Blues

Evolved from African-American work songs Evolved from African-American work songs and spiritualsand spirituals

Based on "folk holler" (slaves would holler Based on "folk holler" (slaves would holler to the empty fields) & spiritualsto the empty fields) & spirituals

Lyrics often speak of the agony of Lyrics often speak of the agony of desertion, betrayal and unrequited love desertion, betrayal and unrequited love (love not returned)(love not returned)

One form – "levee camp blues" or labor One form – "levee camp blues" or labor songs. Sung during hard, strenuous worksongs. Sung during hard, strenuous work

Blues

African vocals with white man's guitar African vocals with white man's guitar addedadded

Pattern (12-bar blues) like in Pattern (12-bar blues) like in Hound DogHound Dog Bars - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12Bars - 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Chords – IChords – I IV I V IV I IV I V IV I

Combination of black melody & rhythm with Combination of black melody & rhythm with white harmony and meterwhite harmony and meter

Form can change. This is basic framework Form can change. This is basic framework to start with. Musician would improvise to start with. Musician would improvise with this structure in mind.with this structure in mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhULlN_6vfI&feature=fvwrelhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhULlN_6vfI&feature=fvwrel

JazzJazz

Jazz music originated with slaves.Jazz music originated with slaves. In the African tradition, they had a single-line In the African tradition, they had a single-line

melody and a call-and-response pattern, but melody and a call-and-response pattern, but without the European concept of harmony.without the European concept of harmony.

In the early 19th century an increasing In the early 19th century an increasing number of black musicians learned to play number of black musicians learned to play European instruments.European instruments.

Another influence came from black slaves Another influence came from black slaves who had learned the harmonic style of hymns who had learned the harmonic style of hymns and incorporated it into their own music as and incorporated it into their own music as spirituals.spirituals.

JazzJazz

Begin with a basic melodies and Begin with a basic melodies and musicians take turns improvising or musicians take turns improvising or “taking a solo” on the melody.“taking a solo” on the melody.

MelodyMelody

ImprovImprov

Jazz

Syncopation – shifting the accent to Syncopation – shifting the accent to the weak beat or off-beatthe weak beat or off-beat

JazzJazz

Syncopated rhythms reflected African Syncopated rhythms reflected African speech patterns, and the African use of speech patterns, and the African use of pentatonic scales led to blue notes in blues pentatonic scales led to blue notes in blues and jazz. (lowered 3and jazz. (lowered 3rdrd, 5, 5thth, & 7, & 7thth))

Ragtime

Based on the military two-step marchBased on the military two-step march Rhythms are "ragged" and Rhythms are "ragged" and

syncopated (putting emphases on syncopated (putting emphases on weak beat)weak beat)

Mostly played on the pianoMostly played on the piano

Ragtime

Most famous ragtime composer – Most famous ragtime composer – Scott JoplinScott Joplin

Called "King of Ragtime"Called "King of Ragtime" Moved from South to urban NorthMoved from South to urban North Songs – "Maple Leaf Rag" & "The Songs – "Maple Leaf Rag" & "The

Entertainer"Entertainer"

Famous Jazz MusiciansFamous Jazz Musicians

Louis Armstrong (called the Great Louis Armstrong (called the Great "Satchmo") – "Potato Head Blues," "Satchmo") – "Potato Head Blues," "West End Blues," "St. Louis Blues""West End Blues," "St. Louis Blues"

Duke Ellington – "Caravan," "Take the Duke Ellington – "Caravan," "Take the 'A' Train"'A' Train"

Miles Davis – "So What"Miles Davis – "So What" Jazz influenced Gershwin – "Rhapsody Jazz influenced Gershwin – "Rhapsody

in Blue"in Blue"

George Gershwin

Born in 1898 in Brooklyn, NY to Born in 1898 in Brooklyn, NY to Ukrainian Jewish immigrantsUkrainian Jewish immigrants

Birth name – Jacob GershovitzBirth name – Jacob Gershovitz Began musical training at 13Began musical training at 13 His first song was published His first song was published

when he was 17 & it when he was 17 & it earned him $5.earned him $5.

George Gershwin Teamed up with his brother, Ira, in 1924 to Teamed up with his brother, Ira, in 1924 to

write musical comedies for Broadwaywrite musical comedies for Broadway Went to Paris to study with the same Went to Paris to study with the same

teacher Aaron Copland took from. She teacher Aaron Copland took from. She denied giving him lessons because she denied giving him lessons because she feared that rigorous study would ruin his feared that rigorous study would ruin his jazz-influenced stylejazz-influenced style

While in Paris, he wrote While in Paris, he wrote An American in An American in ParisParis

Died of a brain tumor at the age of 38Died of a brain tumor at the age of 38

Gershwin’s Music

““I Got Rhythm”I Got Rhythm” Rhapsody in Blue Rhapsody in Blue (rhapsody – an (rhapsody – an

instrumental composition of irregular form instrumental composition of irregular form often incorporating improvisation)often incorporating improvisation)

Jazz Music today

Glenn Miller Orchestra

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RzMHMWjVZc0

Ray Charles http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIqWwiC1BFI&feature=related

Many, many more….