Rock is a musical style based on a challenge to traditional culture

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Fatal music refers to the synthesis of Negro rhythm and blues and country music. A peculiar rhythmic pattern was borrowed from the first direction (reverse beat: emphasis on the second and fourth beats), from the second - the completeness of the compositions and improvisation simplified compared to the blues. Rock is a protest against the political situation in the country, the values of the older generation, a way of self-expression and the declaration of one's own views on life. The confrontation is due to the lyrics and the aggressive manner of performance.

History

The first music of this style appeared in 1954. Bill Haley sang the song Rock round the clock in the movie Chalkboard Jungle. At the same time, Elvis Presley records were released. A little later, the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan appeared on the music scene.

Slowly, rock music begins to be played as a protest against the Vietnam War, organizations are created whose members do not welcome armed conflict and racism.

With the advent of the hippie movement in the US, the underground is developing (The Doors, Steppenwolf, Blood, Sweet & Tears), and in the UK, musicians are trying to preserve the features of traditional culture (Led Zeppelin, DeepPurple, Pink Floyd). At the same time, a new form of presentation of compositions appeared - a music album: several melodies united by one idea.

Gradually, rock style gains popularity in other countries, develops and breaks up into different directions.

Jazz, hard, folk…

The style is based on classic rock. Musicians (Elton John, Sting, The Who) play electric guitar, bass guitar, drums and do not use the stylistic features of other directions.

Psychedelic rock is music that is composed under the influence of psychotropic substances, while progressive rock is distinguished by other forms of musical construction, complexity and depth of the material supplied. Progressive rockers include Blood, Sweat & Tears, Gong and others. The creativity of musicians who want to go beyond the style is called experimental rock. The most famous experimenters are The Fugs, The Godz, Red Crayola and others.

Another direction combines the features of rock and jazz. It appeared not only due to the fact that jazzmen became cramped in their style, but also as a result of the fusion of "white" and "black" music as part of the fight against racism. Famous musicians of the synthetic style are Georgie Fame, The Soft Machine, The Mahavishnu Orchestra, etc. Folk rock is a synthesis of rock and folk music (Bob Dylan, Joan Boez, Fairport Convention), while hard rock has specific guitar rhythms, heavy rhythm section and excessive sound volume. Famous representatives of the direction - Jimi Hendrix, Iron Butterfly, VanillaFudge.

Also, music critics highlight glam, gothic, etc. The definition of style varieties is somewhat arbitrary, as bands are constantly experimenting, changing their playing style or inventing new ways of performing.

Rock opera

Mixing styles is typical for all kinds of art, including music. An example of this is the synthesis of rock and drama called rock opera. This includes a musical stage work, consisting of episodes in which the plot is revealed. Arias are performed in the style of rock. Unlike classical opera, a keyboard player, guitarist, and other musicians may be present on stage. Most often, the performance is accompanied by the sound of a classical orchestra.

The style of singing is assertive and aggressive, which is typical for rock music. Sometimes parts contain elements of other musical trends (jazz, folk, baroque, etc.). In addition to arias, the musicians perform recitatives and plastic numbers.

Examples of works of this genre are “Hair” by G. McDermot, “Godspel” by S. Schuortz, “Juno and Avos” by A. L. Rybnikov, etc.

Rock culture

Over time, the music of rockers has become so popular that elements of the style penetrated into other layers of culture, a kind of rock style arose. This is how a special language (slang) appeared, in which style adherents and fans speak. Slang is used to write lyrics, but at concerts (sessions) non-verbal communication becomes more important. The unity of music, words, stage movements and images affects the subconscious of a person, causing certain sensations andemotional reactions.

Rockers are fond of the philosophy of existentialism, Buddhism, other religious teachings that are contrary to the psychology of the West. In their free time from concerts, musicians and fans attend so-called happenings (meetings), where they communicate, play music, and express their opinion about everything that happens in their lives.

Trends in rock culture are manifested in clothing (indelible stains of dirt on hippies), demeanor (rock is a denial of everything and everything, therefore aggression is characteristic of style adherents), rejection of traditional values, moral and aesthetic attitudes.

Rock and Christianity

The Christian religion does not recognize the right to exist rock, considering adherence to rock culture impossible for believers in God. Enhanced rhythms, increased frequencies, penetrating texts affect the subconscious of people, awaken deep instincts.

Rock is a serious impact on the psyche. After listening to such music, a person loses the ability to self-control. The content of many songs is devoted to the theme of death, the other world, depressive states of a person, self-destruction. In many cases, the passion for rock is closely related to the use of drugs, manifestations of violence, which also does not correspond to the lifestyle of a Christian.

Art critics and culturologists consider rock music and everything related to it as a confrontation with traditional culture.