What types of music are there? Musical style is a capacious and multifaceted concept. It can be defined as a figurative unity, a set of means of expressing artistic and ideological content through the language of music.

The concept of music style is so broad that its specification suggests itself: this term applies both to different eras, genres, movements and schools, as well as to individual composers and even performers. Let's try to figure out what types of music there are.

Style of the era

The concept of style of the era focuses on historical aspect. There are many classifications, some of which highlight the largest historical eras in the development of music (Renaissance, Baroque, classicism, modernity, etc.), while others, on the contrary, split the history of music into relatively small periods previously identified by other art historical disciplines (romanticism, impressionism, modernism, etc.).

A classic example of the style of the era is Baroque music, character traits which is an interest in inner world personality, drama, contrasting images of the forces of nature, the development of opera and instrumental music (C. Monteverdi, A. Vivaldi, G.F. Handel).

Genre style

Style reflects the specifics of the content, musical techniques and characteristics of certain musical genres, which, in turn, can be classified on different grounds.

Therefore, the concept of style is most acceptable for those in which the most common features. These include genres based on folk music(various ritual songs, folk dances), church hymns, romances.

If we take major works (opera, oratorio, symphony, etc.), then here too the style of the genre is always clearly readable, despite the fact that the styles of the era, movements and author’s style are superimposed on it.

But if the composer comes up with some new genre, then in this case it is difficult to immediately establish the features of a genre style - for this, time must pass, during which other works in the same genre will appear. This was the case, for example, with Mendelssohn’s “songs without words.” Agree, it’s a strange song without words, but after his 48 samples of plays in this genre, other composers began to boldly call their plays by the same name.

Musical style

The style of a musical movement has many similarities with the style of the era: after all, some movements are considered by musicologists as entire eras in music.

But there are also areas for which it is possible to highlight stylistic nuances that are unique to them. These include the Viennese classical school (L. van Beethoven, J. Haydn, W.A. Mozart). The classical direction is characterized by simplicity, expressiveness, rich harmonic language, and detailed development of the theme.

When talking about what styles of music there are, we can’t ignore national characteristics.

National style

The basis of the national musical style is folklore. Many great composers were inspired by folk melodies, weaving them into their creations. Some works even have corresponding names (for example, the Hungarian rhapsodies of F. Liszt, “Hungarian Dances” by J. Brahms, “Norwegian folk songs and dances for piano” by E. Grieg, “Aragonese Jota” by M.I. Glinka). In others, folk motifs become leading themes (for example, “There was a birch tree in the field” in the finale of P. I. Tchaikovsky’s Fourth Symphony).

If we approach the question of what styles of music there are, from the point of view of composition schools, individual composers and musicians, then we can identify several more musical styles.

Composer association style

If the composition school is characterized by a high degree of generality artistic techniques, then it is logical to highlight the style inherent in this school.

We can talk about the styles of polyphonic schools of the Renaissance, the styles of various Italian opera schools of the 17th century, or the styles of instrumental schools of the 17th–18th centuries.

In Russian music of the 19th century there also existed a creative association of composers - the famous “Mighty Handful”. The stylistic commonality among the composers included in this group was manifested in a single line of development, choice of subjects, and reliance on Russian musical folklore.

Individual composer's style

Composer's style is a concept that is much easier to specify, because the work of any composer is limited to a relatively short time period and certain trends. musical era. So, literally by the first bars you can recognize, for example, the music of Mozart or Rossini.

Naturally, a composer, like any person, changes throughout his life, and this leaves an imprint on the style of his work. But some stylistic features still remain unchanged, inherent only to him, are a kind of “ business card" by the author.

Performing style

Performing art is based on the individual performance style of the musician, who interprets the composer's intention in his own way. The performing style is manifested in the emotional coloring of the performance of the works of a particular author.

Vivid examples here are those composers who were, in addition, virtuoso musicians. This includes Niccolo Paganini, who amazed listeners with his impeccable technique and unusual techniques of playing the violin, and the brilliant pianist Sergei Rachmaninov, a true knight of music, who subordinated the melodic outline to a strict rhythmic pattern.

