MAGAZINE

21 SEPTEMBER 2021 MUSIC LIFESTYLE

FALL PREVIEW

John Legend Does Music Affect
brings ‘Bigger Your Mood?
Love’ Tour to
Tucson’s AVA Finally, a Lot of
Classical Music
and Opera to Hear

This Season

The Metropolitan Opera’s first work
by a Black composer, Carnegie Hall’s

reopened doors and more.

2 | |CRESCENDO MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

THE BEST ACOUSTIC AND ELECTRIC
GUITARS IN 2021

YAMAHA F100 / MITO TG SERIES

Type: Medium Jumbo | Top: Solid Engelmann
spruce | Back and sides: Rosewood | Neck:
Mahogany/rosewood 5-ply | Scale: 25.9/16” |
Fingerboard: Rosewood | Frets: 20 | Tuners: Die-
cast gold | Electronics: Yamaha SRT Zero Impact
pickup | Left-handed: Yes | Finish: Gloss
Excellent sound plugged in and acoustically
Great build quality
Forgiving sound for the beginner
Higher-end price for a beginner guitar

Price : RM399.00 RM199.05
50% OFF MIN

ELECTRIC GUITAR BLW OFF ROAD GITAR
ELEKTRIK VINTAGE DESIGN REVERSE
HEADSTOCK STRATOCASTER STYLE

Body: Alder | Neck: Maple | Fingerboard: Indian
laurel | Frets: 21 medium jumbo frets | Pickups:
Three Custom Alnico V pickups
Excellent sound plugged in and acoustically
Great build quality
Forgiving sound for the beginner
Higher-end price for a beginner guitar

Price : RM415.00 RM207.05
50% off min

ELECTRIC GUITAR BLW NOCTURNE SERIES
GITAR ELEKTRIK PACKAGE

Body: Mahogany with bevelled maple and flame
maple veneer | Neck: Mahogany, Wide Thin
profile, set | Fingerboard: Bound rosewood with
pearloid bird inlays | Frets: 24 | Pickups: 2x PRS
85/15 ‘S’ humbuckers
Price : RM459.00 RM429.00
7% OFF

Excellent sound plugged in and acoustically
Great build quality
Forgiving sound for the beginner
Higher-end price for a beginner guitar

| |2021 OCTOBER CRESCENDO MAGAZINE 3

CONTENTS

2 10 12

Shopee sale The best Does Music Affect Your Mood. The Pop/R&B singer-songwriter John
acoustic and electric results help us to pinpoint the ways Legend brings his “Bigger Love”
guitars in 2021 people regulate their mood with the Tour to the AVA at Casino del Sol
help of music. on Friday, Sept. 24 — more than
4 a year after the tour was initially
set to be here.
Intoduction of
music. What is 14
music
The Metropolitan Opera’s first
6 work by a Black composer,
Carnegie Hall’s reopened doors
Queen to and more.
celebrated five
decades of music 16
with “experiental”
pop-up store in Different between folk and
London country

7 18

Freddie Mercury at 75: Here are reasons why violin is
Brian May and Roger the hardest instrument to play
Taylor pay touching
tribute to Queen singer

8

The Basics of Music:
Genre

4 | |CRESCENDO MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

INTRODUCTION MUSIC

and perform around the world,
singing the songs that made
them famous. All of these are
examples of music.

