So, I have been thinking long and hard about one of my assignments for my Post-graduate Certificate in Education. The assignment is to start a blog about anything you want to learn. I wanted to link it to my studies, but could not find the perfect topic. After a while I decided that I will blog about one of my biggest passions - music. For as long as I can remember, music were the one thing that calmed me down.
Playing a music instrument myself (Flute), and receiving vocal training for a few years with South African gospel singer, Riana van Wyk, my passion for music is as clear as daylight. I was thinking about focusing only on one genre of music, namely country, but why not expand my horizons and learn more about the different genres of music out there.
I will start my first blog with Country. I have no idea why, but country is my favorite genre to sing and to listen to. There is just something about it - whether it is the musicality of the artists, the combination of different instruments, or just the mere fact that every country song has a wonderful story to tell. Lets first start off by first looking at the history of country music.
ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIA:
"Country music is a genre of American popular music that originated in Southern United States, in Atlanta, Georgia in the 1920's. It takes its roots from the South-Eastern genre of American folk music and Western music. Country music often consists of ballads and dance tunes with generally simple forms and harmonies accompanied by mostly string instruments such as banjos, electric and acoustic guitars, fiddles and harmonicas. The term 'country music' gained popularity in the 1940's in preference to the earlier term 'hillbilly music'. The origins of country music are the folk music of mostly white, working-class Americans, who blended popular songs, Irish and Celtic fiddle tunes, traditional ballads, and cowboy songs, and various musical traditions from European immigrant communities. In 2009, country music was the most listened to rush hour radio genre during the evening commute, and second most popular in the morning commute in the United States.
Country music was "introduced to the world as a Southern phenomenon." The first generation emerged in the early 1920's. Okeh Records began issuing hillbilly music records by Fiddlin' John Carson as early as 1923, followed by Columbia Records in 1924, and RCA Victor Records in 1927.
During the second generation ( 1930's - 1940's ), radio became a popular source of entertainment, and "barn dance" shows featuring country music were started all over the South, as far North as Chicago, and as far West as California. The most important was the Grand Ole Opry, aired starting in 19325 by WSM in Nashville and continuing to present day. During the 1930's and 1940's, cowboy songs were popularized by films made in Hollywood. Bob Wills was one of the first country musicians to have added an electric guitar to his band, in 1938. Country musicians began recording boogie in 1939.
The third generation ( 1950's -1960's ) started at the end of World War II with "mountaineer" string band music known as bluegrass, which emerged when Bill Monroe, along with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs were introduced by Roy Acuff at the Grand Ole Opry. Gospel music remained a popular component of country music. By the early 1950's, a blend of Western swing, country boogie, and honky tonk was played by most country bands. Beginning in the mid-1950's, and reaching its peak during the early 1960's, the Nashville Sound turned country music into a multi-million dollar industry centered in Nashville, Tennessee. In the aftermath of the British Invasion, many desired a return to the "old values" of "rock 'n roll". At the same time there was a lack of enthusiasm in the country sector for Nashville-produced music. What resulted was a crossbred genre known as country rock.
Fourth generation (1970's - 1980's) music included outlaw country and country pop or soft pop, with roots in the country politan sound, folk music and soft rock. Between 1972 and 1975, singer/guitarist John Denver released a series of hugely successful songs blending country and folk-rock music styles. During the mid-1980's, a group of new artists began to emerge who rejected the more polished country-pop sound that had been prominent on radio and the charts in favor of more traditional "back-to-basics" production.
During the fifth generation ( 1990's ), country music became a world-wide phenomenon thanks to Garth Brooks. The Dixie Chicks became one of the most popular country bands in the 1990's and early 2000's.
The sixth generation ( 2000's - present ), is exemplified by country singer Carrie Underwood. The influence of rock music in country has become more overt during the late 2000's and early 2010's. Most of the best-selling country songs of this era however were in the country pop genre, such as those by Lady Antebellum, Florida George Line and Taylor Swift.
