Jazz is a music of improvisation and expression of true feelings. It's style has two very different origins: African and European. Once brought to America, jazz has been every changing reflecting what was happening in society at the time. Jazz is something that has been in America for many years and effected society in a way no other music of African and European roots ever has.
African music concentrated a lot on rhythm while Western European liked to hear harmonic sounds. The dissonant sounds and polyrhythms of African music was not understood by the Europeans, but jazz musicians took a great liking to it. The reason for this was because Europeans used music for listening enjoyment. In Africa, music was very functional. It was the only form of communication between tribes and a universal language of percussive instruments. The music was used to announce special events such as birth, death, marriage, and the reaching of puberty. Everybody got musically trained very young and when Africans were brought to America as slaves, they brought the music. Some of the most noticeable influences of this African music is seen in work songs, spirituals and field hollers of slaves. When slaves became free, and chose to leave their plantation, there was no work for them. Many became street musicians and sang what is known today as the Blues. European musicians were playing a march style of music known as Rag. The rise in jazz happened when the two styles of music started combining.
New Orleans is the acknowledged birthplace of popular jazz. Despite being in the south, it had a liberal attitude towards pleasure and self indulgence. Being a major navy port, many sailors would need some relaxation when they came in from sea. They liked to go to dance halls, listen to music, and dance with women. Some sailors weren't as conservative and went to one of the hundreds or bars and brothels in a district of New Orleans, nicknamed Storyville. The city was also very racially tolerant. African American musicians were given jobs because they were good. Times are always changing. When World War I began, alert, healthy, and focused sailors were needed. Storyville was closed down.
Many musicians moved to Chicago and jazz was no longer a music of the carefree and lighthearted spirit. Chicago-style jazz reflected the lucrative yet dangerous air of the city. This was during the time period of prohibition.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that jazz is a music of improvisation and expression of true feelings. it's style has two very different origins: african and european.
- Explains that african music concentrated on rhythm while western europeans liked harmonic sounds. the rise in jazz happened when the two styles of music started combining.
- Describes new orleans as the birthplace of popular jazz. it had a liberal attitude towards pleasure and self-indulgence.
- Explains that chicago-style jazz reflected the lucrative yet dangerous air of the city during the prohibition period. tom pendergast owned clubs in kansas city as well as the mayor, police, and federal agents.
- Explains that new york big bands became commercialized and played music recognizable by the listeners. this was the only time when jazz was not based primarily on improvisation.
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- Jazz Music: The Beginning Of African And African American Musicexplanatory essayThe beginnings of Jazz are thought to be born at a specific time, but there is more to the birth of jazz. Jazz music was born more or less simultaneously in different parts of the United States and had many sources for its creation. Africans have contributed a lot to the style of making music, free rhythm, and the emotion with which they interpret their folk music that was later transformed into jazz. In the new world they absorbed the harmony and the concept of the Western form and condensed the African and European musical ideas, giving a musical style that can be called African American. Jazz became a type of urban expression that began to take hold in the cafes of New Orleans in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that jazz music was born simultaneously in different parts of the united states and had many sources for its creation. africans contributed to the style of making music, free rhythm, and the emotion with which they interpret their folk music.
- Explains that jazz music emerged from the mixing of blues and ragtime, but the main antecedents of the blues were from work songs and spiritual songs. african slaves worked on plantations between the seventeenth and nineteenth centuries.
- Explains that the "black spirituals" originated from religious meeting in the united states. africans accepted christianity, but accustomed their religious rites with songs and dances by introducing palms and rhythmic movements.
- Explains that new orleans was the only place in the united states where there was some "flexibility" to african slaves who were allowed to dance to the rhythm of real artisan percussion instruments.
- Explains that slavery was abolished in 1865, but that did not end the suffering of african americans. the end of the american civil war allowed the arrival of musical instruments from the military bands to the new free slaves.
- Explains that the ragtime is one of the first truly american musical forms and a great influence in the development of jazz.
- Explains how ragtime influenced the compositions of minstrel shows, which was the influence of african american musical traditions.
- Explains that regional styles contributed to the early development of jazz. the first musical movement commonly referred to as "jass" was developed in the new orleans area of louisiana.
- Explains that africans contributed a lot to the style of music, the emotion with which they interpret their folk music that was later transformed into jazz. they absorbed the harmony and the concept of the western form and condensed the african and european musical ideas.
924 wordsRead More - Jazz and The Charleston in The 1920'sanalytical essayWhat comes to mind when thinking of the 1920’s? Most people think of the freedom the United States felt after World War I and that is exactly what jazz and the Charleston symbolize (Boundless.com par. 1). Jazz and the Charleston were extremely controversial in the 1920’s because they promoted a new way of thinking, which outraged the older generations (Knowles 160). Older generations did not like the fact that young people were becoming more and more daring with their actions just by playing music and dancing (Boundless.com par. 6). Today, jazz and the Charleston are thought of as out of date, but without them, music today would be completely different. Jazz and the Charleston revolutionized modern music and dance by altering the rhythm of classical music, changing the culture of American society (Boundless.com par. 1).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the charleston was first noticed in all black broadway shows, but it was also shown in speakeasies.
