Sounds
Over the course of the last few decades the world of dance music has experienced a colossal
transformation, from relative obscurity right into the heart of popular culture. ‘Big DJs’ and their
music are now a global phenomenon...
It wasn’t, however, until the 1970s that the first DJs and nightclubs, as we know
them today, began to surface. It would be impossible for me to chronicle all the
aspects of such a meteoric rise in popularity, nevertheless over the next few
months I hope to assemble some of the key events and movements that have
most shaped today’s nightlife, and hopefully give some insight into the
evolution of dance music.
Although much of today’s dance music has achieved global success, genres
such as disco, house, hip-hop and techno all began as underground
movements. My aim is tell the story, as I see it, from the point of view of various
cities. These will be the places that have most shaped the world of dance music:
beginning in the United States, with New York City, Chicago and Detroit, before
moving on to Europe and Manchester, London and Berlin.
Join me as we explore the iconic clubs, the immortal record labels, the
pioneering DJs and, of course, the music itself that would go on to define
generations.
“Even if history can never tell us exactly what music means, music can tell us
something about history.” Alex Ross
There has always been an undeniable correlation between music and
environment. From prehistoric and ancient music right up to the modern day,
music from different parts of the world has varied enormously because, as with
any art form, it’s impulsive. Even in the earliest examples, music came to be as
a reaction to a surrounding, however literal that reaction may have been.
Prehistoric man attempted to imitate naturally occurring sounds but was
restricted by his primitive instruments. Nonetheless hands were clapped, stones
w ere banged together and eventually some rudimentary flutes were made, as
music gradually evolved and matured throughout the Middle Ages.
Over the course of the following centuries many musical instruments were
developed, allowing orchestras to grow in size and the music they played to
blossom. The laws of musical theory then came into being, clearly defining the
rules of harmony and tonality. The driving force behind much of the music of
Baroque period was religion, and the music became less ‘folky’ as it adopted
more of a structure, with principles and laws. Despite these newfound ‘musical
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theories’, different composers maintained their own identity.
For example, the music of Johann Sebastian Bach was less flamboyant than that
of Italian composers such as Scarlatti and Monteverdi. Where Bach had been
raised in the strict Lutheran tradition, the Italians had been exposed to the art
and fashions of the Italian Renaissance where opulence was the name of the
game. These cultural differences are almost palpable when listening to the
music, as it is so heavily accented by the lives of these composers.
The composers of the Classical period followed in the footsteps of Bach, Vivaldi
and Handel, though throughout the 18th and into the 19th Centuries less
emphasis was put on sacred works, and it was secular music that really came
to the fore. Not only did ‘The Symphony’ become an important cultural event,
opera and ballet also blossomed as cities such as Vienna, Dresden, Paris and
Berlin established themselves as the leading musical cities of the époque.
Subsequent composers grew tired of the constant comparisons to Beethoven
and Mozart, and started to turn a blind eye to the theoretical ‘rule book’, and
music making became visceral and instinctive once again.
All composers throughout the history of classical music have, at some time or
another, attempted to evoke images of the nature and wildlife around them,
through their music. Gustav Mahler and Jean Sibelius were both particularly
successful in achieving this. And, as we move into the 20th century, composers
and musicians begin to imitate other sounds that they’ve been exposed to, not
only now the naturally-occurring, they also became influenced by the harsher
noises of industry and machinery. Shostakovich composed his Leningrad
Symphony, whilst struggling to cope with the background noise of German
guns. Composition was becoming more and more diverse, and it needed to, so
that musicians could express the emotions of these radically changing times.
Part One - New York
New York City is one of the most exciting, fast-paced and artistically progressive
cities in the world today. With a population of over 8 million, speaking over 800
languages, it is not difficult to see why New York is such a trend-setting capital.
The famous city, comprising five boroughs, is the most densely populated in
the country and easily the most culturally diverse of North America, possibly
the world. The city was the source of numerous movements, not only within the
arts but also socially and politically, throughout the 20th century, and to this
day remains a mecca for artistic innovation.
New York City positioned itself at the core of the US arts scene in the 1830s.
At this time the country was intent on creating its own national identity. As New
York had previously been a Dutch colony, and later fell under English rule, here
more than anywhere, there was an urge to remove the shackles of European
influence. Choral societies were formed in many American cities, at the same
time came the emergence of military bands, family troupes, and later still
minstrel shows and vaudeville. Not the loftiest of art forms, perhaps,
but nonetheless significant in that this was something definitively American
sounding, and original.
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