The AnswerBank Articles

Where did the idea of writing music on paper originate

A. The urge to make music is as old as the human race, and the desire to capture particular pieces of music in a format, which could be passed on to others, is as old as civilisation itself. Q. 00:00 Mon 28th May 2001

Why is no music ever presented properly on television

A. To paraphrase Doctor Johnson, presentation of music on television is like a dog walking on its hind legs - it's not that it is done badly, but that one is surprised to see it done at all. Q. 00:00 Mon 28th May 2001

Can you recomend a method of collecting music, I haven't got a fortune to spend

A. There has never been a better time to start a music collection than now, there are more and more inexpensive ways of amassing a series of sounds than ever before. Q. Sounds great, where do I00:00 Mon 21st May 2001

Someone has told me that Radio Two has won the 'Station Of The Year' Award, can that be true

A. It is right, BBC Radio Two has scooped the Sony Music 'Radio Station Of The Year' Award for the second time in three years. Radio Two is no longer the domain of the more 'mature' carpet-and00:00 Mon 21st May 2001

What can you tell me about the composer Mozart

A. Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, although his christened name was rather more lyrical - Johannes Chrysostmus Wolfgangus Theophillus Amadeus Mozart - was born in Saltsburg in January 1756. Q. No wonder00:00 Mon 21st May 2001

How easy is it to present music in a 'live'setting

A. It can be as easy or as hard as you want it to be. The factors involved depend on what you are producing, and how you want to present it to the public, paying or otherwise. Q. So there are no00:00 Mon 14th May 2001

Why do some singers and musicians decide to have solo careers

A. The reasons usually fall into two distinct areas - artists who feel that they want to sing and play their own material, which may not fit in with the established style of the band to which they00:00 Mon 14th May 2001

I keep hearing about someone or something being a 'musical influence' - what exactly does that mean

A. Broadly speaking, an 'influence' can be anyone who has created an impression on a pop or rock musician, in such a way that his or her work reflects something of the earlier style or sound. Q. 00:00 Mon 14th May 2001

Sharing music on the internet

I am confused by all this talk of "Free music on the Internet." Can you explain it A. The Internet has caused revolutions in many areas of daily life and culture, and music has been no exception.00:00 Mon 07th May 2001

I've heard that in America, it's not possible to censor an artist, is that true

A. It is true. Artists' work is protected under law, under the Constitution to be accurate, artistic freedom is enshrined in the First Amendment. Q. So if that's the case, why do I see 'Parental00:00 Mon 07th May 2001

Buena Vista Social Cub

I've just heard about a new band called the Buena Vista Social Club, who are they A. They're not really a 'new' band, although some of the musicians would be flattered by that description! Q. 00:00 Mon 07th May 2001

Is there a link between classical music and pop/rock music

A. There is a link, but it takes many and various forms, from obscure influences, to outright copying, and serious attempts to break into the ''opposition' camp. Q. Opposition - is there a war00:00 Mon 30th Apr 2001

Why are music opinion polls so popular

A. Music arouses strong opinions in people, that's a large part of its durability and appeal. If people have an opinion on something, they are often keen to express it, and opinion polls are a00:00 Mon 30th Apr 2001

How long has the Eurovision Song Contest being going

A. The Eurovision Song Contest will be in its 46th year, when the faithful gather in Copenhagen on 12 May. Q. How did it all start A. The idea of an international song contest was conceived in00:00 Mon 30th Apr 2001

Has our musical taste improved

Some say that today's music hasn't got the originality or genuine class of the output of the Sixties, but let's face it, there were some serious disasters in the Sixties too. Hindsight is a great00:00 Fri 20th Apr 2001

Q What's the history of the pop video

A. Strange as it may seem, the embryonic notion of promoting pop music through television occurred to Mike Nesmith. Q. That's the same name as the Texan guy who was in The Monkees, the sixties00:00 Mon 16th Apr 2001

Q What does the term 'pirate radio' mean

A. 'Pirate' radio is the term used for any radio station that is broadcasting illegally, in other words, without obtaining the required licence from the Home Office, which governs the allocation of00:00 Mon 16th Apr 2001

Q Why do radio stations ban certain records

A. There are a number of sensible, and sometimes not so sensible, reasons for not playing records on the radio. These are usually governed by the blanket criteria of what is referred to as 'good00:00 Mon 16th Apr 2001

Q How can I begin a pop memorabilia collection

I'd like to start collecting pop memorabilia, where do I start What you collect depends entirely on why you collect, so let's establish a few basic ground rules. Collecting divides neatly into two00:00 Mon 09th Apr 2001

Pop Memorabillia

I'd like to start collecting pop memorabilia, where do I start What you collect depends entirely on why you collect, so let's establish a few basic ground rules. Collecting divides neatly into two00:00 Mon 09th Apr 2001