WEEK 3 RESPONSE: "FUNCTIONS" OF MUSIC

1. Jazz - "a music that originated at the beginning of the 20th century within the African-American communities of the Southern United States Its roots lie in the African-American adoption of European harmony and form to existing African musical elements. African musical influences are evident in the use of blues notes, improvisation, polyrhythms, syncopation, and the swung note."

1) The function of emotional expression

--> use of the solo and progression into a primary mode of self expression
2) The function of aesthetic enjoyment

--> shown in various films and aesthesized in pop culture
3) The function of entertainment

--> was played at nightclubs and dancehalls
4) The function of communication

--> communication between musicians and instruments - call and response
5) The function of symbolic representation

--> a representation of american "black" culture and oppression
6) The function of physical response

--> physical movement, "feeling" the blues
7) The function of enforcing conformity to social norms

--> members within the culture have ideals on the "way" it should be played
8) The function of validation of social institutions and religious rituals

--> played in churches and to congregate individuals (?)
9) The function of contribution to the continuity and stability of culture

--> major role in progression of Afro-American culture
10) The function of contribution to the integration of society
--> integration and acceptance of African elements into American society

2. The Breakbeat - "can refer to two distinct but related things: It is both an electric music genre and the distinct percussive rhythm from which this genre takes its name, usually characterized by the use of a nonstraightend 4/4/ drum pattern. These rhythms may be characterized by their intensive use of sychopations and polyrhythms ... closely connected to hip hop and breaking."

1) The function of emotional expression

--> emotional response to the break of the record
2) The function of aesthetic enjoyment

--> the pop media representation of the dj, turntables, and scratching
3) The function of entertainment

--> party music, played at house parties, block parties, to (later) bigger venues
4) The function of communication

--> a means through with people could unite (?)
5) The function of symbolic representation

--> a representation of oppressed black "ghetto" culture in America
6) The function of physical response

--> its physical representation in "breakdancing"
7) The function of enforcing conformity to social norms

--> kept kids out of gangs and away from drugs (?)
8) The function of validation of social institutions and religious rituals

--> something good can come out of the Bronx ("ghetto" institution)
9) The function of contribution to the continuity and stability of culture

--> allowed young people a means to communicate with their generation (?)
10) The function of contribution to the integration of society

--> integration of black "ghetto" culture into society

3. Avant-garde Music - "a term used to characterize music which is thought to be ahead of its time, i.e. containing unique or original elements, or unexplored fusions of different genres ... Today the term may be used to refer to any other post-1945 tendency of modernist music not definable as experimental music, though sometimes including a type of experimental music characterized by the rejection of tonality." ... [definitions taken from wikipedia]

1) The function of emotional expression

--> a means of redefining what music is to the individual
2) The function of aesthetic enjoyment

--> aesthetics as a primary or irrelevant element (playing with dichotomy)
3) The function of entertainment

--> seen as "different" and something to be "experienced"
4) The function of communication

--> relationship between artist/musician and sound
5) The function of symbolic representation

--> symbolic representation as something also to be questioned
6) The function of physical response

--> asking the question: how and how should someone respond?
7) The function of enforcing conformity to social norms

--> a break from norms ... a progression towards new norms (?)
8) The function of validation of social institutions and religious rituals

--> ??
9) The function of contribution to the continuity and stability of culture

--> functions as the movement away from comfort in stability

10) The function of contribution to the integration of society

--> integration of new sounds and elements to society