STYLE IN MUSIC
STYLE- the style refers to the distinctive characteristics and techniques that
define a particular genre, period, or approach to composing or performing
music. Musical styles can emerge from cultural, historical, and social
contexts, and they can evolve over time.
EXAMPLES OF STYLES WITHIN VARIOUS GENRES:
1. BAROQUE (CLASSICAL)
CHARACTERISTICS: Baroque music is known for its expressiveness,
emotional intensity, and ornate style.
EXAMPLES:
1. Johann Sebastian Bach – Brandenburg Concertos
● Born: March 21 [March 31, New Style], 1685, Eisenach, Thuringia,
Ernestine Saxon Duchies [Germany]
● Died: July 28, 1750, Leipzig (aged 65)
● Notable Works: sinfonia: “Brandenburg Concertos” “Christmas
Oratorio” “Fugue in E-flat Major” “God Is My King” “Hunt Cantata”
“Jesu meine Freude”
● “Mass in B Minor” “Passacaglia and Fugue in C Minor” “St. John
Passion” “St. Matthew Passion, BWV 244” “Three-Part Inventions”
2. George Frideric Handel – Messiah
● German (until 1715): Georg Friedrich Händel
● Händel also spelled: Haendel
● Born: February 23, 1685, Halle, Brandenburg [Germany]
● Died: April 14, 1759, London, England (aged 74)
● Notable Works: “Acis and Galatea” “Agrippina” “Almira” “Chandos
Anthems” “Dettingen Te Deum” “Giulio Cesare” “Haman and
Mordecai” “Israel in Egypt” “Jephtha” “Messiah” “Music for the
Royal Fireworks” “Rinaldo” “The Arrival of the Queen of Sheba”
“Water Music”
3. Antonio Vivaldi – The Four Seasons
● In full: Antonio Lucio Vivaldi
● Born: March 4, 1678, Venice, Republic of Venice [Italy]
● Died: July 28, 1741, Vienna, Austria (aged 63)
● Notable Works: “Concerto for Four Violins and Cello in B Minor, Op.
3, No. 10” “Concerto for Two Trumpets in C Major” “Ottone in Villa”
“The Four Seasons” “Violin Concerto in B Minor”
4. Arcangelo Corelli – Concerto Grosso in D Major
● born Feb. 17, 1653, Fusignano, near Imola, Papal States [Italy]
● died Jan. 8, 1713, Rome) was an Italian violinist and composer known
chiefly for his influence on the development of violin style and for his
sonatas and his 12 Concerti Grossi, which established the concerto
grosso as a popular medium of composition.
5. Henry Purcell – Dido and Aeneas
● Born: c. 1659, London, England
● Died: November 21, 1695, London
● Notable Works: “Abdelazer” “Dido and Aeneas” “Dioclesian”
“King Arthur” “My heart is inditing” “Sonatas of III Parts” “Te
● Deum and Jubilate” “The Fairy Queen” “Welcome Songs”
“Welcome to all the pleasure”
2. ROMANTIC (CLASSICAL)
CHARACTERISTICS: Emphasis on individual expression, often portraying
intense emotions.
Larger orchestras, with a wider range of dynamics and instruments.
EXAMPLES:
1. Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 9
● Ludwig van Beethoven (baptized December 17, 1770, Bonn,
archbishopric of Cologne [Germany]—died March 26, 1827, Vienna,
Austria) was a German composer, the predominant musical figure
in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras.
● Notable Works:
○ Symphony No. 9 (Ode to Joy)
○ Piano Sonata No. 14 (Moonlight Sonata)
○ Fur Elise
○ Symphony No. 5
○ Missa Solemnis
2. Johannes Brahms-Symphony No. 3
● Name: Johannes Brahms
● Died: April 3, 1897
● Notable Works:
○ Symphony No. 3
○ A German Requiem
○ Hungarian Dances
○ Piano Concerto No. 1
○ Violin Concerto in D Major
3. Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky – Swan Lake
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
● Full Name: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
● Died: November 6, 1893
● Notable Works:
○ Swan Lake
○ The Nutcracker
○ 1812 Overture
○ Violin Concerto in D Major
○ Symphony No. 6 (Pathétique)
4. Franz Schubert – Ave Maria
● Full Name: Franz Peter Schubert
● Died: November 19, 1828
● Notable Works:
○ Ave Maria
○ Symphony No. 8 (Unfinished Symphony)
○ Lieder: Erlkönig
○ Impromptus
○ String Quartet No. 14 (Death and the Maiden)
5. Richard Wagner – The Ride of the Valkyries
● Full Name: Wilhelm Richard Wagner
● Died: February 13, 1883
● Notable Works:
○ The Ring Cycle (including Die Walküre and Das Rheingold)
○ Tristan und Isolde
○ The Flying Dutchman
○ Lohengrin
○ The Mastersingers of Nuremberg
3. IMPRESSIONISM (CLASSICAL)
CHARACTERISTICS: Focus on mood, color, and atmosphere rather than
traditional formal structures.
