The term western music might refer to Classical music, music from the western world as opposed to the eastern world or music from cowboy movies. Classical music is an art music that appeared in the 10th century as a result of the western secular and liturgical music. European classical western music is different than the other non-European and popular genres because it uses a specific stuff notion system since the 16th century. The term “classical music” was not used until the beginning of the 19th century and it came to existence in order to establish the period from J.S Bach to Beethoven as a golden age. This genre of music is still widely performed in front of its specific audience.
When the term western music refers to the music of the western world, it is referred to European western music styles like folk, country, choral, rock and roll and many others. Symphony is a typical western music style that appeared in Italy. The ball room dances are also important part of the western music variety. This music includes polka, square dance and other dances which were treated as the dances for the elites.
The western music seen as music used in the cowboy movies derived from the folk music. It is originally composed by the immigrants who settled in America and Canada. The term western music was connected to the term country music because the Billboard chart was using it for classification. Country music is a mix from folk and modern music from America and Canada. The term gained popularity in 1940 when the hillbilly music, a type of music from the rural, mountain areas in America was declared as degradation. Country music was very popular in the 1970’s and although in the rest of the world its popularity has declined, it is still used in UK and Ireland. The music genres like hip hop, heavy metal, rock and roll, disco, funk, and nowadays the modern electronic music are all treated as western music styles when opposed to the music from the East.
These genres appeared as a result of different social and political reasons. People form different ethnicity and social background created these genres to express their feelings or revolt against the society. For example hip-hop is a typical Afro-American music that appeared in the 1970’s in New York in South Bronx among the Afro-American youngsters. Since than this music has become very popular, and excelled the boundaries of the Afro-American communities. Nowadays it is widely listened to by all people around the world. No matter if it is western music or music from the East, music is the best way to express people’s feelings, opinions and in the same time to bring people together no matter the colour, ethnicity or social background. Music does not recognise borders or political systems. Music is a good vibration of energy that travels around the globe.