‘ Terms
’Related

to Music

Sounds are all around us, or one of Duke Ellington’s To better understand how
from birds chirping and jazz songs. Music is made music is made, let’s discuss
waves lapping against a of sounds, vibrations, and some important musical
coastline to cars honking in silent moments, and it doesn’t terms.
traffic. But sometimes sounds always have to be pleasant or If you can sing the tune
are put together in purposeful pretty. It can be used to convey of a favorite song, you’ve
ways to create a specific a whole range of experiences, experienced melody. Melody
atmosphere or to express ideas environments, and emotions. is the series of coordinated
or emotions. Such organized Almost every human culture pitches that form the main
sounds are called music. has a tradition of making line of a tune. Think about
Music is a collection of music. Examples of early it as the primary voice in
coordinated sound or sounds. instruments like flutes and a musical work. When we
Making music is the process drums have been found dating speak of ‘voice’ in this way, it
of putting sounds and tones back thousands of years. might be a human voice or an
in an order, often combining Ancient Egyptians used music instrumental one.
them to create a unified in religious ceremonies. Many When you hear a work,
composition. People who make other African cultures have the melody stands out, but
music creatively organize traditions related to drumming sometimes other sounds
sounds for a desired result, for important rituals. Today, or voices help support it
like a Beethoven symphony rock and pop musicians tour and make the music more
complex. Harmony refers
to multiple lines of musical
notes that are subordinate to
the melody and complement
it. You can hear the harmony,
but it’s not as prominent as
the melody. Harmony is often
formed by a series of chords,
or three or more notes played
at the same time. Another
important element of music is
rhythm, or the repeated

| |2021 OCTOBER CRESCENDO MAGAZINE 5

patterns of movement in sound. Basically, Ontario Institute of Technology, designed a
rhythm is the placement of sound in time. It series of studies to bolster it. “This hypothesis
involves specific units of sound arranged as centers on music’s unique ability to influence
beats. Also important to rhythm is the idea the mood and behavior of many people at
of tempo, or the speed at which the beats are once,” they write, “helping to mold individual
performed. Music also has beings into a coordinated group.” They cite
many terms that describe
how it should be played the power of military music, music
or sung. These played at sports games, and “ritualized
include words like drumming” as examples. It changes
allegro, which with time, and the ease of travel
means quick from the days of trains and
and lively, steamships, and especially now
and largo, globalization, has accelerated
which means the rate of change from the
slow. Other nineteenth century onward.
terms give But travel, even on foot and
instructions in log canoes, has been
for loud or with us since the Paleolithic
soft or bold and so has inventiveness.
or calm, or Change in music and change
even suggest in instruments will always be
how specific with us, but traditions, however
notes should changed, will always survive.
be emphasized.
All of this helps to
create a desired end
result.

Why did humans invent music?

Until the hot tub time machine becomes a
reality, the answer to that question will remain
as mysterious as the true identity of the ‘60s
garage band ? and the Mysterians. Nonetheless,
academic minds are always trying to come up
with a theory. Charles Darwin believed music
was created as a sexual come-on. His idea is
given credence by the universally acclaimed
song of the summer, “Blurred Lines.” (Note:
The link goes to the Jimmy Fallon version
played with toy instruments and is suitable
for work.). Other theorists believe music was
an attempt at social glue, a way to bring early
humans together into a close-knit community.
Chris Loersch, a senior research associate in
psychology and neuroscience at the University
of Colorado, likes that idea, and he’s done
research to try and prove it. He and Nathan
Arbuckle, from the Department of Social
Sciences and Humanities at the University of

6 | |CRESCENDO MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

Queen To Celebrate Five Decades Of Music
With “Experiential” Pop-Up Store In London

The store will sell exclusive apparel, vinyl records and more.

Queen are celebrating five As for merchandise, fans can organisation founded by Brian
decades of music by opening look forward to picking up May, Roger Taylor and Queen
an “experiential” pop-up store vinyl records, apparel and band manager Jim Beach to
that will use visual installations other memorabilia in line raise funds and awareness for
to take fans on a journey with the store’s three monthly HIV/AIDS.
through the band’s history. themes: Music in October,
The store, called Queen The Art & Design in November Speaking about the launch
Greatest, will be located on and Magic in December. In of the store, Queen said in a
London’s Carnaby Street from addition to exclusive fashion statement: “We are pleased
28 September to January 2022. collaborations with Champion, to collaborate with Bravado
The two-floor space will be Tokolo and more, the store on this project, which will be
occupied by installations that will sell limited-edition music, an exciting experience for
tell the group’s story, such including a special vinyl everyone to come to London
as a model 70s thrift shop (a edition of Queen’s Greatest and enjoy. Carnaby Street was
nod to the Kensington Market Hits. Along with this, special the perfect spot for the store to
stall Freddie Mercury and Christmas goods – including celebrate five decades.”
Roger Taylor once had) as jumpers and wrapping paper –
well as recreations of iconic will be sold during the holiday
performances venues that the season. Proceeds from sales
band played from the 80s and will go towards the Mercury
beyond. Phoenix Trust, the charitable

| |2021 OCTOBER CRESCENDO MAGAZINE 7

Freddie
Mercury at
75: Brian
May and
Roger Taylor
pay touching
tribute
to Queen
singer