Use of whole-tone scales, pentatonic scales, and modes to create a
floating, ambiguous quality.
EXAMPLES:
1. Claude Debussy – Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune
● Full Name: Achille-Claude Debussy
● Died: March 25, 1918
● Notable Works:
○ Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune
○ Clair de Lune
○ La Mer
○ Arabesque No. 1
○ Reverie
2. Maurice Ravel – Boléro
● Full Name: Joseph Maurice Ravel
● Died: December 28, 1937
● Notable Works:
○ Boléro
○ Daphnis et Chloé
○ Pavane pour une infante défunte
○ Rapsodie Espagnole
○ La Valse
3. Erik Satie – Gymnopédies
● Full Name: Alfred Eric Leslie Satie
● Died: July 1, 1925
● Notable Works:
○ Gymnopédies
○ Gnossiennes
○ Sarabandes
○ Ogives
4. Paul Dukas – The Sorcerer's Apprentice
Full Name: Paul Abraham Dukas
Died: May 17, 1935
Notable Works:
● The Sorcerer's Apprentice
● The Brass Quintet
● Symphony in C
● Piano Sonata in E minor
● Ariane et Barbe-Bleue
5. Benjamin Godard – Berceuse
Full Name: Benjamin Louis Godard
Died: January 4, 1895
Notable Works:
● Berceuse
● Symphony No. 2
● Violin Concerto in A major
● Jocelyn (opera)
● La Nuit (orchestral piece)
4. FOLK (GENRE/STYLE)
CHARACTERISTICS: Often draws from regional or ethnic traditions, telling
stories of everyday life, love, work, and nature.
Acoustic Instruments: Common use of guitar, banjo, violin, accordion, and
other folk instruments.
EXAMPLES:
1. Bob Dylan – Blowin’ in the Wind
Full Name: Robert Allen Zimmerman
Born: May 24, 1941 (still living)
Notable Works:
● Blowin' in the Wind
● Like a Rolling Stone
● The Times They Are a-Changin'
● Hurricane
● Mr. Tambourine Man
2. Woody Guthrie – This Land is Your Land
Full Name: Woodrow Wilson Guthrie
Died: October 3, 1967
Notable Works:
● This Land is Your Land
● Pastures of Plenty
● Do Re Mi
● I Ain't Got No Home
● Deportee (Plane Wreck at Los Gatos)
3. The Carter Family – Will the Circle Be Unbroken?
● Notable Members: A.P. Carter, Sara Carter, Maybelle Carter
● Died:
○ A.P. Carter: November 7, 1960
○ Sara Carter: January 8, 1979
○ Maybelle Carter: October 23, 1978
● Notable Works:
○ Will the Circle Be Unbroken?
○ Wildwood Flower
○ Keep on the Sunny Side
○ The Foggy Mountain Top
○ I'm Thinking Tonight of My Blue Eyes
4. Simon & Garfunkel – The Sound of Silence
Members: Paul Simon and Art Garfunkel
Notable Works:
● The Sound of Silence
● Bridge Over Troubled Water
● Mrs. Robinson
● Scarborough Fair
● Homeward Bound
5. Johnny Cash – Folsom Prison Blues
Full Name: John R. Cash
Died: September 12, 2003
Notable Works:
● I Walk the Line
● Ring of Fire
● Folsom Prison Blues
● Hurt (cover of Nine Inch Nails song)
● A Boy Named Sue
5. BLUES (STYLE)
CHARACTERISTICS: A common structure where a line or phrase is "called"
by a vocalist or instrument, and another responds.
