While R&B refers to rhythm and blues music, as in the genre that originated in 1940s America, when most people refer to R&B they tend to be talking about contemporary R&B, which rose during the 1980s as a variety of genres, particularly disco, soul, and jazz, were in decline.

The rhythm and blues genre of the past is the parent of contemporary R&B. While the modern variant has all the hallmarks of original R&B, the use of synthesizers and drum beat machines, as well as mixing platforms, are widely used to create a slick, well-produced type of music that is loved the world over.

The Fall of Disco

The fall of disco music in the early 80s meant there was a huge gap in the market to be exploited. Ironically, it was stars that had enjoyed some success with disco, including Michael Jackson, that were the first to make the crossover into modern R&B. Because R&B grew from the death of disco, and because of artists like Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston, and Janet Jackson, this first ‘era’ of contemporary R&B was very much a derivative of pop music.

Janet Jackson is not often widely credited as a leading light in R&B, but her 1986 album Control was a big influence, and still is to this day, as it represented the first time funk and disco had been brought together effectively, while synth effects, electronic percussion, and rap elements were also included. In terms of how we see R&B today, Control was the first real example.

Mainstream R&B

The 1990s were characterised by R&B moving away from its pop music sound and moving more towards a hip-hop and rap vibe. Despite this trend, artists like the Jacksons, in addition to Boyz II Men, Houston, and R Kelly, among others, all enjoyed considerable crossover success and a variety of mainstream chart hits.

Later in the decade, the lines between R&B, hip-hop, and pop would become more blurred than ever, with Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill (both with The Fugees and as a soloist), and Missy Elliott, all releasing albums and winning awards for work that wasn’t a pure fit into either sub-genre.

Many artists who enjoyed this success by merging genres, including Carey, Houston, and the Jacksons, are established as some of the best-selling musicians ever, and their music is still widely popular among consumers today, and often cited as an inspiration by emerging artists.

2000s and Beyond: The Trend Continues

Perhaps the biggest indication of the pull of modern R&B music is how artists known for their gritty, almost hardcore style, like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, made the move to become more mainstream. Eminem is widely credited for the re-emergence of rap, but even his music was more pop and contemporary R&B orientated than he would probably like to admit.

While Destiny’s Child and other groups had great success, R&B from the 2000s has been more about solo artists, as seen in the continued appeal of crossover stars like Rihanna and Bruno Mars, who have further helped R&B to evolve by using the latest technology to a new range of effects and sounds.

Image Author: DaigoOliva

While R&B refers to rhythm and blues music, as in the genre that originated in 1940s America, when most people refer to R&B they tend to be talking about contemporary R&B, which rose during the 1980s as a variety of genres, particularly disco, soul, and jazz, were in decline.

The rhythm and blues genre of the past is the parent of contemporary R&B. While the modern variant has all the hallmarks of original R&B, the use of synthesizers and drum beat machines, as well as mixing platforms, are widely used to create a slick, well-produced type of music that is loved the world over.

The Fall of Disco

The fall of disco music in the early 80s meant there was a huge gap in the market to be exploited. Ironically, it was stars that had enjoyed some success with disco, including Michael Jackson, that were the first to make the crossover into modern R&B. Because R&B grew from the death of disco, and because of artists like Michael Jackson, Marvin Gaye, Whitney Houston, and Janet Jackson, this first ‘era’ of contemporary R&B was very much a derivative of pop music.

Janet Jackson is not often widely credited as a leading light in R&B, but her 1986 album Control was a big influence, and still is to this day, as it represented the first time funk and disco had been brought together effectively, while synth effects, electronic percussion, and rap elements were also included. In terms of how we see R&B today, Control was the first real example.

Mainstream R&B

The 1990s were characterised by R&B moving away from its pop music sound and moving more towards a hip-hop and rap vibe. Despite this trend, artists like the Jacksons, in addition to Boyz II Men, Houston, and R Kelly, among others, all enjoyed considerable crossover success and a variety of mainstream chart hits.

Later in the decade, the lines between R&B, hip-hop, and pop would become more blurred than ever, with Mariah Carey, Lauryn Hill (both with The Fugees and as a soloist), and Missy Elliott, all releasing albums and winning awards for work that wasn’t a pure fit into either sub-genre.

Many artists who enjoyed this success by merging genres, including Carey, Houston, and the Jacksons, are established as some of the best-selling musicians ever, and their music is still widely popular among consumers today, and often cited as an inspiration by emerging artists.

2000s and Beyond: The Trend Continues

Perhaps the biggest indication of the pull of modern R&B music is how artists known for their gritty, almost hardcore style, like Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, made the move to become more mainstream. Eminem is widely credited for the re-emergence of rap, but even his music was more pop and contemporary R&B orientated than he would probably like to admit.

While Destiny’s Child and other groups had great success, R&B from the 2000s has been more about solo artists, as seen in the continued appeal of crossover stars like Rihanna and Bruno Mars, who have further helped R&B to evolve by using the latest technology to a new range of effects and sounds.

Image Author: DaigoOliva

In terms of the musical genres that we all identify with today, classical is definitely the one that stretches back furthest into history.

Classical Music Origins

The known use of music stretches as far back as Ancient Greek times. Mathematician Pythagoras created a tuning system and was one of the first to codify musical notation. Several instruments from Ancient Greece serve as the foundation for those that would become popular sections in orchestras today.

Music was also popular during the Roman Era, although there are few written music samples still in existence from this period.

Early Music

The medieval and renaissance periods, from 500 – 1400 and 1400 – 1600 respectively, are considered the early period of music. During the medieval years, Gregorian chanting was the most popular form of music, and instruments, although available, would not be widely introduced to music until the late 14^th and early 15^th centuries.

It was at this time that it became common practice to print music to ensure consistency in performance. The invention of the printing press in 1453 was a key moment in the history of classical music, and few people are aware of the impact this piece of equipment had.

Common Practice Period

The baroque period straddled the early and common practice periods, lasting from 1600 – 1760, and represented an increase in the complexity of music, particularly with the introduction of new instruments such as the pipe organ. The baroque period was also the beginning of music being used to create operatic drama, while vocalists also started to embellish musical arrangements with a variety of styles.

The classical and romantic periods followed baroque, and was characterised by orchestral arrangements becoming larger. As more was understood about music, arrangements would become more complex and challenging, leading to conductors needing to become even more skilled and knowledgeable about the music they were leading.

In addition to orchestras becoming bigger, the range of instruments would also become much more varied. Percussion instruments, in particular, were starting to appear within classical arrangements for the first time, while developments in the production of brass instruments meant they were being used to play a bigger range of notes, and were taking on a more prominent role in orchestras.

Modern & Contemporary Eras

The modern period overlapped the end of the romantic period by 20 years, from 1890 – 1910, and brings us to where we are today with classical music. The biggest changes in the last 100 years have actually been the rejection of many of the ideas and techniques pioneered in the past, particularly those from the common practice period that were seen as ‘the way it should be done’ for so many years.

Modern composers have challenged everything from the structure of orchestras to the tones and melodies that can be used, and as such, ‘classical contemporary’ music is today widely loved but is also controversial among musicians and listeners who prefer the traditional styles of the pre-20^th century era.

Image Author: The Queen’s Hall