Music US Test 1.docx

Many styles of music were born in America, such as blues, jazz, rock-n-roll, country music, pop. Teenagers associate American music with Michael Jackson, Madonna, Britney Spears and other pop singers. Of course, these names are widely recognized and extremely popular because they represent the music...

Many styles of music were born in America, such as blues, jazz, rock-n-roll, country music, pop. Teenagers associate American music with Michael Jackson, Madonna, Britney Spears and other pop singers. Of course, these names are widely recognized and extremely popular because they represent the music of the country. The songs of Elvis Presley broke hearts of millions of young people and is remembered as the first king of rock-n-roll. American music is a blend of European classical traditions and the ethnic rhythms from its many immigrants. America’s earliest settlers brought their religious music to their new home land. Rag-time was the first ‘black’ music to gain popularity. But the most popular music style of them was the blues, which developed from African folk songs and Christian religious music. They are very lamenting songs with notes of resignation and humour. In the 1920s jazz as a music style originated in the south, in its capital New Orleans, to be exact. One of the most central features of jazz music is improvisation. Only the basic structure of jazz music is written down, other parts of jazz are created spontaneously by all members of the band. The man whose music is immortal and who paved the way for other giant musicians among American jazz musicians, the most influential music person is Louis Armstrong. He broke with all traditions an brought about a new rhythmic freedom for the performer, put an accent on a soloist, invented a new form of singing – “scat singing”. In short, he revolutionized jazz. Because of his peculiar genius, the classic music of black Americans became the music of all Americans. He is, as Duke Ellington called him, an “American Standard, an American original” with the global audience for his music and timeless influence. Another unique form of music is the American musical which combines songs, dance, comedy and drama. It came from the centre of the country. ‘Oklahoma’ and ‘Carousel’ are considered to be the first truly American musicals. But the most famous style of American music known today across the world is rock-n-roll. Thanks to its first king Elvis Presley it had a great hit with the public. Later in the 1950s and 1960s country music gained national popularity with many musicians. It served as dance music and music in the car. Nowadays more modern styles like reggae, techno, metal, pop, rap appeared. Though it seems like there are so many styles of music in the USA every new generation looks back at the music from the past and with their own creativity creates yet another style.