Perspectives on the Popular in Music Flashcards
The beginning of “popular” music.
Popular has to do with people…(Middleton 3)
…to describe something as ‘popular’ may then have the (depreciatory) implication that it is inferior or designed to suit low tastes (Middleton 3).
In the late 1800s the debates between popular music and what became known as art music started.
Art Music the comparison
Art music was supposed to be that which displayed exceptional skill in creation and was generally written down, as distinct from folk music, which was of popular origin.
Classical music was a branch of art music, initially opposed to romantic, folk, modern, or popular music; but as modern music became contemporary music, so it became linked with romantic and classical music, and labelled as serious music (Blacking 20).
Modern Definitions of Popular Music
… Popular music is an inferior type.
…Popular music is associated with (produced for or by) a particular social group.
…Popular music is disseminated by mass media and/or in a mass market. (Middleton 5)
Very Important other definition - ‘p’ and ‘P’ – Stefan Walcott
popular music – any music which is popular within a specific area. E.g. calypso/soca in Southern Caribbean, Bollywood music in India.
Pop music – an American/English created genre with defined modes of production and operation that is known all over the world – variety of musical styles which change through time – ragtime, swing, rock and roll etc.
Small p is usually influenced by P.
