What's the music this week? w/c 13 March

This week it's all about: Dance

Originating in Germany, electronic dance music quickly flooded dancefloors throughout the rest of Europe, particularly in places like Belgium and the Netherlands. Given it is mostly instrumental in nature, and characterised by its repeating melodic phrases, the genre was considered a more melodic variance of house and techno, with ‘uplifting trance’ lending much of its influence from classical music. Big-hitting DJs like Paul Van Dyk, Sasha, John Digweed and Paul Oakenfold would all help perpetuate its popularity amongst electronic music fans through the late 90s, and indeed late into the 2000s. 

Variations have been such as house music where DJs would play it for 10-15 hours at a time, with its loud, pulsating, energetic beats able to keep people dancing all night long. 

In the mid-to-late 1980s another EDM genre became prominent, it was now the turn of techno music. Techno is believed to have been created in the city of Detroit in the USA. There are many different styles of techno in this present day but it is believed that true techno came from Detroit. Techno music would usually feature repetitive instrumental music, without breakdowns and with minimal vocals. 

The next big movement in the clubbing music scene was that of drum and bass, often referred to as D&B, also known as Jungle. D&B came about in England in the early 1990s and it took a lot of inspiration from bass lines and samples from older Jamaican music and was then referred to as ‘jungle techno’, and finally shortened to ‘jungle’. 

From Drum and Bass came Dubstep, electronic dance music that originated from South London, in the late 1990s and draws its lineage from various different genres such as D&B, garage and reggae with overwhelming, powerful bass lines, reverberant drum patterns and occasional, but repetitive vocals. 

The UK is currently seeing the return of the House music genre, with deep bass lines and pulsating rhythms meaning that DJs can play sets for hours upon hours and keep the excitement and vibe of a club going all night. 

MABAL is music played through the school's speaker system during break and lunch.  Chosen by Mr Taylor, Lead Teacher for Music, this is designed to offer exposure to the curriculum in different ways, and support pupils' appreciation of music.

The focus is on one theme each week across a genre, a country or from history.  The theme could also link to the season or an event in school, such as the production.  Any further suggestions are welcomed - pupils should see Mr Taylor or email a.taylor@priory.lancs.sch.uk