Genres/Idioms
Idiom: 1. A speech form or an expression of a given
language that is peculiar to itself grammatically or cannot be understood from
the individual meanings of its elements, as in keep tabs on. 2. The
specific grammatical, syntactic, and structural character of a given language.
3. Regional speech or dialect. 4. a. A specialized vocabulary used by a group;
jargon. b. A style or manner of expression peculiar to a given people. 5. A
style of artistic expression characteristic of a particular individual, school,
period, or medium.
Source: The Music of Black America: A History, Eileen
Southern and wikipedia.org
Spirituals Spiritual texts are group-oriented and tend to tell stories about Biblical events and figures, especially of the four Gospel books of the Bible and the Old Testament. Spirituals are sung a capella (without instrumentation). from wikipedia
Gospel Gospel texts are subjective and hortative ("Strong urging"). The poems generally center on a single theme, which is stressed through the repetition of phrases. The subjects are wide ranging, such as conversion, salvation, yearning for spirituality, etc. Gospel's themes and subjects are similar to those of the spiritual. Gospel songs have instrumental accompaniment, which is as integral a part of the performance as is the singing, and in like manner equally an expression of the folk. Gospel has characteristic rhythmic intensity because of its marked syncopation and percussive instrumental rhythms. Gospel melody, with its flatted thirds and sevenths, is related to blues; the spiritual uses "bent tones" only occasionally. Gospel is a more recent evolution of the spiritual, and perhaps reflects a more urban experience. from Wikipedia
Blues Wikipedia's entry
Jazz from Wikipedia
Rhythm and Blues from Wikipedia
Rock and Roll from Wikipedia
Soul Soul Music from Wikipedia
Funk Funk from Wikipedia
Rap/Hip Hop
from Wikipedia