FREDDIE most visionary artists we’re lucky to have here in our
M E R C U RY ’s Instagram community.
75th birthday “I’m sometimes accused of favouritism. Do I have
would have favourites ? Damn right I do !!! I’m sure you do too.
been today and So here is a nod to one of my absolute favourites. And
Brian May and - my favourite of his portraits of my favourite singer ?
Roger Taylor have
paid touching tribute
to the Queen singer.
This year marks 30 years since Freddie
Mercury’s untimely death and today
would have been the Queen singer’s 75th
birthday. Joining fans around the world,
Brian May and Roger Taylor have paid
tribute to their dear friend and bandmate. The Queen
guitarist posted a collage of stunning Freddie fan art,
admitting he does indeed have his favourites.

Brian captioned his Instagram post: “Happy Birthday
Freddie. Enjoy this tour of Freddie’s incarnations and
moods through the eyes of extraordinary artist @
nenu_ph - one of the

8 | |CRESCENDO MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

The Classical Music appeal. These are examples of
popular music heard in school
Basics Did you know classical music music programs.
has a double meaning? There
of is a time span called the Traditional Music
Classical period from 1750-
Music: 1820. This period starts with Traditional music is also
works of J.S Bach, through the known as folk music. This
Genre life of Mozart, and ends with genre has regained mass
the death of Beethoven. These appeal in the last few years.
What is Music heavy hitters defined this One reason for this rise is the
Genre? important period in music. phenomenon of famous music
artists using more traditional
Music is grouped into genres On the flipside, we have the instruments, such as banjo, in
to describe the music’s form, music genre called classical. their tracks. More orchestra
style, and cultural influence. The classical music genre programs are teaching Fiddle
From classical to hip-hop, encompasses music composed and Mariachi music in their
there are countless numbers of between the 6th century classrooms. Traditional music
genres. It would be impossible through the present
to cover them all in one blog! time. In such an contains tunes and
Get started with this list of extremely long songs that have
music genres your band and period of time, been performed
orchestra student will likely it can seems over several
encounter during their middle confusing generations.
school, junior high, and high to identify F r e q u e n t l y,
school years. what this music
actually is taught
Popular qualifies without
Music as classical sheet music
Genres music. through rote
One quick teaching
shorthand methods.
is music that Rote is a way
is not rock, of learning
jazz, pop or other songs by call
contemporary music. and response. The
Here is how the famous
composer of West-Side Story, instructor plays a small
Leonard Bernstein, defines musical phrase, and the class
classical music. repeats it. Those small musical
phrases are joined together
Pop Music until the tune is learned.

Bands and Orchestras play a Jazz Music
lot of popular music in their
classrooms, on-stage, and Jazz Music is an American
on the marching fields. The
popular music genre covers original. It was formulated in
anything that is commercially
relevant with a broad mass New Orleans through African-

American communities

beginning at the turn of the

20th century and through the

styles of blues and ragtime.

