music from around the world differs depending on the culture and history of where it is popular. Certain rhythms and instruments can be used to manufacture sounds that enable the listener to identify origin.

Spanish and African cultures have been very influential in the development of sounds found in the Caribbean and South America. With roots in historical tribes such as the Inca, Aztec or Maya, Central and South American music tend to be very rhythmic and fast-paced, with multiple levels and highlights. Some examples of this are the salsa, samba and rumba genres.

In the Caribbean, the tempo is also upbeat and lively, which is mainly due to the incredible mix of cultures from Africa, India, Spain, France and Britain over the centuries. Individual countries have their own styles, which all mix and match to form a distinct sound that is uniquely Caribbean. Soca, calypso, zouk and the widely recognized reggae genre are but a few types that exist. Music is greatly celebrated at Carnival, the biggest festival that happens throughout the region annually.

Because of the tremendous impact of the slave trade, the African-American heritage is felt strongly in the veins of jazz, blues and rock ‘n’ roll, genres that are synonymous with American culture.

European sounds are very sophisticated, including opera and more classical sounds. However, relatively recent sounds have been developed thanks to the youth culture rebellion such as dance and techno. The United Kingdom has its own version of styles found in the United States like rock, pop and urban.

In East Asia, the sounds and songs are all about portraying harmony, with mellow and tranquil melodies that are very relaxing. It is similar in India due to the country’s dedication and pride in to its faith and culture, with more energetic songs present in the Bollywood culture. One Indian instrument is the sitar, which is easy to distinguish.

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World music refers to the various styles played by indigenous people from all over the world. However, it usually refers any type of non western music from around the world. Robert E Brown, an ethnomusicologist from the USA, first used the term.

Possibly the more popular sounds come from Asia or Africa. The use of non-western modes and scales are common in this genre, Indian Ragas with tabla, sitar and other instruments use traditional and unusual musical scales.

One of the most popular forms include the non-western classical styles, which can date back many centuries. A good example of these could be Japanese Koto, Indian Ragas, Tibetan chanting, south Asian Qawwali, eastern European folk and tribal sounds from Africa, Asia and south America.

West African countries like Mali and Senegal have produced a modern style. This often considered to be a precursor to the blues and reggae. Some of the Mali bands use electric instruments such as electric guitars to create a more contemporary sound, while remaining traditional. Also popular are urban styles, for example sounds from the south African townships.

Paris is one of the capitals of these musical styles in Europe. There are many communities of French speaking minorities, including Moroccans and Algerians who have introduced Berber. Rai and Gnawa. There is also a large West African community in Paris from Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, and Guinea. They have introduced Manning Jeli and Mbalax.

These sounds has been merged with western contemporary styles in recent years. Artists like Nitin Sawhney, Dead Can Dance and Enigma have combine world sounds with rock, trip hop, jungle and ambient. This genre is incredibly varied and incorporates many different sounds. Discovering more about the music from around the world is very exciting, and it is a fantastic way to discover the worlds cultures.

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