What is modernity in music? The history of this art form is such that it was originally applied and often ritual. Therefore, music was mainly a collective phenomenon. Individual onset was often not expressed. But from the Middle Ages in Europe, composer music began to develop - author's, intended for listening by the public. In the nineteenth century, the concept of classics develops, and in the twentieth century - of the present. Let’s try to figure out exactly what features are characteristic of the sound art of our era.
Definition
It is not easy to answer the question of what modernity is in music. Of course, we can say that these are compositions written in recent decades. On the other hand, much of the music that was listened to at the end of the twentieth century is already considered obsolete. And, on the contrary, the bold ideas of composers of previous eras, such as, for example, Debussy, Prokofiev or Mussorgsky, become role models. Each current subculture and groups of its fans have their own music, which they consider modern. Some analysts believe that the collective unconscious of society is expressed in this form. And the most strongly social moods come to light in popular music.
Difficulties
But no matter what definition we adopt, many questions remain that are difficult to answer. For example, if we talk about what modernity is in music, it remains unclear what the place of the classics is. Now the ethno style is very fashionable. But does this mean that songs of different nations, written in time immemorial, can also be modern? After all, such melodies become the basis for many compositions of our days. And can we consider people who composed music in the past as our contemporaries?
Relevance
If we analyze these issues, we will see that art, including that which brings pleasure to our ears, is directed towards the senses and the soul. Therefore, much in good music is universal. It acts on us, like a shock, can carry away, induce to act, make cry or rejoice. This means that classical and modern in music are not at all opposites. On the other hand, much of what we are listening to now is aimed at entertainment, relaxation, avoiding pain and problems. This is also not bad. After all, joy is always good for a person. Therefore, not only serious classical music, but also light, modern entertainment and dance help people to become spiritually rich. They just act differently on us.
Styles of modern music. Pop direction
But if you touch on the issue in a narrower sense, then it is worth considering the means used by composers of our time to create popular works. Most scholars, exploring the problem regarding what modernity is in music, name the three largest areas. This is pop, rock and rap. All of them come from earlier genres and, in turn, are divided into a huge variety of styles. Let's consider them in more detail.
Popular music covers a large number of directions. Some of them even turned into a kind of classic. This is disco, dance music with a lot of effects and rhythm and trans - electronic sounding of melodies having a "cosmic" subtext. Currently, the most popular are techno, funk and house. This music is futuristic, a little strange, often dance, with the dominance of certain melodies and vocal phrases. All these genres, seemingly unconnected, are united by rhythm, relaxed performance and dynamism. A very important role in popular music is played not only by the style of performance, but also by image, presentation, combination of sound and visual effects. Therefore, video interpretations of songs - clips and commercials - became fashionable.
Rock and rap
These two styles perfectly demonstrate modernity in music. Examples of these genres are often cited as illustrations of world-famous performers who turned them into art. Rock emerged from the American blues, but Elvis Presley and the Beatles made them popular. Recent musicians have made rock a social genre in which notes of protest against power, war, and injustice always sound.
Among modern styles of this direction, many subspecies stand out. This is hard rock, popular, folk, punk, psychedelic, thrash. Some subgenres are famous for balance, effects, attracting a wide audience. Others are aimed at popularizing folk melodies in combination with modern rhythm or trying to emotionally affect listeners. And others are deliberately disharmonious, tough, their compositions are complex and shocking.
As for rap, despite the fact that this genre is rooted in the dance music of Jamaica, it has a distinctive feature. In it, vocals are replaced by recitative. Rap seems to return the time of medieval troubadours, when poets did not sing, but read verses to the music. In addition, percussion and bass are often used in this style. Many idols of rap and rock became famous as destroyers of foundations, and that is why they became the favorites of entire generations.
The origins and modernity of jazz music
This art form is an example of the sound language of our era. Jazz was born at the beginning of the twentieth century as an alloy of cultures of different nations. It is built on individualism - a special manner of performance, swing, improvisation, various sophisticated techniques of both vocal and performing nature, complex rhythm. All these features are characteristic of the music of African countries. And the main source of jazz is the blues. This style combines European and African musical traditions. At first, jazz was folklore, but then it developed into a pan-American, and then a world direction. It also has many different subgenres - cool, progressive, hard-ball, modal, free, soul.
Combining with various types of popular (especially electronic) music and rock, jazz was enriched with such directions as fusion, acid, smooth. Asian and Latin American, Jewish forms were born. They even argue about some of them, but is it jazz at all?
In this article, we tried to talk about what modernity means in music and what popular genres are common in the culture of our time. But be that as it may, classical music is eternal and universal. And that means modern. But some genres that are fashionable these days, thanks to the brilliant performers, also become classics. And they will accompany the next generation.