| |2021 OCTOBER CRESCENDO MAGAZINE 9

Standard in middle school and high school piano playing, also became very popular.
band programs, the instrumentation varies,
but usually contains trumpet, trombone, But rock and roll seemed wild and dangerous
saxophone, guitar, string bass, and keyboard. to many parents, especially when they saw
the sexy dancing of a handsome young singer
Blues named Elvis Presley. There was nothing they
could do to stop their kids from loving rock and
It was this new combination of African and roll and being fans of Elvis, however. He became
Western music that led to the genre we now hugely successful and made rock and roll one
call “blues”. Some blues songs told stories of of the most popular styles of music not only in
heartbreak and pain, and these were often slow America, but across the world. Elvis had many
and sad. But others were about being in love, or hit singles, including Hound Dog, Heartbreak
having fun, and these were up-tempo and good Hotel and Jailhouse Rock, and he soon became
to dance to. Various blues styles developed over known as “the king of rock and roll” or simply
the years, some in small towns of the American “the king”.
south and others in cities like Chicago and New
Orleans. But wherever the music was played,
listeners heard a sound that was going to
influence nearly every genre of popular music
to come, from jazz and soul to hip hop. If you’d
like to hear some early blues, try searching for
the recordings of Blind Willie McTell, Bukka
White and Lightnin’ Hopkins. For later blues,
try Billie Holiday, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf
and John Lee Hooker.

Rock and Roll

By the early 1950 s, another new genre called
“rock and roll” (or “rock’n’roll”) was being
created by musicians who could play both R&B
and Western Swing, a popular style of country
dance music. This new music was played on the
same set of instruments as R&B - electric guitar,
double bass and drums - with the guitarist often
singing as well. It had a strong blues beat and
an R&B feel, but the melodies were like those of
country music. It was great to dance to, and rock
and roll dance styles soon developed as well.
The lyrics were fun to listen to, and it quickly
became popular, especially when teenagers
heard rock and roll records on the radio. One
of the first bands to record was “Bill Hayley and
His Comets” who had a hit single with Rock
around the Clock in 1954. They were greatly
influenced by R&B artists like Louis Jordan and
Big Joe Turner, as were many others like Little
Richard and Chuck Berry, whose 1956 single
Roll Over Beethoven became a huge hit. Jerry
Lee Lewis, who amazed audiences with his wild

10 | |CRESCENDO MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

Does
Music
Affect
Your
Mood?

New research shows that even sad music Ph.D., a professor of music cognition at Durham
can lift your mood, while other studies University, in a press release.
suggest music can boost happiness He also said the study may help find reasons
and reduce anxiety. From the drumbeats of for both listening to and avoiding sad music.
our ancient ancestors to today’s unlimited An earlier study, published in the Journal of
streaming services, music is an integral part Consumer Research, found that people tend to
of the human experience. Researchers have prefer sad music when they are experiencing
pondered the possible therapeutic and mood a deep interpersonal loss, like the end of a
boosting benefits of music for centuries. Even relationship. The authors of that study suggested
sad music brings most listeners pleasure and that sad music provides a substitute for the lost
comfort, according to recent research from relationship. They compared it to the preference
Durham University in the United Kingdom and most people have for an empathic friend —
the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, published someone who truly understands what you’re
in PLOS ONETrusted Source. Conversely, the going through.Other research has focused on
study found that for some people, sad music the joy upbeat music can bring.
can cause negative feelings of profound grief.
The research involved three surveys of more A 2013 study in the Journal of Positive Psychology
than 2,400 people in the United Kingdom found that people who listened to upbeat
and Finland, focusing on the emotions and music could improve their moods and boost
memorable experiences associated with their happiness in just two weeks.In the study,
listening to sad songs. participants were instructed to try to improve
their mood, but they only succeeded when
The majority of experiences reported by they listened to the upbeat music of Copland as
participants were positive. “The results help opposed to the sadder tunes of Stravinsky. And
us to pinpoint the ways people regulate their a happier mood brings benefits beyond feeling
mood with the help of music, as well as how good. In a press release, lead study author, Yuna
music rehabilitation and music therapy might Ferguson, noted that happiness has been linked
tap into these processes of comfort, relief, and to better physical health, higher income, and
enjoyment,” said lead author, Tuomas Eerola, greater relationship satisfaction.