Here are the different styles of music. This list, of course, can be supplemented with classification on other grounds, since the world's musical heritage is large and diverse.

A musical work in a broad sense can be called a play, which is the result of the composer’s activity. It is characterized by internal completeness, individuality of content and form, and fixation of musical notation for further performance. And the concept of “musical genres” is used to characterize various works.

List of main musical genres and their brief descriptions

  1. An art song is a genre in which the performer is both the author of the music and the words.
  2. Blatnaya song - glorifies the morals and life of the criminal environment.
  3. Blues is a genre that originated among African slaves on US cotton plantations.
  4. Jazz is a musical genre synthesized from African and European cultures.
  5. European music – general concept for music from European countries.
  6. Indian music is classified as an ancient genre, the music of the peoples of India.
  7. Country - the so-called rural music, is a type of North American music.
  8. Latin American music is a name that summarizes the genres of Latin America.
  9. Pop music, divided into disco, pop and easy listening. Disco is dance music, pop is popular music of the masses, light music contains mainly simple catchy melodies.
  10. Rock music is a general name for several types of this rhythmic music. These include the following genres: musical art like country rock, southern rock, heartland rock, garage rock, surf rock, instrumental rock, folk rock, blues rock, rock and roll, psychedelic rock, Merseybeat, progressive rock, experimental rock, glam rock, hardcore, pub rock. There are also hard rock, punk rock, skiffle, bard rock, Japanese rock, metal, post-punk, stoner rock, alternative rock, post-rock, as well as new wave and no wave.
  11. Romance is a short poem sung to music with lyrical content.
  12. Ska is a style with a 2 by 4 rhythm, even-numbered drum beats are emphasized by the guitar, and odd-numbered drum beats are emphasized by double bass or bass guitar.
  13. Hip-hop is a working class style from New York in 1974.
  14. Chanson - basically has French roots with performance in cabaret style.
  15. Electronic music - created using electronic musical instruments.

According to the method of performance, musical genres are divided into vocal, solo and vocal-instrumental.

Genres of music

U musical works There are also genres. Like musical genres, they have a fairly long list.

  1. Arioso is a small aria.
  2. Aria is an episode performed by a singer in an opera or other similar work with orchestral accompaniment.
  3. Ballad - instrumental compositions; solo vocal compositions with texts of poetic works.
  4. Ballet – performing arts, in which the narrative is told through dance.
  5. Blues is a jazz song with sad content.
  6. Bylina is a song story in Russian folk style.
  7. Vaudeville is a theatrical play with a cheerful and humorous content.
  8. An anthem is a song performed in a ceremonial setting.
  9. Jazz is dance music with improvisational moments.
  10. Disco is a rhythmic, simplified musical style.
  11. Invention is a musical piece with an original finding of melodic development.
  12. An interlude is a short musical piece.
  13. An intermezzo is a free-form play or an independent episode in an operetta and other works of music.
  14. Kant is a type of polyphonic song.
  15. A cantata is a solemnly performed vocal and instrumental work.
  16. A march is a piece of music with rhythmic moments.
  17. A musical is a musical composition with elements of operetta, opera, ballet and pop music.
  18. Ode is a dedication in a musical style.
  19. Opera is a musical production.
  20. Operetta is a comedy musical production.
  21. Oratorio – intended for choral performance.
  22. A song is a musical form of a poem.
  23. A play is a small piece of music with a beginning and an end.
  24. Requiem is a choral work of a mournful nature.
  25. Romance is a work of lyrical performance.
  26. Serenade is a song in honor of a beloved.
  27. A symphony is an orchestral piece of music.
  28. Touche is a small musical greeting.
  29. A fugue is a work with multiple repetitions of a theme.
  30. Elegy is a sad piece of music.
  31. An etude is a work with virtuoso passages.

Musical genres are constantly updated and developed. They are affected by changing living conditions.

In addition to regular collections, and, we are also interested in more niche subgenres, which we willingly talk about with the help of thematic collections. For example, you can familiarize yourself with popular compositions or immerse yourself in the atmosphere or.

Electronic fans can get acquainted with the new products of the scene, selected by studying the main charts of the planet. The collections contain fashionable bass music, popular club hits and after hectic nightlife events.

