String instruments and Pop: The use of the violin family in 21st century mainstream pop music

Fernando Pérez Calvo

About this exposition

This project investigates a side of string playing that happens beyond conservatory studies, analyzing the use of string instruments from the violin family (violin, viola, cello, and double bass) in mainstream pop during the 21st century, comparing it also to their use during the 20th century in pop and other styles, such as Disco or Rock and Roll, and see the evolution. In mainstream pop from different historical periods, these instruments can be seen in many songs, however, their use differs due to the technological and social context of each period, as well as economic and popular decisions made by big companies and artists. The project was formulated by doing a bibliographic review for the creation of a historical context and the most theoretical parts, as well as the observation and analysis of hundreds of songs to see and determine this evolution, reaching the conclusion that technology and social networks have changed the way we listen to music and that, in general, string instruments, whether real or synthetic, are used less as time passes in mainstream pop music, protected by economic decisions around social changes and opinions.

type	research exposition
keywords	Strings, violin, viola, Cello, double bass, pop music, mainstream
date	20/02/2023
published	19/07/2023
last modified	19/07/2023
status	limited publication
share status	private
affiliation	Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag
copyright	Fernando Pérez Calvo
license	CC BY-NC-ND
language	English
url	https://www.researchcatalogue.net/view/1965860/1965861
published in	KC Research Portal
portal issue	3. Internal publication

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copyright	Public domain
license	Public domain
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name	Bee Gees
copyright	Public Domain
license	Public domain
usages	picture

name	Gloria Gaynor
copyright	Thomas Rodenbücher, Gloria Gaynor
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usages	audio

name	Donna Summer
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license	Public domain
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copyright	Chris Weger
license	CC BY-SA
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name	Erotica - Madonna
copyright	Maverick/Sire/Warner Bros.
license	All rights reserved
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name	Dangerous - Michael Jackson
copyright	Epic Records
license	All rights reserved
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name	Michael Jackson
copyright	Drew H. Cohen
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name	Céline Dion
copyright	Anirudh Koul
license	CC BY
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name	Mariah Carey
copyright	WBLS
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Phil Collins - You Can´t Hurry Love
copyright	Phil Collins
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Céline Dion - My Heart Will Go On
copyright	Céline Dion
license	CC BY-SA
usages	audio

name	Madonna - Deeper and Deeper
copyright	Madonna
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Backstreet Boys
copyright	Glenn Francis and Pacific Pro Digital Photography
license	CC BY-SA
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name	*NSYNC
copyright	Tim Roney
license	CC BY-SA
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name	Britney Spears
copyright	Glenn Francis
license	CC BY-SA
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name	Britney Spears - Oops!...I Did It Again
copyright	Britney Spears
license	CC BY-SA
usages	audio

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copyright	Destiny´s child
license	CC BY-SA
usages	picture

name	Beyoncé
copyright	KEVIN WINTER
license	CC BY-SA
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name	Justin Timberlake
copyright	Steve Granitz
license	CC BY-SA
usages	picture

name	Rihanna
copyright	Getty Images
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Lady Gaga
copyright	Neilson Barnard
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Justin Bieber
copyright	Lou Stejskal
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Katy Perry
copyright	Getty Images
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Taylor Swift
copyright	Getty Images
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	OneRepublic
copyright	Getty Images
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Bruno Mars
copyright	Getty Images
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Adele
copyright	Kevin Mazur
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Ed Sheeran
copyright	Ed Sheeran
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	The Weeknd
copyright	Brian Ziff
license	CC BY-SA
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name	Ariana Grande
copyright	Ariana Grande
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Dua Lipa
copyright	Ralph_PH
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Billie Eilish
copyright	Getty Images
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Beyoncé and Shakira - Beautiful Liar
copyright	Beyoncé
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Justin Timberlake - Mirrors
copyright	Justin Timberlake
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Rihanna - Disturbia
copyright	Rihanna
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Rihanna - Cold Case Love
copyright	Rihanna
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Katy Perry - Firework
copyright	Katy Perry
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Bruno Mars - Grenade
copyright	Bruno Mars
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Adele - Hometown Glory
copyright	Adele
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Dua Lipa - Don´t Start Now
copyright	Dua Lipa
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Backstreet Boys - Shape Of My Heart
copyright	Backstreet Boys
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Coldplay
copyright	Coldplay
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	The High Llamas
copyright	The High Llamas
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Fiona Apple
copyright	Fiona Apple
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Andrew Bird
copyright	Andrew Bird
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Bjïrk
copyright	DAVE TONGE (GETTY IMAGES)
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Lana Del Rey
copyright	Getty Images
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Lorde
copyright	Lorde
license	CC BY
usages	picture

name	Woodkid
copyright	Collier Schorr
license	CC BY-SA
usages	picture

name	Woodkid - I Love You
copyright	Woodkid
license	All rights reserved
usages	audio

name	Song
copyright	Fernando Pérez Calvo
license	All rights reserved
usages	picture

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String instruments and Pop: The use of the violin family in 21st century mainstream pop music (2023)

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