Musical Values in Rock Theatre Songs

Abstract

Here the nature of rock music is broken down into its components, with an emphasis on rhythm. In rock, the melody and the accompaniment are both rhythmic; this chapter contains an extensive discussion of how melody and accompaniment interact to create the essential rock element of groove. The notions of rhythmic accuracy and rhythmic freedom are discussed at length from both aesthetic and technical standpoints. Among the primary topics are meter, tempo, feel, improvisation, tension and resolution, and underlying rhythmic motors in rock. A singer’s approach to melody is examined by genre, including extensive examples: rock ’n’ roll, hard rock, pop and pop-rock, blues and gospel, soul and r&b, rap, and ballads.