The Modern Era of music is different from the rest in that, as the Americans had hoped, America became the leader of music. Europe had dominated the world of music for hundreds of years, but with the new growth and popularity of America came great musical success. This success was of course owed to the composers of the past, for it was on their foundation that Americans were inspired. Operas and symphonies were brought back from England, Italy, Germany and many other countries and performed in America.

     There were of course still great composers springing up throughout Europe at this time, such as Leos Janacek, Manuel de Falla of Spain, who made Spanish music popular, and Ernest Bloch, who wrote music inspired by music of the Jewish synagogues. A German man by the name of Paul Hindemith wrote many educational pieces, to help teach children and adults alike to play. However, when Hitler did not approve of his music, he came to America and taught at Yale University. He was one of the first to introduce elements of jazz into music. Russia also began to contribute to the musical scene with operas and symphonies. So with the modern era came an abundance of fresh new genres of music from parts of Europe that had been so silent for such a long time before.

     In America, however, musicians were more than ready to break away from the sounds of the past. Though they greatly respected past composers and were inspired by their works, they wanted to find a unique sound. This uniqueness most likely came not from an American, but a Czech conductor by the name of Antonin Dvorak. It was at a celebration of his coming to America that the song “America” was announced to be the national hymn. It was he who encouraged Americans to draw their inspiration from the Negroes and the Indians.

     Soon a collection of songs began to inspire composers. Songs that cowboys, Indians, Negroes, and even songs lumberjacks sang. American folk tunes and all these other styles began to fold into a sound that America could call her own. From the Negro tunes came jazz, ragtime and blues. Instruments such as the trumpet, trombone, and saxophone often accompanied this sort of music. To add rhythm, the use of drums and piano were popular. Jazz quickly became popular, not just in America, but all over the world.

     A man by the name of Aaron Copland was given much credit for his efforts in advancing music in America. Copland began his career writing a concerto for the New York Philharmonic, and later won the RCA prize for this piece, which he had turned into a symphony. He had many achievements such as being the founder of the Copland-Sessions Concerts and the American Festival of Contemporary Music, and was also the chairman of the League of Composers and founder of the American Composers Alliance. He also lectured at Harvard and wrote symphonies and song with a folk twist to interest the general public. Following Copland’s success was Charles Ives from Connecticut. He composed what was said to be the greatest music composed by an American. It was a piano sonata called Concord, Massachusetts, 1840-60. By the title you wouldn’t think this was a great piece of work. But this composition held so many emotional elements and portrayed such talent that it was not soon forgotten. Ives incorporated so many styles, patterns and rhythms into this sonata that it was truly original. His symphonies were so complex that they were rarely performed. In 1951, the New York Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra performed his Second Symphony nearly 50 years after it was written. He died in 1954, just as music was taking a huge turn in America.

     Electricity all of a sudden started to play a large part in music during the later half of the twentieth century. The goal was to make sounds that were unique from instruments. Sounds that could imitate anything from wind to waves to trains and so on. They experimented with electronic instruments, like a type of keyboard that when the notes were played, sounds of nature came out. This experimenting with the keyboard went much further, and soon it could even be used as a percussion instrument. Recording had become widely popular, and soon records were being produced and people could sell their music in the stores to be listened to whenever the buyer pleased. With the use of these recording studios came the opportunity to perfect music. The singer or band could record a song over and over until satisfied, and because of the advancement of technology, many mistakes could be corrected before producing the record.

     Symphonies were still being played everywhere, for they will never lose their appeal. But jazz music had continued to grow popular, and a new style, Rock and Roll was introduced by Elvis Presley. Elvis was a young heartthrob that stepped into the music scene in the 1950s with a goal to bring a fresh and daring sound to the young people. His manager had been looking for a white man that could sing like a black man, and Elvis seemed to fit that description. His style of music came with dancing and movements that often offended people for they were thought to be suggestive. He was a rebel of musicians, and that made him popular among teenagers especially. He appeared on many shows on TV, singing songs like “Heartbreak Hotel”, “Love Me Tender”, and “Hound Dog”. Along with him were well-known artists such as Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Cash. Soon bands like the Beatles and Beach Boys would make a splash in music.

