Music GenRe

A music genre is a category (or genre) of pieces of music that share a certain style or "basic musical language" (Peter van der Merwe 1989, p.3). Music may also be categorized by non-musical criteria such as geographical origin, though a single geographical category will normally include a wide variety of sub-genres. A music genre (or subgenre) could be defined by the techniques, the styles, the context and the themes (content, spirit).

Categorization

A list of genres of music (including subgengres) can be found at List of music genres. However, there are a number of criteria with which one may classify musical genres, including:
The Art/Popular/Traditional distinction
Regional and national distinctions
Fusional origins

Art music

Art music, also known as "serious music," primarily refers to classical music, including European classical music, Contemporary classical music, or others listed at List of classical music styles (including non-European classical music). Art music also includes some forms of Jazz, Electronic art music, and Experimental music (including Minimalist music).

Popular music

Popular music (not to be confused with Pop music) is music belonging to any of a number of musical styles that are accessible to the general public and are disseminated by one or more of the mass media.

Traditional music

Traditional music is the modern name for what used to be called "Folk music", before the term "Folk music" was expanded to include a lot of non-traditional material. The defining characteristics of traditional music are that it is:
Aurally transmitted: The music is passed down aurally; this is not universal, but there must be a strong tradition of aural transmission
Culturally particular: The music derives from, or is related to, a particular region or culture

Regional and national music

It is possible to categorize music geographically. For example, the term "Australian music" could include Australian rock music, Australian traditional music in the European style (eg. Waltzing Matilda), Aboriginal Australian music, Australian classical music, and Australian Jazz.

Fusional origins

In the West, nearly all music except Traditional music has a fusional origin.
A fusion genre is a music genre that combines two or more genres. For example, rock and roll originally developed as a fusion of blues, gospel and country music. The main characteristics of fusion genres are variations in tempo, rhythm and sometimes the use of long musical "journeys" that can be divided into smaller parts, each with their own dynamics, style and tempo.
Artists who work in fusion genres are often difficult to categorize within non-fusion styles. Most styles of fusion music are influenced by various musical genres. While there are many reasons for this, the main reason is that most genres evolved out of other genres. When the new genre finally identifies itself as separate, there is often a large gray area in which musicians are left. These artists generally consider themselves part of both genres. A musician who plays music that is dominantly blues, influenced by rock, is often labeled a blues-rock musician. The first genre is the one from which the new one evolved. The second genre is the newer and less-dominant genre in the artist's playing. An example of a blues-rock group would be Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble. Vaughan, a Texas blues guitarist, surrounded by a world in which rock was dominating music, used rock and blues together.
One new fusion genre evolved slightly differently; instead of being stuck between an older genre and a newer genre, Metalcore has bridged the gap between the two older genres of heavy metal and hardcore punk.