I was thinking about rock and roll the other day.
 

While I visit Funkytown as often as anybody, I find rock and roll to be an odd phenomenon for two reasons.


1. Music has been around for 15,000 years, ever since the first caveman pounded on a rock while another blew the last marrow out of an alto mammoth bone. How does an entirely new genre evolve in the 1950s? You can argue about roots, but it's hard to argue that rock music existed in previous centuries. Why did minstrels not come up with the few notes that define "Sweet Home Alabama?" Why did ancient Egyptians not bob and weave to "Satisfaction?" Or did they?

2. While many instruments are used, I think we can all agree that the instrumental foundations of rock and roll are the guitar, the drum, and the piano. Why? Was this random happenstance, or is there a reason for it? In parallel universes, is rock music built upon the drum, the trumpet, and the violin? The guitar, the tympani, and the clarinet? It's not like drum sets and pianos are easily portable, so why? Why, I ask?

Perhaps some musical historians can settle these burning questions for me.

Les Paul

Great. Now I have that song from Caveman in my head. Thanks a lot.

Because clarinets and violins don't rock.


Duh.

musical historians?

we have musical historians?

You have entirely too much time on your hands. The thin air of Denver has made you kooky.:p

At least rock and roll wasn't built around the spoons, cow bell, or glockenschpiel....(sp?)... even if Springsteen does use one once in a while.

I love the "more cow bell" skil on SNL.....AHHHHH what memories.:thumb:

Rainman, Are you bored today?

I think you're right. He claims he was normal when he was in Rolla.

How could you tell?

Druids invented it, at the behest of their Dark Master.

Umm, electricity. Leading to amplification, tweaking, feedback, digitization.

well that would certainly explain the emergence of electric guitars... :) :) :)

You've only just now realized this...?