A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other types of music.

There are several approaches to genre. In his book Form in Tonal Music, Douglass M. Green lists the madrigal, the motet, the canzona, thericercar, and the dance as examples of genres (from the Renaissance period). According to Green, "Beethoven's Op. 61 and Mendelssohn'sOp. 64 are identical in genre - both are violin concertos - but different in form. Mozart's Rondo for Piano, K. 511 Agnus Dei from his Mass, K. 317 are quite different in genre but happen to be similar in form."^[1] Some treat the terms genre and style as the same, and state that genre should be defined as pieces of music that share a certain style or "basic musical language".^[2] Others state that genre and style are two separate terms, and that secondary characteristics such as subject matter can also differentiate between genres.^[3] A music genre (or sub-genre) could be defined by the techniques, the styles, the context and the themes (content, spirit). Also, geographical origin sometimes is used to define the music genre, though a single geographical category will normally include a wide variety of sub-genres.

Kembrew McLeod, in an essay entitled "Genres, Subgenres, Sub-Subgenres and More",^[4] suggested that in electronic music, "the naming of new subgenres can be linked to a variety of influences, such as the rapidly evolving nature of the music, accelerated consumer culture, and the synergy created by record company marketing strategies and music magazine hype. The appropriation of the musics of minorities by straight, middle and upper-middle-class Whites in the United States and Great Britain plays a part, and the rapid and ongoing naming process within electronic/dance music subcultures acts as a gate-keeping mechanism, as well."

A list of genres of music (including subgenres) can be found at List of music genres. However, there are a number of criteria with which one may classify musical genres, including:

• The Art/Popular/Traditional distinction
• Regional and national distinctions
• Fusional origins

• Art music

  Main article: Art music

  Art music is the musical expression of high culture.

  Art music primarily refers to classical music, including European classical music, or others listed at List of classical music styles (including non-European classical music), contemporary classical music (including Electronic art music, Experimental music and Minimalist music). Art music may also include certain forms of Jazz (even though jazz is primarily a popular form of music).

  [edit]Popular music

  Main article: Popular music

  Popular music is the musical expression of popular culture.

  The usual stereotype of "popular music" is music belonging to any of a number of musical styles that are accessible to the general public and are disseminated by one or more of the mass media. For a critical introduction, see the work of Richard Middleton (e.g. Studying Popular Music1998) and Starr/Waterman American Popular Music (2004)

  [edit]Traditional music

  Main article: Traditional music

  Traditional music is the musical expression of Traditional culture.

  Traditional music is the modern name for what used to be called "Folk music", before the term "Folk music" was expanded to include a lot of non-traditional material. The defining characteristics of traditional music are:

  • Oral transmission: The music is passed down, or learned, through singing and listening and sometimes dancing
  • Cultural basis: The music derives from and is part of the traditions of a particular region or culture.

  ]Regional and national music

  It is possible to categorize music geographically. For example, the term "Australian music" could include Australian rock music, Australian traditional music in the European style (eg. Waltzing Matilda), Aboriginal Australian music, Australian classical music, and Australian Jazz