House music

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Under House music refers to the music-making in the family , in school and in other social communities . What is significant here is the musical activity in a non-public setting.

history

Three ladies playing house music, painting by Silvestro Lega , 1868. Galleria Nazionale d'Arte Moderna di Palazzo Pitti, Florence

In the Middle Ages , singing together after work resulted in a wide variety of folk songs . They were passed on orally. Because of the folk song collections in the Romantic era , they are the first notated examples of house music.

In Vienna the heyday of house music was at the beginning of the 18th century as a new wave of patronage that had an impact on the musical life of the city. The aristocratic patrons of art repeatedly invited musicians and bands to their castles, where they usually performed new compositions in front of a select audience.

While secular music was originally practiced almost exclusively at the imperial court (for example through the establishment of the court music band by Maximilian I or operas under Leopold I and Charles VI ), the love of music gradually passed on to the high and low nobility. So appeared Haydn , Mozart and even Beethoven among their aristocratic patrons. The characteristic flower of this closer connection between artists and the nobility is primarily chamber music . At the beginning of the 19th century, this hobby expanded among the middle class and reached its peak in the Biedermeier period . A characteristic of this house music is its easy playability and a small line-up.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, especially among the daughters of the upper European bourgeoisie, it was a natural part of a good upbringing to have enjoyed a musical education. Piano and singing lessons were often scheduled here. This increased the chance of the girl's successful marriage for the daughters' family. The average level of the female students became correspondingly more demanding. Professional goals were rarely associated with these studies. Musical careers for women such as that of Clara Wieck , later Schumann, which relied on mastering an instrument, were the exception in the 18th and 19th centuries. The singers, whose specific voices were required in the cast of contemporary operas , enjoyed greater independence .

With the invention of the pianola , the record and subsequent sound carriers , the practice of domestic music gradually declined. Youth music movements (for example the Wandervogel ) and school music counteracted this trend and encouraged home music care with old and new play and singing music. Student associations also kept the traditional songs alive. The traditional singing of happy birthday songs together or Christmas carols during Advent has largely survived. However, since the 19th century the demands on common music have decreased significantly.

Making music together

Instruments

Traditional house music instruments include the piano , harmonium , guitar , accordion , recorder , dulcimer and the zither . In recent times, rhythm instruments have also been added, e.g. B. maracas , eggshakers or bell rings . In principle, all types of noise and toy instruments such as B. use whistles or recorder heads, for example when children play along.

Electronics only found its way into households with the keyboard , although the first approaches were already made in the 1930s ( Neo-Bechstein ). The electric guitar still plays a niche role in domestic music, although it is becoming increasingly popular, especially among the younger generation. The same goes for the drums .

However, house music has always been characterized by the fact that the few existing instruments had to be sufficient to accompany the singing.

Notes for house music

Simple song books formed the basis for the notation of today's house music. Reduced to its original version, the text sufficed as a reminder of the orally transmitted melody or the melody known from the media. For the guitarist or accordionist, the chord symbols above became indispensable.

Today, music publishers issue special editions for modern house music, which bring out difficult models in simpler versions, reduce compositions to their melody and a simple accompaniment or transpose them into a key that is easier to sing . Popular music in particular is reprinted and edited for domestic use.

Songs that may never have been recorded in sheet music before, but were recorded directly on a soundtrack, will be printed and published in writing after the successful sale of the sound carrier. Musicals are used as well as pop songs and rock songs. For home use, these notes are usually incorporated in a greatly simplified form into more or less extensive collections. Depending on the edition, these contain the vocal part, chord symbols for guitarists and a simple piano accompaniment. This supports the singing. In some editions the vocal part is also included in the piano part.

Often the vocal melodies are also notated twice in order to avoid irritation for the singer or singers. The singing voice can be found in the piano accompaniment. For moderately advanced pianists there is the difficulty of erasing these double melodies from the final accompaniment.

Living room and studio concerts

A living room concert

In large cities in particular there is a trend towards organizing concerts ( “gigs” ) and other performances in private. As the host, the organizer makes the space available, decides on the framework and program and invites the artists - typically professional musicians - and participants. In many cases, drinks and snacks or a buffet are provided and there is a framework for discussion after the performance. Payment is made by arrangement, and a “hat” is often passed around for the artist. Living room concerts are also held in the form of a “salon” - events with literary or other cultural presentations, for example with a focus on jazz .

Some commercial organizers or online platforms have established themselves that are geared towards the organization of such concerts and a. establish contact between hosts and musicians. Living room concerts are also organized on neighborhood platforms.

See also

literature

Web links

Commons : House concerts  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Jan Georg Plavec: Living room concert, next level. In: Stuttgarter Zeitung. October 27, 2018, accessed May 1, 2019 .
  2. ↑ Concert trend: The guitarist in my living room. In: world. November 18, 2014, accessed May 1, 2019 .
  3. ^ Annekatrin Bertram: New in Gießen: Living room concerts. In: Gießener Anzeiger. March 19, 2016, accessed May 1, 2019 .
  4. ^ Christian Fuchs: Modern salons in Berlin: Stars in the living room. In: Süddeutsche Zeitung. May 17, 2010, accessed May 1, 2019 .
  5. ↑ Kathrin Wesely: At home with strangers. In: Stuttgarter Nachrichten. June 8, 2016, accessed May 1, 2019 .
  6. ↑ Bernadette Bayrhammer: The band next to the bed. In: diepresse.com. April 3, 2018, accessed May 1, 2019 .