     The world of music was beginning to go electric. Rock music consisted of guitars, both acoustic and electric, drums, bass, and keyboards. Jazz was accompanied with brass instruments, drums and piano. And the orchestras had violins, cellos, and flutes. Concerts weren’t what they used to be, with people sitting quietly in their seats enjoying the performance. Now boys and girls, men and women crowded around the stage, dancing and jumping and singing along to the new “wild” tunes of the mid-twentieth century. Artists sang about girls and cars and everything that was of interest to young people.

     The music of the 1960s began to reflect social and political issues. People used music to state their positions on matters of war and feminism, among many other topics. It started the ongoing trend of writing music about what is going on in the world at the current time. It was a chance for artists to express themselves and their opinions. Some of the famous artists of this time include The Temptations, Diana Ross and the Supremes, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin and the Doors.

     Jimi Hendrix was one of the most influential musicians in the music scene, even though it was only for a short time. He was a brilliant composer, singer and guitar player. His originality with the electric guitar awed audiences, and inspired fellow guitarists. Not only did he play the guitar upside down, light his guitar on fire for shows, play behind his back or with his teeth, but he also made effects like distortion and feedback popular. His creativity seemed endless and any rock and roll guitarist should gladly give a “hats off” to Jimi Hendrix.

     In 1970 the rock and roll scene was still strong with artists like Led Zepplin, KISS, Van Halen, and Queen. However, a new type of music had grabbed the attention of music lovers all over the US, and eventually the world. Disco was the sound, the hip dance music that brought people of all colors and ages together. Songs like “I will Survive”, by Gloria Gaynor filled dance clubs across America, and along with it came the flashy styles of the 70s, like bellbottoms, platform shoes, and very big hair. Dance clubs started to gain immense popularity in the 1970s and have continued to be popular ever since.

     The 1980s brought about some revolutionary development in the music scene, such as compact discs and MTV. Disco seemed to fade in the 1980s, and artists such as Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna, Metallica, U2, REM and New Kids on the Block were introduced. We have the New Kids on the Block to thank for starting the boy band trend in the 1990s. Many styles of music like heavy metal, techno, rap, country, and alternative rock gained popularity. The coming about of MTV seemed to be the beginning of “image” in music. Not only did the musicians have to be musically talented, but a new emphasis was placed on looks. Shallow as this may seem, music videos helped the music industry immensely.

     1990 was such a mix of styles of music that surely everyone could find something to please their ears. However it seems that the music of the 90s is often looked upon as a joke, with all the boy bands and girl bands dominating the stage. From the Backstreet Boys, to ’N Sync, to the Spice Girls, this music had kids and teenagers screaming at the top of their lungs at concerts, gushing over the oh-so-sappy lyrics that many laugh at now. Vanilla Ice entered the scene early on in the 90s, and paved the way for Eminem, who would become an idol among rap fans for years to come. There were among these musicians some respectably mature artists as well. Musicians like Bryan Adams, Whitney Houston, and Mariah Carey can be given credit for putting out some solid music as well.

     The twenty-first century, like the 1990s, continues to be a melting pot of musical styles. Rock, heavy metal, pop, punk, country, indie, emo, and adult contemporary all continue to grow in popularity. However, hip hop and R&B seem to have taken over the world of music in America in the twenty-first century with artists such as Jay-Z, Nelly, Kanye West, and 50 cent. Pop rock, while still being somewhat popular in the 2000s, has taken a somewhat of a backseat to hip hop among the youth, while in other countries it is still considered the most popular genre. CD sales have dropped drastically since the making of devices like the MP3 player and the iPod, which use the downloading of songs off the internet, allowing the person to be able to listen to practically any music imaginable at any given time. The twenty-first century has also introduced the singing contest show of American Idol, a program that has swept the nation with its popularity, and made artists like Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood famous.

     You can still go anywhere to hear a beautiful symphony, inspired by the composers that poured their hearts into their work over hundreds of years, and operas are still being performed on stages all across the world. However, this new modern era has given music lovers access to any type of music they please, from the radio, to CDs, TV, and even the internet.

Source:
Shippen, Katherine B. The Heritage of Music. New York: The Viking Press, 1963.