Improvisation: Heavy emphasis on personal expression and improvisation,
especially in instrumental solos.
EXAMPLES:
1. B.B. King – The Thrill is Gone
● Full Name: Riley B. King
● Died: May 14, 2015
● Notable Works:
○ The Thrill Is Gone
○ Sweet Little Angel
○ Every Day I Have the Blues
○ Lucille
2. Robert Johnson – Cross Road Blues
Full Name: Robert Leroy Johnson
Died: August 16, 1938
Notable Works:
● Cross Road Blues
● Hellhound on My Trail
● Love in Vain
● Sweet Home Chicago
● Me and the Devil Blues
3. Muddy Waters – Hoochie Coochie Man
Full Name: McKinley Morganfield
Died: April 30, 1983
Notable Works:
● Hoochie Coochie Man
● Mannish Boy
● Rollin' Stone
● I Can't Be Satisfied
● Got My Mojo Working
● Full Name: ETTA JAMES
● Died: January 20, 2012
● Notable Works:
○ At Last
○ Tell Mama
○ I'd Rather Go Blind
○ The Wallflower
○ All I Could Do Was Cry
5. Howlin’ Wolf – Smokestack Lightning
Full Name: Chester Arthur Burnett
Died: January 10, 1976
Notable Works:
● Smokestack Lightning
● Killing Floor
● How Many More Years
● I Ain't Superstitious
● Back Door Man
6. PUNK ROCK (STYLE)
CHARACTERISTICS: Short songs, and a minimalistic approach to
instrumentation.
DIY Ethic: Often self-produced with a focus on independent, grassroots
distribution.
EXAMPLES:
1. The Ramones – Blitzkrieg Bop
● Members: Joey Ramone, Johnny Ramone, Dee Dee Ramone,
Tommy Ramone (and others)
● Notable Works:
○ Blitzkrieg Bop
○ I Wanna Be Sedated
○ Sheena Is a Punk Rocker
○ Rock 'n' Roll High School
○ Do You Wanna Dance?
2. The Clash – London Calling (information)
3. Sex Pistols – Anarchy in the UK
Full Members: Johnny Rotten (John Lydon), Steve Jones, Paul Cook, Glen
Matlock (Sid Vicious replaced Matlock during their heyday)
Formed: 1975, London
Notable Works:
● Anarchy in the UK
● God Save the Queen
● Pretty Vacant
● Holidays in the Sun
● Did You No Wrong
4. Dead Kennedys – Holiday in Cambodia
Members: Jello Biafra (lead vocals), East Bay Ray (guitar), Klaus Flouride
(bass), D.H. Peligro (drums)
Formed: 1978, San Francisco
Notable Works:
● Holiday in Cambodia
● California Über Alles
● Kill the Poor
● Too Drunk to Fuck
● Police Truck
5. The Stooges – I Wanna Be Your Dog
Full Members: Iggy Pop (James Osterberg), Ron Asheton, Scott Asheton,
Dave Alexander
Formed: 1967, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Notable Works:
● I Wanna Be Your Dog
● Search and Destroy
● No Fun
● 1970
● Fun House
7. SOUL (STYLE)
CHARACTERISTICS: Passionate, powerful, and often melismatic vocals that
convey deep emotion.
Rhythmic Groove: Strong, syncopated rhythms, often from a prominent
rhythm section (bass, drums)
EXAMPLES:
1. Aretha Franklin – Respect
Full Name: Aretha Louise Franklin
Died: August 16, 2018
Notable Works:
● Respect
● Natural Woman
● I Say a Little Prayer
● Think
● Chain of Fools
2. James Brown – I Got You (I Feel Good)
Full Name: James Joseph Brown
Died: December 25, 2006
Notable Works:
● I Got You (I Feel Good)
● Say It Loud – I'm Black and I'm Proud
● Papa's Got a Brand New Bag
● Living in America
● Get Up (I Feel Like Being a Sex Machine)
3. Marvin Gaye – What's Going On
Full Name: Marvin Pentz Gay Jr.
