Music Event Description
Recently, I was able to attend the event that I had been waiting for for a long time – the concert of the band performing Anglo-American music. To be more precise, the members of the ensemble played in the genre of Urban Folk Revival and presented many unusual compositions based on the works of North America’s indigenous peoples. The musicians were dressed in bright outfits, emphasizing the coloring of the event and corresponding to the images that were typical for that style. The audience was also dressed the same, but the age group was not homogeneous since both young people and the representatives of the older generation were present.
The music itself reflected folk motives mixed with unconventional rock elements. In its sound, it resembled the forgotten melodies of the past decades, but new instruments revived them and made it possible to hear old compositions in a new way. The band managed to keep the public in joyful excitement until the very end of the concert, which testifies to the professionalism of musicians and vocalists. Some compositions were familiar to me, and most were unknown but beautiful and melodic.
The style of folk music is traditional, and it is difficult to say when it originated. However, in the second half of the 20th century, in the USA, there were musicians who decided to revive the forgotten genre and, as Petrus and Cohen note, to introduce “urban audiences to traditional folk music” (181). In the era of the emergence of this style, the progress and growth of city life were observed, which, nevertheless, did not stop the urban folklore from introducing a share of romanticism and sentimentality (Petrus and Cohen 21). The cultural environment was favorable for the becoming of this genre, which allowed developing this trend and turning it into a subtype of music.
Course Perception
Due to the material we have covered, I have a number of new ideas concerning those genres of music I have never met before. Considering different cultures and their characteristics, the ethnic theme seems to be the most attractive. Among the variety of musical styles, this direction is distinguished by individuality and originality of sounding, which makes it distinctive from other genres. Therefore, the value of the knowledge gained allows me to expand my horizons and have many new pleasant impressions.
Recording Description
The genre presented in the recording refers to Latin American music and, in particular, Mexican folk music. The melody has the typical shades of this culture and is demonstrates traditional tunes that have developed for many centuries. The song is well suited for active dance, which is also a characteristic feature of Latin American music. The style resembles a rural genre rather than an urban direction.
The recording was probably made not long ago, but the song itself seems to be old enough. Its name is La Bruja, which means The Witch, and it is a popular melody based on the legend that may be compared with the story about Dracula. This genre has evolved over centuries and, according to Sturman, “folk musicians have adopted and adapted music from outside the community, including formally composed or classical works” (114). In this regard, the direction is rich in borrowings and is a mixture of compositions from different eras.
Conclusion
The performer of this composition is most likely a young woman, which is a typical feature of such a song and a dance dedicated to it. The Witch tells the story of the victim of witchcraft, and the image of the fatal beauty is suitable for it. The scene with dancing and singing young women and playing musicians in many ways forms the idea of Mexican folk music as a whole, and this example may confirm such an assumption.
Works Cited
Petrus, Stephen, and Ronald D. Cohen. Folk City: New York and the American Folk Music Revival. Oxford University Press, 2015.
Sturman, Janet. The Course of Mexican Music. Routledge, 2016.