Free Essays on Jazz

Jazz is rooted in the mingled musical traditions of African Americans. These include traits surviving from West African music; black folk music forms developed in the Americas; European popular and light classical music of the 18th and 19th centuries; and later popular music forms influenced by black music or produced by black composers. Among the surviving African traits are vocal styles that include great freedom of vocal color; a tradition of improvisation; call-and-response patterns; and rhythmic complexity, both in the syncopation of individual melodic lines and in the conflicting rhythms played by different members of an ensemble. Black folk music forms include field hollers, rowing chants, lullabies, and later, spirituals and blues (see African American Music). European music contributed specific styles and forms: hymns, marches, waltzes, quadrilles, and other dance music, as well as light theatrical music and Italian operatic music. European music also introduced theoretical elements, in particular, harmony, both as a vocabulary of chords and as a concept related to musical form. (Much of the European influence was absorbed through private lessons in European music, even when the black musicians so trained could only find work in seedy entertainment districts and on Mississippi riverboats.) Black-influenced elements of popular music that contributed to jazz include the banjo music of the minstrel shows (derived from the banjo music of slaves), the syncopated rhythmic patterns of African-influenced Latin American music (heard in southern U.S. cities), the barrelhouse piano styles of tavern musicians in the Midwest, and the marches played by black brass bands in the late 19th century. Near the end of the 19th century, another influential genre emerged. This was ragtime, a composed music that combined many elements, including syncopated rhythms (from banjo music and other black sources) and the harmonic contrasts and formal p... Free Essays on Jazz Free Essays on Jazz â€Å"Dixie Jazz Band One-Step† and â€Å"Dippermouth Blues† are two recordings that are from the 1920s yet have remarkable differences between the two. The differences could stem from a variety of reasons such as differences in the ethnicity of the musicians and the artists that influenced the bands. â€Å"Dixie Jazz Band One-Step† was recorded in February 1917 by The Original Dixieland Jazz Band. The band features Nick LaRocca on cornet, Larry Shields on Clarinet, Eddie Edwards on trombone, Henry Ragas on piano, and Tony Spargo on drums. The band members were all anglo-saxon men who were from New Orleans but met in Chicago. The â€Å"Dixie Jazz Band One-Step† is a very fast and almost frantic song performed in a rag style. The drummer plays a boom-chick feel in many parts of the song but also plays the bass drum only on the down beats and uses wood blocks and cowbells for added percussion. The song was originally created by all the musicians improvising their individual parts and once it was written, the song was always played the same way. There are no long improvised solos in this piece. The instruments have very specific roles in this tune. The trombonist plays in the tailgate style, trying to make up for the lack of a bass player. The pianist franticly plays the chords to the song. The clarinet plays obbligato to the melody and handles the stop time fills while the cornet plays the actual melody. The song’s form is very repetitive and there is little difference between the repeats of sections. â€Å"Dippermouth Blues† is very different from â€Å"Dixie Jazz Band One-Step†. The instrument featured are the piano, trombone, trumpet, two cornets, bass, and drums. Two of the more obvious differences in the band are the woman piano player and all band members being of african-american descent. The most obvious differences in the songs are the form (this song is a 12 bar blues) and the time (this song is in 4/4). Some... Free Essays on Jazz The History of Jazz When it comes to music, most people don’t say they like it. People say they like heavy metal, pop, rhythm and blues, or any other type of music, since they have their own preference to what type of music they like, not just enjoying the broad area of music. One of those types of music, which many enjoy, is jazz. Actually right now jazz is really big and popular in Europe, and is rising in its popularity in the USA through its many forms. Jazz does have many forms, so many that some enjoyed bebop, ragtime, blues, or other types of jazz. Jazz has survived longer than many types of music, and it has always influenced the ways people involved in jazz compose or perform. It has also brought out many famous people. Although jazz is not the most influencing music currently in the nation, its history proves that it is great form of music with many origins, a multigenerational life span, numerous styles, many legendary musicians, and its