HISTORY OF COUNTRY MUSIC

Origin Of Country Music

Origin
The country music was born in the rural Southern United States in the 1920's, his roots came from; western cowboy, folk music, celtic music, blues, gospel music, and hokum music. The term "country music" is because the lyrics talk about the mountains, rivers, and others natural aspects of the countryside of America, but with the time the music evolves, born subgenres and  change the lyrics subjects to love, lonliness, failed loves and etc.


Early history

Immigrants of North America brought new instruments for country music such as the German-derived dulcimer, the italian mandolin, the spanish guitar and the african banjo (those are more commons ones).
Throughout the nineteenth century, immigrants groups from Central europe and the british Isles moved to Texas with spainsh, Mexicans, native Americans and U.S groups that was alredy established in Texas. Texas developed a unique cultural trains, thanks to all the cultures mixted here.

sources

http://www.countrymusicplanet.com/history/

http://www.planetradiocity.com/musicopedia/music_genres.php?mid=56

AMERICA IN THE 20's

The 1920's were a time of tremendous change in America. 

USA was one of the victors in the First World War and it enjoyed a period of great prosperity in the 1920's, though there was a darker side to American life even then. In the 1930's the Great Depression began in America and its effects were very serious there. Unlike Germany, though,  USA managed to avoid dictatorship and remained a democracy. 

SUBGENRES

The most common subgenres are:


* Close harmony


* Country folk


* Honky Tonk


* Country and irish


* Country instrumental


* Country neotradicional


* Outlaw country


* Cosmopolitan country


* Country rock


* Tex mex


* Western music / Cowboy


* Western swing (New Western Swing)




sources

http://audials.com/en/genres/country_music.html

CHARACTERISTICS OF COUNTRY MUSIC

Musical origins

American folk, folk Canadian, spiritual, blues, Celtic music

Cultural origins

Early twentieth century in the eastern United States (Tennessee, West Virginia and Kentucky) and Canada (Maritime Provinces)

Popularity

High in the world, mainly the Nashville sound.

 

Melody

Very catchy simple melodies, easy so people can sing along. 

Vocals 
Often harmonized especially at the chorus. Mostly, you will find it is harmonized with a 3rd either above or under the melody. 

Song Structure

Most country songs are simple and easily memorable, featuring three chords and a verse-chorus-verse structure. 

Lyrics

Usually about failed loves, deep loves, travelling, etc. Many country songs take the form of a narrative, one that includes characters, dialogue. Rather than being sung, action will sometimes be spoken. While sometimes country artists will be the stars of their stories and sing them from the first person, other times they will function simply as a narrator.

Principal’s country music instruments:

Accordion, Autoharp, Banjo, Bass, Dobro, Drums, Fiddle, Guitar, Harmonica, Ukulele, Mandolin, Piano, Pedal Steel Guitar, Washboard and Zither




sources

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_musical_characteristics_of_country_music

http://countrymusichalloffame.org/instruments-in-country-music/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Country_music

http://www.ehow.com/list_6574817_characteristics-country-western-music.html

FAMOUS COUNTRY ARTIST 2011-2012

The most 10 famous country artists in the world

Taylor Alison Swift      

Lady Antebellum

Alan Jackson

Dolly Parton

George Strait

Kenny Rogers

Johnny Cash

George Jones

Willie Nelson

Loretta Lynn

Emmy Lou Harris

 

sources

http://countrymusic.about.com/od/artistsofcountrymusic/Country_Music_Artists.htm

COUNTRY VIDEOS:

TAYLOR SWIFT - MEAN

LADY ANTEBELLUM - JUST A KISS

FAMOUS COUNTRY ARTIST AND GROUPS IN THE 1920´s

FIRST COUNTRY ARTIST

• 1929 
, "I'm Thinking Tonight Of My Blue Eyes" with Carter Family top country record.

• 1928, "Blue Yodel" recorded by Jimmie Rodgers.
• 

• 1927, The Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers make first recordings. "Sleep Baby Sleep".
• 

• 1926, Formation of The Skillet Lickers. "The Dying Cowboy" with Carl T.
• 

• 1925, WSM signs on; first WSM Barn Dance. "The Death Of Floyd Collins" recorded by Vernon Dalhart.
• 

• 1924, "The Prisoner's Song" recorded by Vernon Dalhart becomes first million-selling country record and him was the first country singer to have a nationwide hit in May 1924 with "Wreck of the Old '97".
• 

• 1923, First radio "barn dance" WBAP in Fort Worth, Texas.
• 

• 1922 in country music, First commercial recordings of country music by Eck Robertson.
• 

sources:

http://countrymusic.about.com/od/artistsofcountrymusic/Country_Music_Artists.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_years_in_country_music