| |2021 OCTOBER CRESCENDO MAGAZINE 11

Music as therapy a profound impact on the brain. In a column
for Conscious Lifestyle magazine, Goldstein
This music research aligns with the larger arena wrote that music can actually enhance brain
of music therapy. The American Music Therapy functions. He said music can evoke emotion,
Association (AMTA) reports that music therapy help regain memories, stimulate new neural
programs can be designed to achieve goals such connections, and active attention.
as managing stress, enhancing memory, and
alleviating pain. It might seem surprising that Boosting moods
music can help people cope with physical pain,
but research has shown a clear link. A 2015 While listening to music may bring greater
review in The LancetTrusted Sourcefound that health benefits, creating it can be an effective
people who listened to music before, during,
or after surgery experienced less pain therapy, too. A unique orchestra for people
and anxiety, compared to patients with dementia helped improve their
who did not listen to music. The mood and boost their self-confidence,
music listeners didn’t even need according to researchers at
as much pain medication. To the Bournemouth University
conduct the study, researchers Dementia Institute (BUDI) in
looked at data from 73 different Dorset, U.K. The orchestra is one
trials, involving more than 7,000 of several BUDI research projects
patients. that aims to demonstrate how
people with dementia can still
The people who experienced a learn new skills and have fun.
slightly greater, but nonsignificant, Eight people with dementia and
reduction in pain, and needed the seven caregivers participated in
least pain medication, were the ones the project, along with students and
who got to pick their own music. “Music is a
non-invasive, safe, cheap intervention that professional musicians.
should be available to everyone undergoing
surgery,” lead study author Catherine Meads, “Music touches everyone in some way, either by
Ph.D., of Brunel University in the United listening or playing,” said Anthea Innes, Ph.D.,
Kingdom, recommended in a press release. head of BUDI, in a press release. She said that
When it comes to treating chronic conditions, the orchestra has been a life-enhancing project
music therapy can also play a powerful role. for everyone involved, and that the project
A recent review in the World Journal of challenges the negative public perceptions of
PsychiatryTrusted Source found that music people diagnosed with dementia. “Working
therapy can be an effective treatment for mood together to produce a collaborative output is
disorders related to neurological conditions, a powerful way to bring out the best in people
including Parkinson’s disease, dementia, stroke, — not just in terms of their musical skills, but
and multiple sclerosis. After reviewing 25 trials, their communication skills, friendships, care,
the researchers concluded that music is a and support for one another,” she added.
valid therapy to potentially reduce depression
and anxiety, as well as to improve mood, self-
esteem, and quality of life.

They also noted that no negative side effects were
reported in any of the trials, making music a
low-risk treatment Barry Goldstein, a recording
artist who has studied the vibrational effects of
music for more than 25 years, says music has

12 | |CRESCENDO MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

John
Legend
brings
his
“Bigger
Love”
Tour to
the AVA

Usually when he releases an “Bigger Love,” including a stop at the AVA on
album, R&B/pop singer- Friday, Sept. 24 — almost exactly a year after
songwriter John Legend hits his scheduled 2020 Tucson date. “I still wanted
the road and shares his new music to have that feeling of playing these songs live
with his fans. And if he had had his for the first time,” Legend explained earlier this
way, he would have done just that month from home in Beverly Hills. “Usually
right around the time that he released that comes right after you put the album out.
his latest album “Bigger Love” — in June 2020. For it to happen almost 18 months later is pretty
We all know how that plan got railroaded by the crazy.”Even though “Bigger Love” is “old” and
COVID-19 pandemic. His 2020 “Bigger Love” Legend is putting the finishing touches on its
Tour was shelved, including a September 2020 followup, Legend said he can’t wait to see his
date penciled in for Tucson’s AVA at Casino del fans’ reaction when he gets on stage and sings
Sol.

