What makes a music genre unique.

[Last Hussar]

Just at a Blues gig (it's the break) and wondering;

What makes a music genre that genre?

Not after specifics, but wondering what is it that defines a genre?

[Ithoriel]

Consensus among fans and music critics, maybe?

[Orcs]

I am no musician, but a similar use of the instruments and rhythms in the music. Some instruments are synonymous with certain genres eg Saxophone and trumpet with jazz, Steel guitar with country etc.

[flamingpig0]

No Idea

[Ithoriel]

Saxophone and trumpet with jazz

So ..... this is jazz?

[fsn]

Music genres are malleable.

What is described as R&B now, is not what R&B was when I was a youngling.

"Jazz" is like "crisps"* it comes in many flavours.

Rap is not music.




*"Chips" to our colonial cousins.

[Raider4]

What is described as R&B now, is not what R&B was when I was a youngling.

I hear the term 'R&B' I think of Dr. Feelgood.

[FierceKitty]

I rather like the way musicians often give academics the finger in the matter of generic definition. Benny Goodman did a rather good version of the Mozart clarinet concerto, and I've heard a classical pianist insert jazz cadenzas into Mozart piano concerti (with perfect success, and in complete accordance with 18th-century rules). For ages critics held up Dave Brubeck's cerebral style and Gerry Mulligan's cool, laid-back act as irreconcilable opposites - until Mulligan stepped into the void when Paul Desmond left Brubeck's group, and (you guessed it, right?) the mix was as right as olive oil and garlic.

I spent too long in academia. When artists show self-appointed authorities up, they have my total support.

It doesn't happen only in music, either.

[steve_holmes_11]

Consensus among fans and music critics, maybe?

I think this nails it.


Critics will create a name (to save a hundred words) to reflect new trends in an established genre.


Fans of a particular genre will obsessively subdivide it.
In this they are ably assisted by critics, who welcome any help they can get.
(For example Metal): Thrash, doom, death, trad, prog...

Until you reach:
"Ahh mister Record Shop owner, Why do you only have a Metal classification.
Do you even stock any Neue Deutsche Härte?"

In this matter I align with Lemmy "We are Motorhead, and we play Rock and Roll".

[Last Hussar]

To elaborate;

Post Modern Jukebox do modern songs in a 50s or 60s style. Something that definitely isn't (say) Jazz originally IS jazz when they do it.

Same song...

Not the same genre. Why? Is it the instruments? Is the time signature different?

[steve_holmes_11]

Musicians have usually been ahead of the curve in this respect.

Big band members staying behind after formal rehearsal to "jam" produced Bebop.

British Trad Jazz rhythm sections, doing a bit of skiffle laid the foundations for the British Invasion bands of the 1960s.

[Orcs]

Rap is not music.

Sir. I think you have misspelled this supposed type of music. You seem to have missed off the capital C.

[Ithoriel]

Nothing wrong with a bit of rap, now and again.

Jazz on the other hand, not at all to my taste.

[flamingpig0]

Without wishing to open up yet another front in the cultural war can anyone explain why rap isn't music?

As a contention it seems to have a lot of problems

Not Music

Music

Music

[flamingpig0]

Nothing wrong with a bit of rap, now and again.

Jazz on the other hand, not at all to my taste.

I am the reverse I don't really like  rap but am partial to a bit of Jazz

Apparently both the above are part of the same genre