Music has accompanied us in our odyssey ever since cavemen fashioned the first flutes out of bear femurs, and drums out of lion hide. The art of using the voice and other instruments to communicate a message or a story, and reflect the lives of people, has evolved as new philosophies and perceptions of life emerge. Whether it’s the most intricate and complicated symphony or a three-minute political rant, music is life and life is music.
1890’s: Everyday I have the blues
During the finishing phases of the 19th century, the African American community was going through tough times. Discrimination and violence prevented them from living fulfilling lives, they were constantly persecuted for being perceived of as different and dangerous (New York Times). This was specially alarming in the Southern states under Jim Crow laws (Ferris). Sharecroppers and other workers began writing prose telling about their misery and sadness. This prose was later written in song version and instrumentation was added (SantaFe). Blues is a mix of African American spirituals with African rhythm, and instrumentation such as banjo, guitar, piano and harmonica. The lyrics are all about the sadness and misery these people were feeling due to their situation. That’s why the rhythm is slow and haunting.
Abuse against African Americans in the United States was a major issue for almost a century, and still today, many colored people still don’t get the recognition they deserve in society. Music became the main means for these people to express their feelings of desperation, heartbreak, and loneliness. As such, it is perfect as a mirror of the dark times they were going through and ”blues” is still related with sadness.
1920’s: Trumpets and street parties: Jazz
Jazz is a contemporary to blues, and both genres are often related. But, there are a few major differences. Jazz was developed by African American communities alongside blues, but it’s differentiated by its rhythm and mood. Contrary to blues, which is mostly in the form of prose, jazz performances are often instrumental. It’s also much more upbeat than blues, marked by improvisation and adequate for street parties. Jazz instrumentation is often provided by drums, piano, double bass, and an extensive brass and horn section (trumpet, saxophone, clarinet, tuba, and French horn).
Jazz music is greatly associated with the 1920s, so much that a nickname for this decade is ”The Jazz Age”. Contrary to blues, which is associated with the despair of Jim Crow south, jazz is associated with the upbeat spirit of cultural melting pots such as New York, Chicago, and New Orleans during the 1920s. Even after a century, jazz music is still relevant, and despite blending with other genres, it’s roots are still evident.
1950’s: Passion and rebellion: Rock n roll
Music has always been a means of expression and influence for society, but starting with the 1950’s, it became a means of expression for young people. In 1952, a Cleveland DJ began promoting a mix of R&B, blues, and other genres, which he called rock n roll (HubPages). Then, in 1954, pioneers such as Bill Halley introduced this mix to the world, making it mainstream (HubPages). Rock n roll makes use of improvisation. It adds more energy, and the newly commercialized electric guitar gets added to the mix.
Rock n roll from the 1950s marked a transition for music. Music stopped being just produced for entertainment, it had become a means of expression. Young people at the time, who felt the need to rebel, turned rock n roll into their main means of rebellion. Rock n roll would later evolve into other genres such as hard rock, heavy metal, punk, and grunge, becomiug more and more loud and rebellious each time, and proving the capacity of music to influence the masses.
1970’s: Graffiti, gold, and ghetto life: Hip-hop
In 1970s, the Bronx, New York City became the host of a street party which brought forth another important musical evolution. The DJ, who was hosting the party to celebrate his sister’s birthday, used two turntables to extend the instrumental breaks (breakdancing) (The Guardian). Then, the MC added rapid-fire monologues and rhymes over the music (rap) (The Guardian). New York had just witnessed the birth of hip-hop. Over the years, hip-hop would evolve far beyond the street parties to focus more on writing skills. Hip-hop music lacks any instrumentation other than a repeated, heavily syncopated electronic beat the DJ produces with the help of two turntables, although some songs also incorporate piano and bass.
What started as a massive block party in a house basement turned into a real musical revolution and a new cultural phenomenon. Many people criticize hip-hop music because of the lack of solid instrumentation, repeated spoken lyrics filled with profanity, and the tough gangsta attitude associated with the movement. However, at a historical scope, hip-hop also serves as a reflection of the time in which it was created. Golden teeth plates, gangsta attitude and profane lyrics came later, but that block party is revolution of music and history...