Download us topic #19: music in the usa

US TOPIC #19: MUSIC
A. SERIOUS MUSIC
American classical music often reflects the excitement and dynamism of the New World. It also tends to
combine American popular music forms such as jazz and folk. George Gershwin (1898-1937) is an (1)
_______________ of a composer who does this. His best known works are Rhapsody in Blue and Porgy and
Bess. Leonard Bernstein (1918-1996) is another famous composer. He wrote several popular musicals, for
example West Side Story, which became a movie in 1961. He also wrote more serious works for orchestra and
choirs.
B. POPULAR MUSIC
The radio has played an enormous part in the spread of popular music in the USA. However, up until the 1960s
there were "black" radio (2) __________________ that played "black music", and "white" ones that played
"white music". This reflected the segregation in American society and meant that whites often did not know
much about the music which blacks listened to, and vice versa. In the 1950s, some whites would publically
express their disapproval of what they called "nigger music"; according to them, this music was leading white
Americans down the wrong path.
The modern Broadway musical began with My Fair Lady, West Side Story and Sunset Boulevard. With the rise
of Hollywood, film music (3) ______________ as the music for The Wizard of Oz and The Sound of Music
became extremely important.
Jazz originates from the American black musical tradition. Typical features are improvisation and syncopated
rhythms, and typical instruments are the clarinet, trumpet, piano and saxophone. It has always (4) __________
the music of freedom, and is the most truly American art form. Famous jazz musicians are Louis Armstrong,
Benny Goodman, Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Miles Davis.
Until the 1950s, American country music was strictly regional. Since then it has gained national and
international popularity. It was created by the rural people of the Appalachian Mountain region. They built
upon the English and Scottish songs of their ancestors. Traditional country music songs are about poverty, God
and crops. Characteristic (5)_____________________ are the violin, acoustic guitar, steel guitar and
harmonica. Leading lights are Johnny Cash, Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers.
It was the birth of pop-rock in the 1950s that helped to make the USA the world's largest exporter of music. A
new kind of music and a new international youth culture swept over the country like a breath of fresh air. The
symbolic birthday of rock and roll is April 12th, 1954, when Bill Haley recorded the song Rock Around The
Clock. The song has two sources: country music and a special rhythm. Stars include Elvis Presley, Chuck
Berry and Little Richard. They rebelled (6)_______________ the traditional authority of adult society and
formulated new values.
Left to right: Elvis Presley (The ’King of
Rock’); Jimi Hendrix (1942-1970); The Eagles (a hugely popular 1970s rock band); Madonna (still popular!)
In the 1960s, Bob Dylan brought about a folk song revival, which developed into folk rock. Until then, more
people were interested in having music to listen to or dance to, but now the lyrics became more important.
The dividing line (7) __________________ "art" and "popular culture" was becoming less clear.
The late 1960s was the peak of the hippie movement, with its centre being San Francisco. Representatives
included The Doors, Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin. The Woodstock Festival was a landmark in hippie culture.
In the 1970s many sub-genres appeared:

Soul was made popular by Berry Gordy, founder of the Motown record label. Vocal music with roots
in black gospel and spiritual music, memorable tunes and dance rhythms. Artists include Michael
Jackson, Marvin Gaye and Aretha Franklin.

Funk: A dance variety of soul. Performers include Stevie Wonder, James Brown, and (much later) The
Red Hot Chili Peppers

Hard rock: Guitar-based style, sometimes (8)____________________ stadium rock. Performers:
Aerosmith, Kiss, Bon Jovi and many more
In the 1980s, more genres became popular:

Rap/Hip-hop: In the 1980s, rap emerged in the urban black and Hispanic ghettos. It usually consists of
rhyming storytelling on pre-recorded rhythm tracks. Hip-hop music is rhythm-orientated and easy to
dance to. Rap- and hip-hop artists include The Beastie Boys, Run-DMC, Public Enemy and
Grandmaster Flash.

Alternative/New Wave: Started as underground music, tending to mix different genres and (9)
_______________ seriously on American society. Performers include Talking Heads and REM.
Legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix came from Seattle and became known all over the world in the 1960s.
Perhaps the most important change in the 1990s in American popular music was the rise of alternative rock
through the popularity of grunge. This was previously an underground genre during the 1980s, but in 1991 the
city of Seattle was again in the spotlight and grunge became big (10) ____________________. Significant
grunge bands include Nirvana, Pearl Jam and Soundgarden. Grunge typically had a dark guitar sound, and
combined elements of punk and heavy metal with tuneful melodies and sometimes unusual forms.
Gangsta rap is a kind of hip hop, most importantly characterized by a lyrical (11)________________ on macho
sexuality, physicality and a dangerous, criminal image. Artists include Dr. Dre, Ice T, and Snoop Doggy Dogg.
By the end of the 90s and into the early 2000s, pop music consisted mostly of a combination of pop-hip hop
and R&B influenced pop, including a number of boy bands. Notable female artists also became world famous,
such as Britney Spears and Beyoncé. Latin rhythms became popular (Shakira, Ricky Martin) and rappers like
Jay-Z and Eminem were huge stars. Hip-hop has become an essential element of much (12) ________________
popular music, as has Rhythm and Blues (R&B).
Left to right: Michael Jackson (’The King of Pop’); Kurt Cobain (1967-1994); Mariah Carey (200 million records sold); Usher (R&B/soul singer)
Oxford Guide to British and American Culture, Wikipedia, JG