The Jazz Age

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Recommended: Music as an agent of social change

“Music touches us emotionally, where words alone can't.”(Depp) In the Twenties in America music did just that. The power of music goes far beyond our imagination. In the 1920’s, commonly known as the Jazz Age, music touched a generation and was the driving force for a new social revolution. Jazz music changed the way music was played and listened too. Jazz is known as a style of music that is free from rules. This Idea of being “free for rules” was not only applied to music but also to the people’s lifestyles, especially the youth. Being free from rules appealed to the youth of America in the 20’s because many have grown tired of the traditional lifestyle and conventions of previous generations. The jazz age was a time for youth to set themselves free and in doing so they shocked the older generations. Jazz music was a phenomenon that once it hit America, America would never be the same. The jazz age forever changed lifestyles of young men and women by introducing Jazz, which changed the way Americans played and listened to music, and got rid of the old social convention of the previous generations.

Jazz is a style of music that has been around for a while. It was first played in New Orleans around the end of the 19th century but its influences eventually spread through the entire world. Jazz finds its roots in other styles of music like ragtime, blues, and brass band music, but jazz is very unique. One of the most prominent characteristics of jazz is improvisation. Improvisation is the spontaneous creation of new, fresh melodies usually over a set chord progression. With Improvisation, the musician has more freedom to express himself how he wishes. Live jazz is always a fresh and unique experience ...

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