Types of Music

1. Classical music

There is a tendency to use classical music with particular reference to the music of the past, up to and including the 19^th century. However, the term also includes music being written now, and we may therefore speak of modern classical music. Classical here refers to genre, not period, and should not therefore be used in contrast to modern.

A classic may be used of a musical work which is firmly established in the concert repertoire and is therefore well-known. Such works are sometimes called collectively the classics. However, classic is used less often in connection with music than with literature.

Light classical is used of short classical works or excerpts which are easy to listen to, either because the composer’s aim was simply to entertain, or because of their familiarity. Light here is the opposite of serious.

2. serious music

This is sometimes used as a synonym of classical music, but strictly speaking it is not synonymous, since not all classical music is serious, and other types of music, for example, folk music and jazz, can claim to be serious too, in the sense of being not merely entertainment, but art. Serious music is thus a wider concept than classical music.

3. light music

This is not so much a category as a collection of works from various categories. It includes light classical music, popular tunes and songs from different sources, both traditional and new, dance music, film music, and so on.

4. folk music

Folk music corresponds to the Russian народная музыка, and includes both instrumental music and songs.

5. jazz

It is popular music first played by Negro groups in the southern USA in the early 20^th century, characterized by improvisation and strong rhythms.

Traditional jazz is классический джаз. Classical jazz is not used.

Note that jazz is generally used without music.

e.g. I like (traditional/modern) jazz.

6. pop music

It is a type of music, usually played on electronic instruments (electric guitars and synthesizers), that is popular with many people because it consists of short songs with a strong beat and simple tunes that are easy to remember. Pop music is often simply called pop.

7. The Russian эстрадная музыка includes some pop music, but it is a wider category, and has no English equivalent. In situations where эстрадный includes not only music but other types of entertainment, variety can be used.

e.g. a variety show/artist(e)

Variety singer, however, does not seem to occur. There is only pop singer.

8. dance music

This is not a specific type of music, since various kinds of music may be used for dancing, including jazz and pop music.

9. film music

It is music composed for films.

10. background music

It is quiet music that plays in public places (hotel foyers, airports, supermarkets, etc.). Some people play tapes/CDs as background music when friends come to see them. Apart from that, the term can denote the music used in a film to create a particular mood (see incidental music).

11. instrumental/vocal music

These categories correspond to the Russian инструментальная/вокальная музыка. the performers may be called instrumentalists, vocalists.

Vocal music and vocalist are often replaced in non-professional conversations by singing, and singer.

Instrumental music and instrumentalist also sound rather professional, but they have no colloquial equivalent. In some cases, however, player can be used meaning instrumentalist.

e.g. The players came onto the platform with their instruments.