In
music theory
Music theory is the study of theoretical frameworks for understanding the practices and possibilities of music. ''The Oxford Companion to Music'' describes three interrelated uses of the term "music theory": The first is the "Elements of music, ...
and
music criticism, the term eclecticism refers to the use of diverse
music genres. A musician might be described as eclectic if different parts of their output can be ascribed to different genres such as
folk,
rock,
electronic,
classical, or
jazz
Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana, in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its roots are in blues, ragtime, European harmony, African rhythmic rituals, spirituals, h ...
.
Eclectic musicians may also use historical references in their work. A song can reference historical forms and methods through its composition, arrangement, or production.
Classical theory
The term can be used to describe the music of
composer
A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music.
Etymology and def ...
s who combine multiple styles of composition; an example would be a composer using a
whole tone scale variant of a folk song in a
pentatonic scale over a
chromatic counterpoint, or a
tertian arpeggiating melody over
quartal or
secundal harmonies.
Eclecticism can also occur through
quotations, whether of a style, direct
quotations of folk songs/variations of them—for example, in
Mahler's ''
Symphony No. 1''—or direct quotations of other composers, for example in
Berio's ''
Sinfonia''.
See also
*
Polystylism
*
Progressive music
Progressive music is music that attempts to expand existing stylistic boundaries associated with specific music genre, genres of music. The word comes from the basic concept of ":wiktionary:progress, progress", which refers to advancements thr ...
Notes
References
Sources
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Music genres
Musical techniques
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