own creative, independent interpretation. Jazz is over 100 years old, probably making it one of the longest lasting forms of music so far. Europeans did not create jazz; it was created by Afro-Americans who descended from ancestors in Africa. These Afro-Americans learned how to play these European instruments well, including percussion or the drum set, trumpet, cornet, saxophone, trombone, tuba and many other instruments. They wanted to show what they were like to other races, so they attempted to express themselves and their feelings through music and the instruments, which were so foreign to them. A lot of the music, which they played, came from folk music. Jazz did have a part of it come from Europe. The instruments of course, and the basic beginning forms of music helped jazz to be created. Another part of jazz, which is not of African origin, is improvisation, which is similar but has no melodic restrictions. Improvisation began with the Greeks and their musi... Free Essays on Jazz Jazz is rooted in the mingled musical traditions of African Americans. These include traits surviving from West African music; black folk music forms developed in the Americas; European popular and light classical music of the 18th and 19th centuries; and later popular music forms influenced by black music or produced by black composers. Among the surviving African traits are vocal styles that include great freedom of vocal color; a tradition of improvisation; call-and-response patterns; and rhythmic complexity, both in the syncopation of individual melodic lines and in the conflicting rhythms played by different members of an ensemble. Black folk music forms include field hollers, rowing chants, lullabies, and later, spirituals and blues (see African American Music). European music contributed specific styles and forms: hymns, marches, waltzes, quadrilles, and other dance music, as well as light theatrical music and Italian operatic music. European music also introduced theoretical elements, in particular, harmony, both as a vocabulary of chords and as a concept related to musical form. (Much of the European influence was absorbed through private lessons in European music, even when the black musicians so trained could only find work in seedy entertainment districts and on Mississippi riverboats.) Black-influenced elements of popular music that contributed to jazz include the banjo music of the minstrel shows (derived from the banjo music of slaves), the syncopated rhythmic patterns of African-influenced Latin American music (heard in southern U.S. cities), the barrelhouse piano styles of tavern musicians in the Midwest, and the marches played by black brass bands in the late 19th century. Near the end of the 19th century, another influential genre emerged. This was ragtime, a composed music that combined many elements, including syncopated rhythms (from banjo music and other black sources) and the harmonic contrasts and formal p... Free Essays on Jazz The Harlem Renaissance was an era full of life, excitement, and activity. The world in all aspects was in gradual recovery from the depression. The world of music was expanding, sharing it’s enthusiasm throughout the world. The evolution of jazz aroused the curiosity of the nation. As Blacks received their freedom, they were able to express themselves as talented individuals. Certain blacks contributed immensely to the era of jazz, for example, Duke Ellington. Ellington entered a brand-new, exciting era as he grew up. As Ellington became an adolescent, the entertainment world was undergoing rapid, change. The change was driven by the deep, persuasive shift in the American spirit. The country was anxious to recover what it lost during the Depression. Ellington’s jazz creations were unknown and alien to the world, however, Ellington received the chance to succeed at the Cotton Club. The results of Ellington’s achievements at the Cotton Club were extensive, leading him to success and to national fame. The reasons for his outcome need to be revealed because Ellington was one of the most important figures in the era of jazz. During the Harlem Renaissance, some of the clubs were segregated and some mixed. The Cotton Club’s patrons were mostly whites and the club employed mostly blacks. The Cotton Club was the centerpiece of New York’s entertainment business. It was the springboard to fame for many singer, dancers, and performers and was indeed the board Ellington jumped from. The club management decided what audiences wanted to see in their clubs. As a result of the Harlem Renaissance and the growing interest in black entertainment, audiences enjoyed watching the many talented black performers. To have such a name as the Cotton Club brings to mind images of the Old South. Ellington auditioned at the Cotton Club because he found it to be an opportunity that he would most likely never stumble upon again. In December 1927, Ellington pr ...