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Background
Pop history
Pop
music has a history, which goes back to the Negro spirituals and the folk songs
and dances of the nineteenth century. Many
historians would say that pop music is a combination of African rhythm and
European chord patterns. These were
combined in the music from the USA in the first half of the 20th century and
have continued to develop into the 21st century.
Pop culture
Pop
music also has a culture which brings with it pop stars, fashion clothes,
hairstyle and social attitudes. As a result of improved communications in the
second half of the 20th century there was a world wide following for a series of
pop styles and pop stars that was not possible for earlier generations. This is
a very big subject, which we touch on briefly during the course.
During this course
During
this course we will concentrate on pop styles of the 1950s including Rock
‘n’ Roll. These styles show clearly how hooks, riffs and repeated chord
sequences have been important features in pop compositions.
It is linked by the 12 bar-blues chord sequence to the Blues style of the
1920s, which has had a big impact on a number of pop styles studied in an
earlier course.
Activities
1.
Heading: Pop
stars and Pop fashions.
Write
what you know and can find out about pop stars and fashions during this century.
·
Look up information on old records
·
Try books in the library.
·
Ask your parents and grand parents.
·
Look up information on the Internet and CD ROMs.
2.
Heading: The
Life and music of Elvis Presley.
Find out
about the life and music of Elvis Presley. Find out how the music 'Hound Dog'
links with his life.
3.
Heading:
Musical features of Pop Recordings
Listen
to recordings and write about the musical features.
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to Rock n Roll