Music

California Love — 2Pac, Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman California Love Overview of the 1995 hip hop single "California Love" by 2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman: production, versions, music video, chart impact, awards and lasting influence on…

Call and Response (Music): Form, Function, and Cultural Context Call and response (music) Call and response is a musical pattern where a leader's phrase is answered by another performer or group; widely used across traditions from West African vocal music to gospel, blu…

Call Me Maybe — Carly Rae Jepsen song Call Me Maybe 2011 pop single by Canadian singer Carly Rae Jepsen. A global breakout hit that topped charts worldwide, sold millions, inspired many covers and parodies, and earned major award no…

Calypso music: Afro-Caribbean song tradition of Trinidad and Tobago Calypso music Calypso is an Afro-Caribbean musical genre that emerged in Trinidad and Tobago. It blends African rhythms and European melodies with topical, often satirical lyrics and has been ce…

Camila (album) Debut solo album by Cuban–American singer Camila Cabello, released January 12, 2018. A pop record with Latin and R&B influences that produced the global hit "Havana" and debuted at…

Camille Saint-Saëns: life and music of a French composer Camille Saint-Saëns Concise guide to Camille Saint-Saëns (1835–1921): his life as a prodigy, career as composer, pianist and organist, major works (including Samson and Delilah, Carnival of the Animal…

Can't Get You Out of My Head 2001 dance-pop single by Kylie Minogue from the album Fever; written by Cathy Dennis and Rob Davis. A global hit that revived Minogue's career and remains her best-known song.

Can't Hold Us — song by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis Can't Hold Us Upbeat single released in 2011 by Macklemore and producer Ryan Lewis, later included on The Heist (2012). A commercially successful anthem known for its energetic production, promi…

Can't Stop the Feeling! — song by Justin Timberlake Can't Stop the Feeling! Upbeat 2016 pop single by Justin Timberlake from the DreamWorks film Trolls; a worldwide commercial hit that topped the US charts and became a family-friendly crossover anthem.

Can't Stop This Thing We Started A concise encyclopedia article on Bryan Adams' 1991 rock single from Waking Up the Neighbours, its creation, sound, release context and legacy.

Can't Take Me Home — Pink's 2000 debut studio album Can't Take Me Home Debut album by American singer Pink, released April 4, 2000 on LaFace Records. R&B and hip hop–soul production, produced three hit singles and established her before a later pop-ro…

Canadian Hot 100 The Canadian Hot 100 is Billboard's weekly chart that ranks the most popular songs in Canada, combining radio airplay, sales and streaming across multiple genres.

Candies (Japanese girl group) Candies (band) Candies were a popular 1970s Japanese idol trio known for pop songs, coordinated performances and TV variety appearances. They formed in 1973 and announced a much-discussed breakup…

Candlemass (Swedish doom metal band) Candlemass Candlemass is a Swedish doom metal band formed in Stockholm in 1984, known for pioneering the epic or 'traditional' doom subgenre with slow, heavy riffs, operatic vocals, and drama…

Cannibal Corpse — American death metal band formed in 1988 Cannibal Corpse Cannibal Corpse is an influential American death metal band from Buffalo, New York, known for technical musicianship, graphic horror-themed lyrics, long career, and repeated lineup…

Canon (music): contrapuntal form based on strict imitation Canon (music) A canon is a contrapuntal musical form in which one voice imitates another at a fixed interval and time delay. This article explains its structure, types, history, uses, and notabl…

Canonic Variations on “Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her” (BWV 769) Canonic Variations on "Vom Himmel hoch da komm' ich her" A late organ composition by J. S. Bach, BWV 769 presents five canonic settings of the Lutheran Christmas chorale “Vom Himmel hoch,” combining strict contrapuntal technique with lit…

Cantata: definition, form, history, and examples Cantata An illustrated overview of the cantata—its origins, typical structure, role in Baroque worship and chamber music, notable composers and later developments, and distinctions from re…

Cantopop: Cantonese popular music and its cultural role Cantopop Cantopop is Cantonese-language popular music that emerged in Hong Kong, blending Chinese and international styles and influencing audiences across Southeast Asia and southern China…

Cantor (church) A cantor is the liturgical singer or prayer leader who leads musical elements of worship in Christian and Jewish rites. Roles range from soloist to choir director and have evolved…

Capital Punishment (album) Debut studio album by Big Pun released April 28, 1998. Critically acclaimed, it reached top chart positions, earned platinum status, and is noted for its lyricism, East Coast sound…

Captain & Tennille — American pop duo Captain & Tennille Husband-and-wife pop duo Daryl 'Captain' Dragon and Toni Tennille, prominent in the 1970s and 1980s for soft-rock hits, television appearances and the Grammy-winning single "Love W…

Captive Heart (song by Selena) Captive Heart An electropop promotional single by American singer Selena. Released promotionally, it reached some U.S. charts and drew mixed to negative critical response while remaining notable…

Carillon: the tuned tower-bell instrument Carillon A carillon is a stationary musical instrument of tuned bells in a tower, played from a keyboard or automatically; this article explains its parts, history, playing methods, and not…

Carina Jaarneks orkester Swedish dansband led by singer Carina Jaarnek, founded in Ronneby in 1989; noted for Svensktoppen chart appearances, a 1991 dansband contest win and participation in the 2000 Dansb…

