The word "genre" comes from the French genre - "genus" and means in music a combination of form and content, as well as a way of performance. The rhythm, melody and means of expression allow to determine the genre of a musical work.
Instruction manual
1
Select the work whose genre you want to define. Listen to it, paying attention to the rhythm and manner of performance. Folklore motifs indicate belonging to folk music. An uneven, improvisational performance indicates that the piece of music you have chosen most likely belongs to the genre of jazz or blues. The use of chorales or the singing of “a cappella” (polyphony without musical accompaniment) indicates the type of sacred music.
2
Read in the encyclopedia of music a list of the main genres and their divisions. So, wedding marches, chorales, and operettas are suitable for the concept of “European classical music”, and electronic music includes both house, new age or techno dance. It is difficult to remember everything in a single direction, without being a practitioner or theorist of music. It is enough to navigate in general trends. In addition, periodically, musicians invent new genres or mix old ones, giving them original names.
3
Classify music by genre, recalling artists you already know with a similar style of sound. So, if you are sure that Metallica’s songs fit the concept of “rock”, it would be logical to assume that Led Zeppelin, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Black Sabbath, Nazareth and other bands, which include guitarists, are also playing in the same genre. and bass players, and the vocalist mainly performs his own songs.
4
Get help from virtual music genre guides. On the Internet on specialized sites, you can find examples of songs of a certain style, or consult on forums with experts about a particular song. On the air of many radio stations, DJs conduct explanatory programs, where they comment on the affiliation of the listened piece of music to a particular genre.
