsman, bankers, and merchants. These select few decided that since they can now afford some of life's  pleasures, that they would spend it on music that aristocrats and nobility would listen to. While on the other hand, during the 19th century, music began to develop a more story base theme with a moral lesson. Such as Ballets and Grand Operas. So basically, during the 18th-19th century, music has evolved from just sound or noise to a elegant and graceful story played through musical notation with different musical instruments while advancing the growth of the middle class.

Classic the term, can refer to a number of different genes, that are related. The meaning of classical music itself in our lange is European classical music, (older western music). Also referred to a classic (or art) non-western kind of music, like the indian music, or chinese classic.

1. What is syncopation? Syncopation is placing emphasis or accents on beats that are unexpected, or, alternatively, it can mean not having emphasis or accents on beats that are expected. 2. What is ragtime?

Nowadays classical music, including music from the canon, is used in a huge number of ways by people in modern culture; music is emotional underscoring, it is a field of force/perfume like an atmosphere, it is medicine, to alter your mood like a drug, it is also a key to mysteries of nature. (Robert Fink) Mostly William Tell Overture and ‘Largo al Factotum’ from Barber have primarily been used for chase/excitement sequences (Tell) or comedy (Barber). For example “The Rabbit of Seville” performed by Bugs Bunny in 1950 in the famous cartoon Looney Tunes. Other examples would be the opening sequence of Mrs. Doubtfire in 1993 and The Lone Ranger in 1948. Beethoven is ‘popular’ in pop culture and in the concert hall, for example, Fur Elise is a ‘popular’ piece. It is the soundtrack of modern life, providing a surfeit of musical wallpaper that delivers easy listening to nurseries, upscale supermarkets, doctors’ offices, cafes, and retirement homes. (Yang,

Throughout history, music has evolved and branched off into many different categories, each of which have distinct styles and orchestrations; there is classical music that is centuries old and today there is modern contemporary music that is often synthesized or played with electronic instruments. There are also many ways that the two styles can cross over each other; this is seen in popular music and a lot of video game music. Though many people cannot see any similarities between modern and classical music, modern music is really an evolution of classical music; the roots of modern music go back to classical era.

Music is an activity that has been partaken in for centuries. The purpose of music is to allow the expression of emotions and what individuals’ lives have brought to them. Music tends to speak louder than words, which is the reason why there are so many love songs in the world. It is a way to express yourself and your feelings. This is the reason music has the capability to show others what has occurred during that time releasing all the secrets of the world.

In the 18th century, the middle class made a lot more money. During the Classical Period, the middle class had a tremendous influence on music. They wanted to hear concertos and symphonies. They wanted their children to learn great music and play instruments. The composers began writing music that was geared towards the middle class because they could make a better living if they enjoyed the music being played. They wrote music that was easier for their students to understand and play. Serious music changed into comic operas, or popular folk tunes, and dance music. This was a good thing it shaped dance and music forever. Mozart and Beethoven were both

Music surrounds everyday life no matter where you are in the world. Hollow objects make notes when hit. Small wooden reeds, bamboos, and shells whistle when blown into. Anything tightly stretched twangs when plucked and the human voice has a delightful ability to go up and down at will. Even when wind rustles through the wind, birds chirp, or ocean wave’s tumbling is nature’s form of music. I constantly find myself being enthralled by the various forms music. You could say that in sense music as a whole is a form of art. The sounds that entwine harmonize, are rhythmically pleasing, have dynamics, etc., come together as a whole in order to compose a song. “Music produces a kind of pleasure which human nature cannot do without.” (Confucius)

The Classical style can be defined as the artistic style of the ancient Greeks. The style was widely used within the fine arts and put great emphasis on symmetry and harmony.

Music is defined differently for each individual. It is the universal language that speaks to us all, but in different ways. It is one of the few genres that can instantly transport a person back to the past. Music is also an art of sound which expresses ideas, thoughts, and emotions in significant forms through the elements of rhythm, melody, and harmony. It is the design of giving structural form and rhythmic pattern to combinations of sounds produce instrumentally and vocally. To me, music brings a sense of calmness, happiness, and peacefulness. Music is the absolute bread of life because it feeds my soul.

The popular culture of music has changed dramatically over the course of sixty five years. Since this time, new genres of music have been introduced, existing genres have changed, and fixed stereotypes have been associated with certain genres of music. Music has become a major part of popular culture, and is portrayed almost everywhere in first world societies, including on television, radio, at shopping centers, sporting events and in every area of popular culture. Music has become a major part of popular culture, and continues to strive and develop into more and diverse areas of culture.

At this time last year, I would have considered all music before the 20th century to be classical. However, after taking a Dual Credit Music Appreciation course, I realized that “old” music cannot simply be grouped into a single category. There are so many differences that I had no idea existed. Throughout the years, music has changed and evolved, meeting the needs of listeners and performers. Different composers have been catalysts in this change as they have developed new styles and genres. Even though the classical period is directly subsequent of the baroque period, baroque and classical music have countless different qualities and characteristics.