For more interesting reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_music
Playing a music instrument myself (Flute), and receiving vocal training for a few years with South African gospel singer, Riana van Wyk, my passion for music is as clear as daylight. I was thinking about focusing only on one genre of music, namely country, but why not expand my horizons and learn more about the different genres of music out there.
I will start my first blog with Country. I have no idea why, but country is my favorite genre to sing and to listen to. There is just something about it - whether it is the musicality of the artists, the combination of different instruments, or just the mere fact that every country song has a wonderful story to tell. Lets first start off by first looking at the history of country music.
ACCORDING TO WIKIPEDIA:
"Country music is a genre of American popular music that originated in Southern United States, in Atlanta, Georgia in the 1920's. It takes its roots from the South-Eastern genre of American folk music and Western music. Country music often consists of ballads and dance tunes with generally simple forms and harmonies accompanied by mostly string instruments such as banjos, electric and acoustic guitars, fiddles and harmonicas. The term 'country music' gained popularity in the 1940's in preference to the earlier term 'hillbilly music'. The origins of country music are the folk music of mostly white, working-class Americans, who blended popular songs, Irish and Celtic fiddle tunes, traditional ballads, and cowboy songs, and various musical traditions from European immigrant communities. In 2009, country music was the most listened to rush hour radio genre during the evening commute, and second most popular in the morning commute in the United States.
Country music was "introduced to the world as a Southern phenomenon." The first generation emerged in the early 1920's. Okeh Records began issuing hillbilly music records by Fiddlin' John Carson as early as 1923, followed by Columbia Records in 1924, and RCA Victor Records in 1927.
During the second generation ( 1930's - 1940's ), radio became a popular source of entertainment, and "barn dance" shows featuring country music were started all over the South, as far North as Chicago, and as far West as California. The most important was the Grand Ole Opry, aired starting in 19325 by WSM in Nashville and continuing to present day. During the 1930's and 1940's, cowboy songs were popularized by films made in Hollywood. Bob Wills was one of the first country musicians to have added an electric guitar to his band, in 1938. Country musicians began recording boogie in 1939.
The third generation ( 1950's -1960's ) started at the end of World War II with "mountaineer" string band music known as bluegrass, which emerged when Bill Monroe, along with Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs were introduced by Roy Acuff at the Grand Ole Opry. Gospel music remained a popular component of country music. By the early 1950's, a blend of Western swing, country boogie, and honky tonk was played by most country bands. Beginning in the mid-1950's, and reaching its peak during the early 1960's, the Nashville Sound turned country music into a multi-million dollar industry centered in Nashville, Tennessee. In the aftermath of the British Invasion, many desired a return to the "old values" of "rock 'n roll". At the same time there was a lack of enthusiasm in the country sector for Nashville-produced music. What resulted was a crossbred genre known as country rock.
Fourth generation (1970's - 1980's) music included outlaw country and country pop or soft pop, with roots in the country politan sound, folk music and soft rock. Between 1972 and 1975, singer/guitarist John Denver released a series of hugely successful songs blending country and folk-rock music styles. During the mid-1980's, a group of new artists began to emerge who rejected the more polished country-pop sound that had been prominent on radio and the charts in favor of more traditional "back-to-basics" production.
During the fifth generation ( 1990's ), country music became a world-wide phenomenon thanks to Garth Brooks. The Dixie Chicks became one of the most popular country bands in the 1990's and early 2000's.
The sixth generation ( 2000's - present ), is exemplified by country singer Carrie Underwood. The influence of rock music in country has become more overt during the late 2000's and early 2010's. Most of the best-selling country songs of this era however were in the country pop genre, such as those by Lady Antebellum, Florida George Line and Taylor Swift.
For more interesting reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_music
PICTURES AND VIDEOS:
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| Banjo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NCLxNe8vGAs |
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| Fiddle https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_dzhZF9RlI |
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| John Carson https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-59NgQ1erEI |
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| Bob Wills https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0C08jmN1sM8 |
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| Grand Ole Opry |
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| John Denver https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1vrEljMfXYo |
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| Dixie Chicks https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pojL_35QlSI |
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| Carrie Underwood https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mH9kYn4L8TI |
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| Nashville, Tennessee |
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