Genres of Music

Samhain was the Celtic precursor of Halloween. The festival celebrated the last harvest of the year and the nearness of the Otherworld. Today's Samhain often includes music.

Jimmy MacCarthy is a leading Irish songwriter. He creates contemporary folk songs that often contain interesting imagery that can be interpreted in several ways.

This article is about the early history of the symphony in western classical music. Beginning in Italy and continuing through Haydn, early symphony composers opened the door for future composers that would become synonymous with the genre.

The beauty of the moon and its symbolic meanings have inspired many songs around the world. Some lovely folk and traditional songs about the moon exist.

Rain is a life giver. No wonder there are so many rain gods devoted to it. Read how composers have be inspired by rain: Chopin, Debussy, Brahms, Britten, Takemitsu, Schubert, Gerard Finzi, and Hamish MacCann.

Metallica's now-legendary debut album, KILL'EM ALL, was released in 1983. Here are some memories of the first time I heard this genre-defining album.

The cornett, cornetto, or zink produces a lovely sound that often resembles the human voice. It has finger holes like a recorder and a mouthpiece like a trumpet. It's popular with early music fans.

Japan's metal scene only truly began to pick up steam after Loudness' debut in 1981. This article discusses 10 instances of Japanese bands playing heavy metal, or styles very close to it, in 1980 or earlier.

Pitbull has managed to have a very successful career despite criticism that he isn't talented. So, how did he do it?

Jeff Buckley is probably most well-known for his cover of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." But he also has an entire discography of equally stellar songs. Here's 10 of Jeff Buckley's best songs.

"Sgt. Hetfield's Motorbreath Pub Band" is the debut album from metal mash-up maestros Beatallica, released in 2007.

John Dowland was a popular and prolific composer of the sixteenth and seventeenth century. His songs and instrumental music are still admired, enjoyed, and studied.

Fun facts and profile of the cutest and most handsome member of BTS, V (Kim Taehyung) and why he is one of the most charming K-Pop male idols of today.

This article provides excerpts and details from five of the meanest, harshest, and the most unsympathetic reviews of Classical composers that are viewed as geniuses today.

Souling in order to receive a soul cake is a tradition from the past that was a forerunner of trick-or-treating. The lovely "Soul Cake" song has been recorded by multiple artists.

Deep house (not electronic or progressive) began in the early 80s and combines elements of Chicago house with jazz and soul music. These artists, like Huxley and Scuba, have an underground following.

Here’s my ranking of Van Halen’s best albums, from first to worst. If you are discovering Van Halen for the first time this is your roadmap. If you are a longtime fan of the band like I am, vote in the poll and make your opinion heard.

A list of 15 great Italian Indie Rock bands . Presenting the lighter side of Italian guitar-fueled rock. Here you will find a chaotic melange of Pop, Rock, Punk, Grunge, Garage and whatever else.

Wondering exactly what a minuet and trio might be? Find out where the musical form originates, what a trio really is, and how the whole thing is put together.

This is a list of my favorite popular tropical "on 1" salsa songs that are fun and exciting. I love to dance and listen to these songs! There are songs for beginners, intermediate and advanced dancers

The late 1980s and early '90s were an exciting era for me. I spent six years going to clubs and warehouse parties - the illegal "raves". It was more than just music - it was a way of life.

Includes embedded videos, text and translations, general remarks about each piece and specific listening guides. Learn to love Renaissance choral music (no prior knowledge required)!

Was Cream the greatest rock band ever? There is a strong case, but that's for you to decide. Regardless, this trio of virtuoso musicians changed rock music forever.

Madonna and Cyndi Lauper appeared on the music scene around the same time. Both were huge but their singing careers took very different paths. Why did Madonna succeed while Cyndi failed?

These 21 brilliant, but very different, contemporary blues artists showcase the great energy and diversity of styles within the modern blues genre.

This article reviews the new cyberpunk album, "Androids Anonymous," by Miles Matrix

Make your own playlist using the best collection of done-me-wrong songs in country music. No one knows the heartache of lying, cheating, two-timing, and sweet revenge like country music does!

Sergei Prokofiev was a major twentieth-century composer who has left us some beautiful music as a legacy. His compositions were often unusual for his time.

This article is an in-depth biography of the career of Mike Bloomfield, one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time.

Ozzy Osbourne knows how to pick a guitarist. Here’s a list of some of the guitar legends he’s toured and recorded with through the years.

In this article, I explore Alpha Chrome Yayo's latest album, "Twirl."

This article is all about one of the Beatles most covered songs 'Blackbird' Here are some of the best cover versions of it with accompanying videos.

Do you want to play piano like Nodame, but are having trouble finding all the sheet music? Here is a collection of the featured piano music in the anime and live-action drama Nodame Cantabile.

