What Is Country Music_

What Is Country Music?1. Origin and InstrumentationIn the opinions of music experts the origins of Country Music can be traced back to the beginning of the 17th century. In those days British immigrants, or rather the Pilgrims came to America. Some of them settled down in the area, which is today known as Alabama. Their folk-music is generally considered to be the forerunner of Country & Western. The first instrument they used was the fiddle, which originated in Europe. Their lyrics dealt with true stories and feelings from everyday life –characteristic which can still be found in today's Country Music. This musical style, which was mainly made in the region of the Appalachian Mountains, became also known as Hillbilly Music. The name was made up by the urban folk who considered C & W to be primitive and crude.In the 1750s the black slaves from Africa introduced a pumpkin-like instrument featuring strings, which was later turned into the banjo by the Whites. The fiddles as well as the banjo were the predominating instruments in C & W for a long time. Beside this instrument, the Whites even partly adopted the Blacks' ways of singing. Gospel and Rhythm and Blues had a great impact on Country Music.At the end of the 18th century the guitar and the steel guitar became popular among the hillbilly musicians. Hence, the term "Country Music" appeared for the first time. So the instrumentation was eventually specified: fiddle, banjo, guitar and steel guitar, which is also called a slide guitar. Drums were accepted in Country Music no sooner than 1940.2. Different CategoriesIn Country Music you can find a variety of different categories. Resembling the development of many other kinds of music like e.g. Rock and Roll, Country Music has changed over the years. Its songs can be categorized in certain groups. If you focus your attention on the instrumentation and the structure of the sound, you will find thefollowing categories: Traditional Country, Western Swing, Bluegrass, Cajun, Country Rock and Country Pop.2.1. Traditional Country MusicThe term "Traditional Country Music" refers to the style of Country Music which was played until the mid-1950s. One of its main performers was Hank Williams.2.2. Western SwingWestern Swing evolved in Texas and Oklahoma. It incorporates a swinging rhythm, with the music of the fiddle in combination with the steel guitar. Therefore, it was used as music for dancing to and entertainment when people met in celebrations.2.3. BluegrassBill Monroe, the so-called "Father Of Bluegrass Music" (Fuchs, 1988, p.195), affirmed that the category Bluegrass originated from the melodies of Scottish bagpipe tunes, which mixed with the Blues of the slaves. The term "Bluegrass" was derived from the allegedly blue colour of the grass in Kentucky, the home of Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys. In this kind of Country Music each musician has to be able to improvise with his instrument, similar to a jazz musician's way of improvisation. The characteristic instrument of Bluegrass is the banjo, which is often played with great vigour.2.4. Cajun MusicCajun Music is so similar to Bluegrass that it also makes use of the fiddle, the banjo, the mandolin and the guitar. Yet the accordion occurs additionally. Cajun is derived from the music of the French settlers who were expelled from the Canadian province Acadia, and who settled down in Lousiana. Even today the lyrics of Cajun Music are mostly French. Furthermore, this form of music is also quite lively and often used for dancing as well.2.5. Country RockRoughly speaking, the mainstream of contemporary Country Music is simply a mixture of Pop or Rock with Traditional Country Music. Rock-oriented Country Music was born when the Byrds sang Bob Dylan's hit "Mr. Tambourin Man". The electric guitar plays an important role. Strong drum beats and the bass guitar provide a rock-like rhythm. Nevertheless, the slide guitar remains a characteristic for this music. On top of this, country rock songs often feature multi-voiced sections. That is why the famous Eagles are a good example of a country rock group. By the way, the style of music which the Eagles play is specifically called "Westcoast Rock" or "California Rock".2.6. Country PopThe boom of Pop Music in the last twenty years is one factor which is responsible for the development of Country Pop. Country musicians expect to sell more records with the help of pop-like country sound.The Bellamy Brothers are a good example of a country pop group. Besides being in the country charts, their hits also often make it into the top ten of the pop charts.Such songs, which are accepted by country fans as well as by pop fans, are called "Crossovers". They are proof of the strong resemblance between Country Pop and standard Pop Music.3. A Completely Different ClassificationBeside the aforementioned categories of C & W, which mainly differ in their instrumentation, you can also distinguish country songs according to their lyrics. For instance, the Westward Movement contributed to the emergence of Western Music which is mostly concerned with the adventures and problems of the immigrants who explored the western regions of the U.S.A. in the 19th century.Many pieces of Country Music deal with the working man. Therefore some categories like Train Songs, also known as Railroad Songs, and Truck Songs havecome alive. The legendary Cowboy Songs, which can often be found in Traditional Country Music, are also part of this development. Cowboy Songs tell stories about cowboys who feel lonely and the lyrics of Truck Songs often describe the hard lives of truckers. In today's Country Music, the Cowboy Song has largely been replaced by the Truck Song. As in many other kinds of music, the topic love is naturally part of modern American Country Music. The love songs, in turn, can again be divided into different genres. However, you cannot always draw clear lines between these. In spite of this problem, I am going to try to classify very characteristic love songs in respect of their content in the following passages. So at certain points I will more or less be obliged to make you aware of the fluent borders and transitions between the genres.。