Further, we have grouped genre music according to more situational criteria - for example, you can download current music or for a relaxing evening in the company of connoisseurs of a similar style. For fans, the section contains ready-to-download playlists of both classic compositions from the 90s and more specific folk for fans of this genre.

Download collections or listen online?

For those who prefer a modern lifestyle, each collection works in a convenient online player mode, which automatically switches compositions one after another. You can always return to listening to your favorite selection - all you need is a stable Internet connection. On the other hand, with just one button you can easily download an mp3 collection in one archive to your computer, transfer it to any media and always have access to the desired collection.

Music genres– historically established types and types of musical works, united by a common content, form, conditions (place) of performance and composition of performers.

In musical science, various classifications of genres of compositional creativity have developed. They depend on which of the factors determining the genre is considered as the main one. By composition of performers genres are divided into instrumental and vocal (including vocal-instrumental). In turn, in each group one can distinguish solo, ensemble, orchestral/choral genres.

At the place of execution genres can be chamber (for performance in small rooms by a solo or ensemble), concert (for performance from a concert stage by an orchestra and/or choir), musical theater. Everyday genres (song, dance, march) stand apart.

The cumulative effect of these criteria in relation to the main genres of academic music can be presented in the following table:

Vocal genres Instrumental genres
Song Dance March Everyday genres
Solo genres Romance Instrumental piece Sonata Chamber genres
Ensemble genres Vocal duets, trios, quartets, etc. Instrumental duets, trios, quartets, etc.
Choral/orchestral genres Cantata Oratorio Instrumental concert Symphony Overture Symphonic poem (picture) Symphonic suite Concert genres
Opera Operetta Musical Ballet Musical and theatrical genres

According to form genres are divided into miniatures (small one-part works - songs, romances, plays), large one-part works (overture, symphonic poem), cycles (works consisting of several parts - sonata, concert, symphony, suite).

By content musical works, like literary works, are lyrical, dramatic and epic. However, the classification of musical genres according to this criterion is the least accurate, since in music the qualities of narrative, expressiveness, and effectiveness are sometimes difficult to differentiate. Thus, a romance can go beyond the lyrical genre if there is dramatic development. And a dramatic symphony can acquire the quality of a confessional lyrical statement.

Summarizing several criteria, we can give the following definitions to the main musical genres:

The song is the most common genre of vocal music, folk and professional (author's). Solo or choral musical and poetic work. It can be intended for performance at home, for chamber or concert performance.

Romance is a chamber vocal work for voice with instrumental accompaniment. Lyrical miniature.

Cantata is a concert vocal-instrumental genre, a work for a choir, one or more solo singers and an orchestra. Includes arias, recitatives, choruses.

Oratorio is a large vocal and instrumental work for choir, solo singers and orchestra. Includes arias, recitatives, choruses. It differs from the cantata in its larger size, and from the opera in that it is intended for concert performance.

Opera is a musical and theatrical genre based on the synthesis of words, stage action and music. Includes arias (solo forms with chanting melody), recitatives (solo forms with melody approaching natural speech), ensembles, and choirs. Opens with an overture (orchestral introduction), may contain other instrumental episodes (introductions to individual actions, dances)

An instrumental piece is a general name for chamber, mostly solo instrumental miniatures. It has dozens of genre varieties and author’s designations (nocturne, impromptu, musical moment, “song without words”, “leaf from an album”, etc.)

Sonata is one of the main genres of chamber instrumental music, a work for a soloist or a small ensemble. A three-part (rarely four-part) cycle with fast outer parts.

Symphony is one of the main genres of concert instrumental music, a work for a symphony orchestra. The cycle usually consists of 4 parts.

Concerto – a work for one, or less often several, solo instruments with symphony orchestra. A cycle of 3 parts, contrasting in tempo (fast, slow, fast). There are also concerts for one instrument (without orchestra), for orchestra (without soloists), for voice with orchestra, for a capella choir (without instrumental accompaniment).

Suite is a genre of instrumental music, chamber and concert. Work for solo instrument, ensemble, orchestra. A cycle consisting of an arbitrary number of parts, usually contrasting in tempo, rhythm, and character.

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