Genres of Vocal Music

Genres of Vocal Music

Medieval and Renaissance
c. 900—Gregorian chants
--used for liturgical purposes

17th-19th Centuries
Art song
--music and literature combined
--Sir Hubert Perry, Frederick Delius,
Concert
--Aria
--Henry Purcell’s “Ye Gentle Spirits of the Air, Appear”, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9
Opera
--means “little book”
--The Magic Flute, Carmen
Folk—Scottish, Irish, Welsh




20th-21st centuries*

Gospel
Pop
Examples: Madonna, Britney Spears
Rock
Examples: Elvis Presley, The Beatles, Aerosmith, Blink-182, The Killers
Country
Examples: Johnny Cash, Keith Urban
Rap
Examples: Eminem, LL Cool J
Characteristics: rhythmic rhyming
Blues
Examples: Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington
Characteristics: blues notes—lowering notes
Metal
Examples: Black Sabbath, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Kiss
Characteristics: harsh vocals, screaming, growling
Sub Genres:
--thrash metal --doom/gothic metal --black metal
--groove metal --Viking metal --power metal
--symphonic metal --death metal
--glam metal --progressive metal
Electro/Electronic/Electronica/Techno
Examples: Daft Punk, LCD Soundsystem, Ratatat, The Chemical Brothers, MSTRKRFT, The Faint
Characterizations: Vocal distortions, computerized vocals, repetition
Indie
Examples: The Decemberists, Eisley, Franz Ferdinand, Tegan & Sara, Yo La Tenga


*Note: I have not included every genre (or sub genres) in existence--just the most common and well known