But as the pandemic numbers started to mostly
slow down or level off and venues around
the country started reopening to live events
a couple of months ago, Legend relaunched

| |2021 OCTOBER CRESCENDO MAGAZINE 13

“That’s the music that made me,” said the
42-year-old Ohio native. “I think about soul
music, hip-hop, pop, a little bit of reggae as
well, gospel music — this is the music that
is the tapestry of who I am. And so much
of that is the tapestry of American music,
particularly Black music in America.”
Legend opened the tour on Sept. 1 in Atlanta
and will perform 28 shows through October
before returning for his sixth season as a
coach on “The Voice.”
“It was fun to finally put it out there for the
audience and to feel our energy. It felt really
good,” Legend said of the Atlanta show. “It
felt joyful and full of love and connection.
That’s what I want the shows to feel like. It
was pretty magical feeling the energy of the
crowd and connecting with them. There
is something special about that. You can’t
duplicate that in any other way.”

Legend said there is one downfall to being
back on the road: His two young kids had
gotten used to having him and his wife,
Chrissy Teigen, around the house. Through
the family’s ups and downs including losing
a baby and losing older family members
to COVID, the family grew closer, he said.
“We’ve had some challenges, for sure, but
I feel like we’re closer together than ever,
more supportive of each other than ever,” he
said. “I feel like this time has been good for
us as far as bringing us closer and making
us stronger.”

the inspiring title song “Bigger Love” that will
put the past 18 months into perspective — “We
got a one-way ticket love/We ain’t going no
place but up” — and the sultry ballads “Wild”
and “Slow Cooker.” “Bigger Love” is a reflection
of the musical influences that have defined
Legend’s nearly 25-year career, from the soulful
“Remember Us” to the reggae-inspired “Don’t
Walk Away” and the R&B rich “Actions” that
turns Legend’s trademark love song on its head
with the refrain “actions speak louder than love
songs.”

14 | |CRESCENDO MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

OUT NOW! The
Beatles: Get Back

The Real Story of The Get Back
Sessions

Global October 12, 2021 Publication by
Callaway & Apple Corps to Coincide
with the Release of Peter Jackson’s “THE
BEATLES: GET BACK” Feature Documentary
Film. Definitive Volume Presents Exclusive, In-
Their-Own-Words Account of The Beatles’ Let It Be
Recording Sessions. Illustrated with Hundreds of
Previously Unpublished Images, Including Photos
by Ethan A. Russell and Linda McCartney.

| |2021 OCTOBER CRESCENDO MAGAZINE 15

“It would be fair to say that today Let It Be
symbolizes the breaking up of The Beatles.
That’s the mythology, the truth is somewhat
different.The real story of Let It Be has been
locked in the vaults of Apple Corps for the
last fifty years.”
PETER JACKSON

16 | |CRESCENDO MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

Ultimate 1. Queen - “Bohemian Rhapsody”
Classic Rock 2. Nirvana, ‘Nevermind’ (1991)
Bands of the 3. Pearl Jam, ‘Ten’ (1991)
‘90s. 4. Soundgarden, ‘Superunknown’ (1994)
5. Alice in Chains, ‘Dirt’ (1992)
6. Hole, ‘Live Through This’ (1994)
7. Mother Love Bone, ‘Apple’ (1990)
8. Radiohead, ‘Pablo Honey’ (1993)
9. Queen - “we are the champion
10. Pearl Jam, ‘Vitalogy’ (1994
11. Soundgarden, ‘Louder Than Love’
(1989)
12. Screaming Trees, ‘Dust’ (1996)
13. Metallica
14. Guns N’ Roses
15. Rage Against the Machine

| |2021 OCTOBER CRESCENDO MAGAZINE 17

16. Van Halen
17. Green Day 28. Kiss
18. Aerosmith
19. Motley Crue
20. Foo Fighters, ‘Foo Fighters’ (1995)

18 | |CRESCENDO MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

Finally, The coming classicalmusicseason
a Lot of
Classical has an unsettled
Music and
Opera to quality, a sense of a
Hear
This culture trying to orient
Season
itself in the midst of
Among the
highlights: the crisis. You can detect in
Metropolitan
Opera’s first the offerings bottled-up
work by a Black
composer, Carnegie Hall’s energy from a long dormancy; wariness about
reopened doors and more.
the continuing health and financial effects of

