Disco

Background

• The first discotheques originated in France during world war one

• It is a place where recorded music is played rather than a live band or orchestra

• The idea of a DJ or Disc-jockey emerged

• Discotheque was introduced in America in the 1960

Background

• It was cheaper for a club owner to hire a DJ than it was to book a live band

• In the 1960s the Djs threw together different types of dance music, such as rock, Jazz, soul and blues.

• In the 70s music started to appear that was specifically written for the discotheques in New York. This became Disco.

One of the firs disco records!

• Soul Makossa by Manu Dibango

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWK_Josc0Og

Tom Moulton

• An important figure in the development of Disco

• He is a record producer

• To keep people on the dance floor he extended the length of songs.

• This technique is called Remixing

A Remix is a new version of the original song.

Tom Moulton

• In Tom Moultons case, he extended songs by looping sections of them.

• He was also partly responsible for the 12-inch single

Looping is when you take a section of a song and keep

repeating it.

Musical Features

• 4/4 Time with a steady crotchet beat this is often emphasised by the bass drum.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vI9g0U1mxzY

• Accented second and fourth beat in each bar, usually on the snare drum.

• Constant quaver or semiquaver rhythm played on the hi-hat.

• Same semiquaver rhythm in the guitar, its sound distorted by the use of the wah-wah pedal

Musical Features

• An electric piano to fill out the harmony• A steady tempo 120 beats per minute.• A catchy melody, Reverb is often added.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QHU_USkX0vo

• Backing vocals especially in the chorus• Regular 4 bar phrases• Use of synthesised sounds