Electronic dance music

As electronic dance music (English electronic dance music, abbr EDM ) refers to a plethora of danceable music styles that make use of electronic instruments such as synthesizers and samplers, and since the 1990s also Native Processing ( software-based music production in the form of software synthesizers and software samplers ). In general, all sounds are produced synthetically to the vocals, not infrequently, however, non-electronic instruments in the form of samples are built into the package.

As a synonym in some instances, Dance Music and Dance has naturalized, which expression particularly in the non - English-speaking countries, especially the " massentauglicheren " styles of electronic dance music called, or about Dance - Pop, Italo Disco, Euro Disco, Euro Dance and Trance.

Characteristic elements

The electronic dance music usually based on the so -called repetitive arrangement where by constant repetition of melodic and rhythmic patterns a trance-like effect is produced. The liveliness of the music is attained in most styles by slight changes in the patterns (such as filter effects as in Acid ) or even surprising interjections (such as the minimal techno ). There are also styles that rely on the traditional song scheme, such as the Euro Dance, and others in which both elements are combined, as the trance.

Development

The repetitive arrangement is actually on the American e- musicians of the so-called minimal music movement back (such as Steve Reich ), who experimented in the 1960s with minimalist, repetitive, but played by traditional instruments arrangements. This type of arrangement has been adopted by numerous bands in the late 1960s in the pop music. In particular, within the so-called Krautrock movement were experiments in this direction frequently, as shown by the works of about Can, Tangerine Dream and Klaus Schulze. However Particularly influential was the German band Kraftwerk, the completely electronic, danceable beats used as the first band in the 70s as the basis of music.

In the U.S., germinated in the 1970s to a new DJ culture, which was closely connected with the scene of the so-called disco music, but also with the emerging hip-hop. The disc jockeys were limited from now on no longer absorb pure " hang-up" of music, but experimented with the plates by played out repeatedly about individual rhythm fragments as so-called loops. From this scene emerged the so-called House Music, the first recognized style of electronic dance music.

The style Electro Funk combined first two elements - European synthpop and American House and Hip Hop - and developed both in Europe and in the U.S. in the early 80s many sub-genres and developments, some of which more were close to the pop, but partly also purely sat on the danceable aspect (eg techno).

The late 1980s, electronic dance music succeeded the commercial breakthrough. From now on, nearly every year created new sub- genre, which mixed the new music form with other elements such as rock, pop, reggae and Gothic. To date, the electronic dance music has become an integral part of pop music who has not only the music but also the fashion fundamentally influenced. An example are the raves, mass gatherings that are running to electronic dance music often danced for days.