the pandemic; pressure, in the wake of protests

against racial injustice, to demonstrate that a

hidebound art form can become truly more

diverse. PARK AVENUE ARMORY The restored

period rooms at the Armory, on the Upper

East Side of Manhattan, have turned out to be

ideally intimate spaces for recitals — which

return with the youthful tenor Paul Appleby

and the pianist Conor Hanick (Sept. 20 and 22);

| |2021 OCTOBER CRESCENDO MAGAZINE 19

the baritone Will Liverman and Myra Huang
(Oct. 10-11); and the commanding mezzo-
soprano Jamie Barton and Warren Jones (Nov.
19 and 21). CLAIRE CHASE This pioneering flutist’s
“Density 2036” project, aiming at nothing less than
the creation of a new repertoire for her instrument,
presses on with the premiere of new works by Ann
Cleare, Matana Roberts, Lu Wang and Bora Yoon.
(Dec. 9-11 at the Kitchen, Manhattan). LEONIDAS
KAVAKOS Among the highlights of this violinist’s
Perspectives series at Carnegie Hall this season is a
program of Beethoven trios with his frequent and
friendly collaborators: the pianist Emanuel Ax (who
also plays a solo recital of late Chopin at the hall on
April 28). (March 8) BEATRICE RANA Not shying
from daunting standards, this pianist plays Chopin’s
four Scherzos, the first book of Debussy’s Études
and Stravinsky’s dazzling arrangement of three
movements from “Petrushka.”

20 | |CRESCENDO MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN FOLK AND
COUNTRY MUSIC

What is Country Music? in the eighteen hundreds. when a new type evolved. It
was called the second wave of
Country music has its roots American folk songs have folk music or the folk revival.
in the American southeast Folk music had its heyday in
and west. Its stories tell tales origins in the Revolutionary the 1960s.
of lonely cowboys, lost cattle,
love gone wrong, and hard- and Colonization period when Differences between
drinking at the local saloon. Country and Folk
settlers from the British Isles Music

came to America. Traditional Breadth is far wider
than country.
ballads like “Barbara Allen” In essence,
country is one
were passed down by part of folk.
It is a unique
Originally, country music was the immigrants to style of folk
music. Folk
accompanied largely by string- their children. music—even
in its second
instruments: the acoustic They were also wave—didn’t stray

guitar, the banjo, the upright introduced to from its pure form.
Country, on the other
bass, and the mandolin. their new hand, has muddied the
waters between country and
Country vocals are simple countr y. pop and even ventured into
rock.
ballads, danceable tunes, Folk music

or melancholy romance. is unique to

Harmony—if present—is an area and

simple often involving only universal

two or three voices. within that

c o m m u n i t y.

What is Folk Music? Folk singers

Here’s another difference often weren’t
between country and folk
music. While county music is trained. They
an offshoot of folk, there are
disparities in origin, sound, often played whatever
and theme. Folk music started
instruments they had at their