This top 10 list explores today's top female K-pop artists. Learn about their incredible career paths and vote for your favorite! These solo artists will certainly win over your heart!

One of my passions is music, past and present. During the years as a middle school and high school teacher, my favorite topics would be about music history and rock music was very fun to teach.

These Swedish sleaze merchants morphed from a generic glam-to-the-max band into a high tech, industrial-rock combo over the course of their three studio albums.

Do a search for “The Blues,” you will get a list of dead guys. This might lead one to believe that the The Blues is music of the past. Wrong. The Blues is alive, and so are these blues musicians.

2003's "St. Anger" is considered to be Metallica's worst album. In 2015, two fans recorded their own version of the disc (with better production) in hopes that people might give it another try.

A few classical music fun facts. Maybe they will spark an interest or maybe they are just a bit of trivia to lighten your moodl

For thousands of years man has been fascinated by the moon, finally landing on it in 1969. Read about inspiration taken from the moon by composers: Haydn, Beethoven, Debussy, Schonberg, Britten, Dvorak, Janacek and Vítězslav Novak.

The charts are filled with music by so called one-hit wonders, a surprising number of which went all the way to number one.

Wales has a wonderful musical heritage. Folk and traditional songs are an important part of this heritage and of Welsh culture. The country is known for its vocal music, singers, and choirs.

Have you heard of the ondes Martenot, the lira organizzata, theramin, barytone, arpeggione, musical saw, musical clock or glass harmonica? Unusual instruments great composers have written for.

Here is a look at ten of the most beautiful movements of Beethoven's music. This article comes highly recommended to people looking to expand their listening knowledge of Beethoven's music or Classical Music in general. Video/listening examples provided.

Kenneth McKellar was a popular tenor known for his beautiful interpretation of Scottish vocal music. He died in 2010, but his music lives on in many recordings.

This beloved folk song about a little boy and his imaginary dragon named Puff was released by the folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary in 1963. The song was written by Leonard Lipton, whose inspiration for the song came from the poem "The Tale of Custard the Dragon."

Some Christian songs are just cool. For example, the remake of Jesus is Just Alright by DC Talk and Stomp by Kirk Franklin. These are fun songs that can really get you in a great mood.

KISS' 1981 concept album "Music From The Elder" bombed when it was first released, but has developed a cult following over time.

Did the rock group Led Zeppelin really steal some of their music from other artists? This article tries to answer this question by providing analytical text and videos.

The classical music genre includes some lovely music about mothers. Sharing a playlist of these pieces and listening to them is a great way to honor and celebrate motherhood.

"Infestation" was Ratt's first studio album since 1999 and their finest release since the glory days of the early 1980s. Unfortunately the reunion didn't last long.

Julie Fowlis is a popular Scottish folk singer and musician. She generally sings in Gaelic and is involved in collecting the traditional songs of the Hebrides.

Queensryche's split with original vocalist Geoff Tate was one of the most bizarre rock dramas in recent memory. Let's find out how it all went down and how it was resolved.

We are experiencing a resurgence of prominent women in blues music. These are some of my favorites.

"Creatures Of The Night" is considered one of KISS' best albums today, but in 1982 it seemed like their last gasp. It features new guitarist Vinnie Vincent and the anthem "I Love It Loud."

A long time Dokken fan presents a brief history of the band and examines their extensive catalog of hard rock classics.

For anyone who grew up in this era, this collection of silly songs is sure to bring back many memories.

The recorder is capable of creating lovely music. A rich repertoire of original and transcribed music is available for professional and amateur ensembles and soloists.

Scotland and Ireland have a rich musical heritage. It's interesting and very enjoyable to explore traditional folk songs from the two countries.

ln an email, I talked to The Institute 91' about how he got started making music, how he goes about creating new music, the origins of "The Institute" and the role this idea plays in his music.

The popularity of K-Pop is rising every day. There are many K-Pop girl groups, but the following top 10 bands are considered to be the most popular in the K-Pop world in 2019.

KISS' 1983 album LICK IT UP was a do-or-die release for the struggling hard rock legends, who opted to appear without their trademark makeup for the very first time.

K-Pop girl groups have become a global phenomenon thanks to their addictive melodies, stunning choreography, and the exceptional beauty of their members. Here's the list of top 10 most popular and beautiful K-Pop female idols who will make your jaw drop!

This is an analysis for Kimbra's "Settle Down" music video. A hub about the meaning in Kimbra's "Settle Down" music video; analysis in Kimbra's "Settle Down" music video; Kimbra's "Settle Down" music video meaning.

Michael Praetorius was a prolific composer of the seventeenth century. His compositions are loved today and his written work about music is a valuable resource.