Died: April 1, 1984 (tragically shot by his father)
Notable Works:
● What's Going On
● Sexual Healing
● Let's Get It On
● Mercy Mercy Me (The Ecology)
● Ain't No Mountain High Enough (with Tammi Terrell)
4. Otis Redding – Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay
Full Name: Otis Ray Redding Jr.
Died: December 10, 1967 (plane crash)
Notable Works:
● Sittin' on the Dock of the Bay
● Try a Little Tenderness
● Respect (original version)
● I've Been Loving You Too Long
● Hard to Handle (written by Otis, but popularized by The Black
Crowes)
5. Sam Cooke – A Change Is Gonna Come
Full Name: Samuel Cook
Died: December 11, 1964 (tragically shot)
Notable Works:
● A Change Is Gonna Come
● You Send Me
● Wonderful World
● Chain Gang
● Cupid
TECHNO (STYLE)
8.
CHARACTERISTICS: Predominantly created using synthesizers, drum
machines, and digital effects.
Repetitive Rhythms: Emphasis on looping, repetitive beats and rhythms
that create a trance-like atmosphere.
EXAMPLES:
1. Derrick May – Strings of Life
Full Name: Derrick May
Born: 1963, Detroit, Michigan (still living)
Notable Works:
● Strings of Life
● Nude Photo
● The Dance
● It Is What It Is
● Rhythim is Rhythim (his DJ/production alias)
2. Jeff Mills- The Bells
Full Name: Jeffrey Eugene Mills
Born: June 18, 1963, Detroit, Michigan (still living)
Notable Works:
● The Bells
● Phase 1
● Meditations
● Axis
● Changes of State
3. Carl Cox – I Want You (Forever)
Full Name: Carl Cox
Born: July 29, 1962, Manchester, England (still living)
Notable Works:
● I Want You (Forever)
● Drums of Death
● Funky People
● Time for House Music
● A Deeper Love
4. Richie Hawtin – Spastik
Full Name: Richie Hawtin
Born: June 4, 1970, UK (raised in Canada, still living)
Notable Works:
● Spastik
● Plasticity
● Consumed
● Decks, EFX & 909
● From My Mind to Yours
5. Daft Punk – Around the World
Members: Thomas Bangalter, Guy-Manuel de Homem-Christo
Formed: 1993, Paris, France
Split: February 2021 (announced their disbandment)
Notable Works:
● One More Time
● Get Lucky
● Around the World
● Harder, Better, Faster, Stronger
● Digital Love
9. SWING (JAZZ)
CHARACTERISTICS: The "swing" rhythm, characterized by a triplet feel
where the first note is longer than the second.
Big Bands: Usually performed by larger ensembles, often including brass,
woodwinds, and rhythm sections (piano, bass, drums).
EXAMPLES:
1. Duke Ellington – Take the A Train
● Full Name: Edward Kennedy Ellington
● Died: May 24, 1974
● Notable Works:
○ Take the A Train
○ Mood Indigo
○ In a Sentimental Mood
○ It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)
○ Sophisticated Lady
○ Caravan
○ Perdido
2. Benny Goodman – Sing, Sing, Sing
Full Name: Benjamin David Goodman
Died: June 13, 1986
Notable Works:
● Sing, Sing, Sing
● King Porter Stomp
● Don't Be That Way
● Let's Dance
● Stompin' at the Savoy
● Moon Glow
● Body and Soul
3. Count Basie – One O’Clock Jump
Full Name: William James Basie
Died: April 26, 1984
Notable Works:
● One O'Clock Jump
● April in Paris
● Jumpin' at the Woodside
● Shiny Stockings
● Little Darlin'
● Corner Pocket
● Basie Boogie
4. Glenn Miller – In the Mood
Full Name: Alton Glenn Miller
Died: December 15, 1944 (disappeared in a plane crash over the English
Channel)
Notable Works:
● In the Mood
● Moonlight Serenade
● Chattanooga Choo Choo
● Tuxedo Junction
● American Patrol
● String of Pearls
● Little Brown Jug
5. Tommy Dorsey – I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
Full Name: Thomas Francis Dorsey
Died: November 26, 1956
Notable Works:
○ I'm Getting Sentimental Over You
○ Boogie Woogie
○ Opus No. 1
○ Marie
○ Song of India
○ I'll Be Seeing You
○ On the Sunny Side of the Street