disposal. Folk also extends

into the twentieth century

| |2021 OCTOBER CRESCENDO MAGAZINE 21

Artists written about the Kent State is simple and the sounds
While there were some shootings by Neil Young. Folk often include banjos, electric
crossover artists, most famous songs often take on a regional guitars, steel guitars, acoustic
folk singers stayed true to flavor. Examples include Cajun guitars, fiddles, dobros and
their genre. So, folk genre music, songs of the South even harmonicas and Irish
claims such big names as Kris and Texas-southwest songs. whistles. Tunes can range
Kristofferson, Linda Ronstadt, Appalachian and Midwest folk from haunting to sprightly.
Mama Cass Eliot, Joanna songs are also regional folk
Newson and groups like The music. Conclusion
Kingston Trio, Peter, Paul, and What is the difference
Mary, The Limelighters, the Sounds between folk and country
Weavers, Crosby, Stills, and Folk songs use acoustic music? Both folk songs and
Nash and The Mamas and the instruments. They often rely on country music have roots in
Papas. Big names in country found instruments to establish early Appalachian music.
included: Hank Williams, a beat. These might include The difference between the
George Jones, Dolly Parton, sticks, spoons, washboards, two have become both less
Gene Autry, Barbara Mandrel, food stamps, handclaps, and and more. Folk and country
Eddie Arnold, Reba McIntire, finger snaps. Additionally, folk crossover artists have dotted
BJ Thomas, George Strait, songs change from generation the line between the two.
Kenny Rogers, Johnny Cash, to generation largely because Instrument changes have
Patsy Cline, and Loretta Lynn. they were passed on orally. blurred differences too.
Other key sounds of note: However, with country
Themes moving more and more
A country songwriter once Folk songs have several verses toward pop, it is often hard to
quipped country songs were with an easy-to-remember tell country is still country—
about: mama, trains, trucks, chorus sung between each. or is it? Examples include the
prison or getting’ drunk. He Aptly, folk songs were written complicated melodies and
wasn’t off the mark. If you add for the common folk. big sounds of artists like Tim
religion, patriotism, the south, Country music may have a McGraw, Taylor Swift, Carrie
loving and losing, sexy women, story to tell but it is less likely Underwood, and Shania
feeling lonesome, red-neck to be a protest. Twain. Even long-time country
life, and yearning for the past, Country music often consists singers like Reba McIntire and
you about have it. Folk themes of ballads and Texas two- Kenny Rogers are using full
include protest songs like step and line-dance orchestra background music.
those of Bob Dylan, historical tunes. The harmony
events like “The Wreck of the
Edmund Fitzgerald” by Gord
Lightfoot, and the war songs
of Johnny Horton. Other folk
songs captured nostalgia for
places or ways of life lost
like “Shenandoah”, “My Old
Kentucky Home”. Many folk
songs are work songs. These
include sea chanties, railroad
songs, and cowboy songs.
Folks songs address current
issues like slavery, war,
backbreaking jobs, social
unrest, and political issues.
A good example is “Ohio”

18 | |CRESCENDO MAGAZINE OCTOBER 2021

HERE ARE REASONS WHY
VIOLIN IS THE HARDEST

INSTRUMENT TO PLAY

You may
argue that
there are a
lot more difficult
instruments out
there that I don’t
even know. Well,
that might be true.
There are 1,500 and
2,000 instruments –
with traditional ‘classical
instruments’ only making
up about 300 to 400 of those…
So let’s say that, among piano,
guitar, most drums, flutes, orchestral
instruments that we commonly
seen, violin is definitely the hardest
to learn. I am saying this because
I have practiced violin for so man
years but I still suck. I have people
to back my point. My roommate has
played piano for years. One day she
picked up my violin and tried to pull
the bow. It literally sounded sawing
wood. And she said: “I will never
learn how to play violin. Piano is
much easier.” The first thing people
who are only used to piano may
struggle with violin is, to find the

| |2021 OCTOBER CRESCENDO MAGAZINE 23

placement of each note. To violin, your hands
are doing two complete different things – your
left hand has to make sure that yo are hitting the
right note, while your right hand has to move
the bow in a certain direction with appropriate
strength and speed. Your brain has to make
subtle decisions, and very nuance makes what
comes out different. That’s why it is the best to
start at a age of 5. It could take months just to
get used to the position. While with piano, there is
far less weird noise you can make because every note
is neatly separated. You may have trouble hitting the
wrong key but you won’t be out-of-tune. Then another
thing my pianist roommate noticed was that, you
don’t sit on a bench to play violin. Although lazy as I
am, I sit while practicing all the time…but, just think
about those concert, where musicians have to play
hours. Isn’t solo violinist the only one who stand the
whole time? Finally, and the most struggling fact to
people like me who probably have amnesia, violinists
play without music score…I can imagine how does
the violinist play a 30-minute-long song non-stop. I
can’t imagine how many hours of practices is behind
the stage.

Anyway, I remember trying to explain my violin-
is-hard-that’s-why-i-suck theory to my mom when
I was younger, and how she didn’t even bother
listening to me. But really, when you decided to pick
up a instrument, and it is your choice to crack it, then
you have to deal with whatever it takes to excel at it.