Female vocalists continue to excel in the heavy metal genre. Their broad vocal ranges mesmerize audiences around the globe. This article showcases the very best female heavy metal singers of all time.

The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame has caused much debate over who is excluded. Here is a list of 15 artists that deserve to be considered for inclusion.

The most handsome, attractive, and the best official male visual members of K-Pop boy groups.

Famous Russian Composers of Classical Music - Historical biographies and videos to showcase the music of Borodin, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, and others.

Read about what tragedies befell some of our most treasured composers - Purcell, Dvorak, Alban Berg, Weber, Bizet, Arriaga and Felix and Fanny Mendelssohn.

"Haunted Symphony" is the debut EP by Timeless Haunt, a spooky theatrical metal band from the Eastern U.S.

Read about great female pianists, Kathryn Stott, Mitsuko Uchida, Angela Hewitt, Maria Joao Pires, Marta Argerich, Alicia de Larrocha and some wonderful pianists from a bygone age like Lili Kraus.

Nirvana is the name of one of the most famous and influential rock bands of the 20th Century. The band is famous for its grunge and punk sound, heavy drums, interesting riffs and poetic lyrics. The band consisted of Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl and Krist...

Trees can be beautiful and impressive. They have inspired the lyrics of many songs, including some lovely folk and traditional songs of England, Scotland, and Wales.

The Ars Nova period in music history began in 14th century France and would lay the groundwork for modern music notation.

This article provides a list of facts and trivia regarding the life of rock and roll guitarist Jimi Hendrix. It also tries to answer the question: How did Jimi Hendrix die?

Formed in 1981, Loudness is the best known Heavy Metal band from Japan. They're mainly remembered in the U.S. for their hit "Crazy Nights," from 1985's Thunder in the East album.

The four members of KISS took a massive gamble when they all released solo albums on the same day in September 1978. Instead of platinum success, it was the beginning of the end for the original band.

Bad Biscut should've been "the next big thing" from New Jersey, but it never quite happened for them. 1994's THE AMERICAN DREAM? is a potent hard rock cocktail with a dose of punk-rock attitude.

This article suggests a list of the ten greatest rock bands of all time and provides a short biography of each group, as well as photos and videos.

Rigoletto is a popular opera composed by Giuseppe Verdi. In this article I discuss the opera's history, plot, and leading characters. I also include some of its lovely music.

Find out the most handsome, most popular, most successful, and most talented maknae (youngest member) of K-Pop boy groups!

Ugly Kid Joe's second full length release, MENACE TO SOBRIETY, is an excellent album that unfortunately was released in 1995, when interest in hard rock/metal was at an all time low.

Some of the most beloved songs have been covered by a variety of artists over the years. We look at Bonnie Raitt's classic tune, "I Can't Make You Love Me" and rank 14 contenders. Who do you prefer?

Man has found solace in trees, woods and forests since time immemorial. Trees are essential to life on Earth. Read about how composers have been inspired by trees: Schubert, Schumann, Verdi, Liszt, Shostakovich, Saint-Saëns, Johann Strauss II, Respighi, Roussel and Edward McDowell.

Kix's third album, Midnite Dynamite, was released in 1985 and is still considered to be their finest work, but success would continue to elude them for a few more years. The hard working Maryland band is still on the road to this day!

This article suggests a list of the 13 greatest Native American rock bands. It only includes bands from North America, that is, Canada and the United States.

England has a rich collection of traditional folk songs. This article includes performances of four songs and describes the interesting background of the music.

This is the story about an AM radio hit song from 1963 called "Sukiyaki" that reached the top of the Billboard charts that year. This sad song has a connection to one of the worst air disasters ever.

Hearing your Symphony #9, I knew I would be connected to you forever. Your abuse, deafness, genius and disappointments along with the need to be loved resonate throughout your music.

"Queen of the Hill" is the second full length release from Kairos, a traditional heavy metal band from Gothenburg, Sweden.

This list suggests a compilation of the greatest classic rock and roll songs of all time. It focuses on the period between the 1950s and the year 2000.

Beau Nasty was a "one and done" hair metal band whose lone album, 1989's "Dirty, But Well Dressed," is not only a decent listen, but a sought-after collectible too.

Folk music has a long history in American culture. Because America is so ethnically diverse, the musical landscape of America is also diverse.

Warrant sensed change in the air as the Grunge Decade began, so they tried to toughen up their sound with 1992's "Dog Eat Dog" album. Was the experiment successful?

"Ideality" is OSC's take on synth-funk. If you like seriously groovy music, you should definitely take a listen.

This is a comprehensive list of the top traditional Irish, Welsh, Celtic, and Scottish tunes (complete with song samples).