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New Release In Rock Music
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Rock music, or what used to be termed as Rock And Roll, is the flower of classical principles combined with the offspring of 1/4/5 blues progressions played on porches in the Mississippi Delta circa 1940-1950 by primarily African-American musicians. These two elements combined with some aspects of American folk music comprised the holy brew of what became rock and roll. I say holy, primarily because rock music has the power both to save its listeners from personal despair through its use of potent audio aesthetics infused with melody and harmony- it also possesses the capacity to lift up one's spirit in a way no other musical genre can do. Unlike other forms of music, rock in its various melodic forms contains an immediacy and intensity which has not been duplicated in much older music, nor, one might also say, in newer musical forms as well. Rock found its birth in The United States in a very profound, electric and spiritual way in the mid 1950's with the nation-wide exposure of songs from such rock forerunners as Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Bill Haley, and of course, Elvis Presley. Rock's spiritual component lies in its invitation to spiritual freedom, an invitation that, in spite of the assertions of its many disapproving critics, did not cast aside personal responsibility. Rather, as rock matured in the 1960's, beyond some of the harder rock movements of its then "new left" origins, it spoke not only of that specious "flower power" love, but it very often was the sound track to real and sacred love. Such songs as The Beach Boys' "Caroline No" and The Left Banke's "Walk Away Renee", both released in 1966, contained the best of all musical genres, yet were distinctively representative of rock and roll. The often-mentioned repetition of rock music, in its verses, bridges and choruses, are like the succession of waves on a beach, and rather than becoming monotonous, these repeated hooks become poetic refrains, either soft or bold. This dimension of rock music is akin to an essential and aesthetically advanced line or phrase that one might find in a well-constructed poem. The repetition of similar or exact passages in rock music underscores its unique and timeless beauty, as when one finds someone beautiful one tends to desire to see that person over and over again, without loosing any ardor for the beloved, rather their ardor is constantly increased, when one hears the gilded fruition of true, blessed rock one tends to return to rock, from rock and its sacred source, which is as an eternal well-spring.. As it was once said about a revered Christian Saint: "They that drink from me shall still thirst." Hence, true rock music, unlike the glossy trappings of this world, when heard and digested by the heart and mind becomes more appealing, and one does not find oneself satiated- but stirred- and stirred upwards- to brighter realms in other skies. John Zwerenz, New York, 2012
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John Lars Zwerenz / Blog
A LAVENDER SOUND by John Lars Zwerenz
http://alsjlz.blogspot.com/
New Release In Rock Music
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The Sanctity Of Rock Music
Rock music, or what used to be termed as Rock And Roll, is the flower of classical principles combined with the offspring of 1/4/5 blues progressions played on porches in the Mississippi Delta circa 1940-1950 by primarily African-American musicians. These two elements combined with some aspects of American folk music comprised the holy brew of what became rock and roll. I say holy, primarily because rock music has the power both to save its listeners from personal despair through its use of potent audio aesthetics infused with melody and harmony- it also possesses the capacity to lift up one's spirit in a way no other musical genre can do. Unlike other forms of music, rock in its various melodic forms contains an immediacy and intensity which has not been duplicated in much older music, nor, one might also say, in newer musical forms as well. Rock found its birth in The United States in a very profound, electric and spiritual way in the mid 1950's with the nation-wide exposure of songs from such rock forerunners as Buddy Holly, Little Richard, Bill Haley, and of course, Elvis Presley. Rock's spiritual component lies in its invitation to spiritual freedom, an invitation that, in spite of the assertions of its many disapproving critics, did not cast aside personal responsibility. Rather, as rock matured in the 1960's, beyond some of the harder rock movements of its then "new left" origins, it spoke not only of that specious "flower power" love, but it very often was the sound track to real and sacred love. Such songs as The Beach Boys' "Caroline No" and The Left Banke's "Walk Away Renee", both released in 1966, contained the best of all musical genres, yet were distinctively representative of rock and roll. The often-mentioned repetition of rock music, in its verses, bridges and choruses, are like the succession of waves on a beach, and rather than becoming monotonous, these repeated hooks become poetic refrains, either soft or bold. This dimension of rock music is akin to an essential and aesthetically advanced line or phrase that one might find in a well-constructed poem. The repetition of similar or exact passages in rock music underscores its unique and timeless beauty, as when one finds someone beautiful one tends to desire to see that person over and over again, without loosing any ardor for the beloved, rather their ardor is constantly increased, when one hears the gilded fruition of true, blessed rock one tends to return to rock, from rock and its sacred source, which is as an eternal well-spring.. As it was once said about a revered Christian Saint: "They that drink from me shall still thirst." Hence, true rock music, unlike the glossy trappings of this world, when heard and digested by the heart and mind becomes more appealing, and one does not find oneself satiated- but stirred- and stirred upwards- to brighter realms in other skies. John Zwerenz, New York, 2012
Reply