Carl Maria von Weber German composer (1786–1826) whose operas and orchestral writing helped define early Romanticism; best known for Der Freischütz and for advancing the role of the orchestra and clari…

Carl Nielsen: Danish Composer (1865–1931) Carl Nielsen Carl Nielsen (1865–1931) was Denmark's foremost composer, known for six symphonies, the opera Maskarade, chamber works and a distinctive modern voice that mixed folk influence, bol…

Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach — Composer and Influential Keyboard Virtuoso Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach German composer and keyboard virtuoso (1714–1788), second son of J. S. Bach. Leading figure of the empfindsamer Stil, author of a major keyboard treatise and a bridge between Baroq…

Carl Reinecke: 19th-Century Composer, Conductor and Pedagogue Carl Reinecke Comprehensive overview of Carl Reinecke (1824–1910): biography, career in Leipzig, compositional output, pedagogical influence, recordings and lasting legacy in 19th‑century music.

Carlos Santana Carlos Santana is a Mexican-American guitarist and bandleader known for fusing rock and Latin music. This article outlines his style, career milestones, notable recordings, awards,…

Carmen: Bizet’s Opera of Passion and Tragedy Carmen Carmen is a four-act French opéra comique by Georges Bizet (premiered 1875), set in Spain and adapted from Mérimée’s novella; famed for its melodies (Habanera, Toreador) and dramat…

Carmino Ravosa — American composer, educator, and children's songwriter Carmino Ravosa Composer and educator Carmino Ravosa (1930–2015) wrote widely used school musicals, contributed songs to children's television and publications, and edited influential music textbo…

Carnaval, Op. 9 — Schumann’s piano cycle of masks and motifs Carnaval Carnaval, Op. 9, is Robert Schumann’s cycle of short piano pieces evoking masked revelers, personal portraits and commedia dell’arte figures around a cryptogram of four notes.

Carnival of Carnage: Insane Clown Posse's debut and the Dark Carnival origin Carnival of Carnage Carnival of Carnage, released in 1992, is the debut studio album by Insane Clown Posse and the first 'Joker Card' introducing their Dark Carnival mythology, noted for its horror-ra…

Cartel de Santa (Mexican hip hop group) Cartel de Santa Cartel de Santa is a prominent Mexican hip hop group from Santa Catarina, Nuevo León, known for its gritty street lyrics, party anthems, and commercial success in Spanish-language…

Cascada: German dance-pop trio led by Natalie Horler Cascada Overview of Cascada, a German dance-pop act formed in 2004, its members, signature songs, musical style, albums and influence on mainstream club pop worldwide.

Cassette single (cassingle): format, history, and cultural impact Cassette single A cassette single—often called a 'cassingle'—is a single song or short collection released on compact audio cassette; popular in the 1980s and later supplanted by CD singles and di…

Castanets: Spanish handheld percussion instruments Castanets Handheld paired wooden percussion instruments from Spain used in folk, flamenco, ballet, opera and orchestra; clicked by hand or mounted for orchestral use.

Castrato: history, voice characteristics, and cultural legacy Castrato Castrati were male singers whose high voices resulted from prepubescent castration or endocrinal conditions. This article explains their physiology, role in opera and church music,…

Cavalera Conspiracy Cavalera Conspiracy is a metal band formed by brothers Max and Igor Cavalera in 2007, known for a raw, thrash- and groove-oriented sound that reunited the siblings after years apar…

Cavalleria rusticana — Mascagni's One‑Act Verismo Opera Cavalleria rusticana One-act Italian opera by Pietro Mascagni (premiered 1890) that helped establish verismo; noted for its Intermezzo and intense rural drama. Frequently paired with Leoncavallo’s Pagl…

Cavaquinho — Portuguese four‑stringed instrument Cavaquinho Small four‑stringed instrument from the guitar family, central to Portuguese and Brazilian music and ancestral to the ukulele; notable for varied tunings and rhythmic role.

CBGB: The New York Club That Shaped Punk and New Wave CBGB CBGB was a small New York City music club opened in 1973 that became the birthplace of American punk, new wave and hardcore scenes. This article summarizes its history, atmosphere,…

Cee Lo's Magic Moment Cee Lo's Magic Moment is Cee Lo Green's first Christmas and fourth studio album, released in late October 2012 by Elektra Records. It features soulful reinterpretations of seasonal…

Celesta: the bell-like keyboard instrument Celesta A compact encyclopedia article on the celesta: its construction, sound, history, notation, and use in orchestral and solo repertoire, including its role in Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker…

Celestial Navigations Celestial Navigations is a musical storytelling project that paired actor Geoffrey Lewis with musician Geoff Levin, blending spoken-word narratives and electronic soundscapes in li…

Cello (violoncello): overview, construction, history and uses Cello The cello, or violoncello, is a bowed string instrument with a rich tenor and bass range. Played by a cellist, it appears as a solo instrument, in chamber ensembles and in orchestr…

Bach: Six Suites for Unaccompanied Cello Cello Suites (Bach) An expanded encyclopedia entry on Johann Sebastian Bach's six unaccompanied cello suites: history, structure, manuscripts, performance practice, notable recordings and their lastin…