MIDI Still Uses Version 1.0 Fact
MIDI (the communications protocol for musical instruments), despite being standardized in 1983, still uses version 1.0.
Music
Music refers to the art form of sound and silence including recorded music, written music, music performance, and instruments.
Frank Zappa Coined the Term “Groupie” Fact
Frank Zappa claimed to have coined the term “groupie” to describe “women who followed rock groups.” Although we can’t prove he was the first to use the term, we can prove he was at least one of the first.
Mozart’s Magic Flute Contains Freemasonry Metaphors Fact
Mozart’s the Magic Flute is largely a metaphor about the Freemasonry and the Enlightenment augmented by crude jokes.
John Lennon’s Deportation Case Inspired DACA Fact
Some speculate that John Lennon’s status as a vocal anti-war rock icon caused Nixon to push for his deportation… which ironically resulted in a legal case that inspired President Obama’s 2012 immigration policy DACA.
“Hail, Columbia” was an Unofficial National Anthem of the United States.
The song “Hail, Columbia” is one of several songs once considered an unofficial national anthem of the United States.
Brian Eno Invented Ambient Music Myth
Brian Eno didn’t invent ambient music, but he did coin the term and popularize the genre drawing from underground experimental music and the work of Erik Satie.
Organized Noize Popularized Atlanta Hip Hop Fact
Organized Noize, a music collective founded in 1992, helped popularize Atlanta-based “dirty south” hip hop via their work with OutKast, Goodie Mob, TLC and more.
Stephen Sondheim is the Father of the Modern American Musical Fact
Stephen Sondheim can be considered “the father of the modern American musical”. Sondheim evolved the traditional American musical instead of adopting the more contemporary style of his peers.
432 Hz is Better than 440 Hz Myth
It’s theorized that using a starting pitch of A=432 Hz and a “just intonation” tuning method (scientific tuning) is more natural and mathematically symmetric than using A=440 Hz and “equal temperament” tuning (concert tuning).
Music Can Be Understood Through Intervals Fact
Music theory and the basics of playing music (especially on the piano) can be understood through music intervals. All scales, chords, and most songs are based on intervals.