 Allegory of Music, by François Boucher, 1764 Music is an art form, and a cultural activity, whose medium is sound. General definitions of music include common elements such as pitch (which governs melody and harmony), rhythm (and its associated concepts tempo, meter, and articulation), dynamics (loudness and softness), and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture (which are sometimes termed the "color" of a musical sound). Different styles or types of music may emphasize, de-emphasize or omit some of these elements. Music is performed with a vast range of instruments and vocal techniques ranging from singing to rapping; there are solely instrumental pieces, solely vocal pieces (such as songs without instrumental accompaniment) and pieces that combine singing and instruments. The word derives from Greek μουσική (mousike; "art of the Muses"). See glossary of musical terminology. (Full article...) |
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Joy Division were an English rock band formed in 1976 in Salford, Greater Manchester. Originally named Warsaw, the band primarily consisted of Ian Curtis (vocals and occasional guitar), Bernard Sumner (guitar and keyboards), Peter Hook (bass guitar and backing vocals) and Stephen Morris (drums and percussion).
Joy Division rapidly evolved from their initial punk rock influences to develop a sound and style that pioneered the post-punk movement of the late 1970s. Their self-released 1978 debut EP, An Ideal for Living, drew the attention of the Manchester television personality Tony Wilson. Joy Division's debut album, Unknown Pleasures, was released in 1979 on Wilson's independent record label, Factory Records, and drew critical acclaim from the British press. Despite the band's growing success, vocalist Ian Curtis was beset with depression and personal difficulties, and found it increasingly difficult to perform at live concerts.
On the eve of the band's first American tour in May 1980, Curtis committed suicide. Joy Division's posthumously released second album, Closer (1980), and the single "Love Will Tear Us Apart" became the band's highest charting releases.
Did you know...
- ...that after Rosa Ponselle created the role of Carmelita in Joseph Breil's "Lyric Tragedy in One Act" The Legend (libretto pictured) at the Met, she burned her copy of the score?
- ...that the Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band played a record-setting 10-hour drum roll in 1934?
- ...that La Voz de un Ángel by Yuridia ranked among the best-selling albums of the year in Mexico for three years in a row?
- ...that Irish musicians Lisa Hannigan and Damien Rice dueted on "Unplayed Piano", a Burmese protest song that charted in the UK and was praised by The Independent as "a twinkly and beautiful thing"?
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Today's Birthdays
- Birthdays in Music: December 14
- Jackie McAuley, Irish multi-instrumentalist for Them, turns 74.
- Jerome Cooper, American drummer, turns 74.
- John Lurie, American saxophonist, turns 68.
- René Eespere, Soviet-born Estonian composer, turns 67.
- Spider Stacy, (born Peter Richard Stacy) Irish tin whistler with The Pogues, turns 62.
- Tim Skold, American bassist for Marilyn Manson, turns 54.
- Beth Orton, English singer-songwriter, turns 50.
- Tori Kelly, American singer-songwriter, turns 28.
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