- Explains that jazz and the charleston were controversial in the 1920s because they promoted a new way of thinking, which outraged the older generations.
- Analyzes how the older generation hated the charleston and the way the youth of america clung to one another in public.
- Explains drowne, kathleen, and patrick huber. american popular culture through history; the 1920's. koren, marina.
- Explains lindop, edmund, and goldstein's america in the 1920s. mccorkle, susannah. "the mother of us all." american heritage.
1664 wordsRead More - History Of Jazzexplanatory essayTo understand the genesis of Jazz one must also understand the setting of its origin, New Orleans. The city was founded by the French in 1718, then in 1763 the city ceded to Spain and remained under Spanish control until later being returned to the French in 1803, and then was immediately sold to the United States under the Louisiana Purchase. New Orleans was also heavily populated by African slaves making up 30% of the total population of the city at this time; so New Orleans was experiencing a lot of cultural diversity and was being shaped and molded by the many different fashions of people who lived in the city. These different social groups along with their culture also brought with them their deep rooted musical traditions, the fusion and combination of these traditions would give rise to what we know today as modern day Jazz. Jazz is a genre of music that could only have formed in America; it draws from many different cultures and art forms creating a cocktail of traditional European and African music, mixed with a blend of Spanish tinge, with a strong base of blues filtered through the American experience.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that jazz originated in new orleans, which was heavily populated by african slaves. the fusion and combination of these traditions would give rise to modern-day jazz.
- Explains how the fusion of african and european music occurred in the early 19th century, with slaves learning traditional european hymns and incorporating it to their own musical patterns.
- Explains that the original jazzman is believed to be king buddy bolden, an african american man who took up the cornet in his teen years and turned to music full time in 1901.
- Explains that freddie keppard and the original dixieland jazz band originated in new orleans and picked up its style from there before traveling north to new york city.
- Explains that the congo square in new orleans was a meeting ground for musicians. the tresillo pattern was the most basic rhythmic pattern found in the habanera.
1811 wordsRead More - The History of Jazz Musicexplanatory essayThe History of Jazz Music If you truly want to appreciate the music you listen to, I would recommend that you study about it's Roots. It was a life changing experience for me to study about the music of the United States. I studied about Jazz, Blues, Ragtime, Spirituals and Gospel. It was Rather astonishing to see how this music is inter- related.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that their studies revealed to them that american music is jazz.
- Describes the styles of jazz, new orleans, or dixie, swing, b-bop, cool jazz.
- Describes the cool jazz style, which was related to bop but was calmer.
- Explains that jazz-rock came out in the late 1960's, a style of jazz that combined jazz and rock.
- Explains blues, where women were the main singers but had a group of males to accompany.
- Explains that scott joplin's favorite piece is "the entertainer."
- Explains that spiritual came about in the late 1700's. it was music that was created by the invisible.
- Opines that if you truly want to appreciate the music you listen to, they recommend that you study about it's roots. it was a life-changing experience for them.
- Explains that jazz was given in 1917 and it is said that this name originated from different sources including a whorehouse in new orleans.
- Explains the american roots of jazz are two folds, black and white.
- Explains that bandleaders were leaders of cool jazz, which were longer than b-bop works and relied more heavily on arrangements. boblicity (1949) by miles davis was one of the finest cool jazz works.
- Explains that jazz is written but it cannot be read and played, you must feel it. it has lots of flexibility in rhythm and pitch.
- Explains that blues became music art in 1890. it has no standard form and tells about life.
- Explains that ragtime is black music composed for piano and adapted to dance and marching band music.
- Explains that gospel music has its roots in folk spirituals, and is urban in nature. the blacks moved from the south to north and took the music of blues and jazz.
- Describes how a blues musician wrote "precious lord" after his wife died giving birth to their baby. the audience went wild when he performed this song and changed.
- Explains that gospel music is the one that is living in them. their early experience of american gospel was what they saw in the movies.
- Opines that the negro national anthem and gospel music are love and healing. they are members of a predominantly black church.
- Explains that they enjoyed the studies about music of the united states of america.
954 wordsRead More - Jazz Musicexplanatory essayWhat is Jazz? According to the dictionary, jazz is defined as, "A kind of syncopated, highly rhythmic music originated by Southern blacks in the late 19th century" ("Jazz" 232). But, everyone should at least agree that jazz is the mother of all music, and is referred to as the only art form originating in the United States ("History 101" 2). America was home to immigrants from all over Europe and beyond who wished to build a new life, or just needed to escape from the old. These people, often thought of as second-class, brought their culture with them to America, expressed it musically, and changed the music world as we know it today.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that jazz is a syncopated, highly rhythmic music originated by southern blacks in the late 19th century.
- Explains that early jazz was played in small marching bands or by solo pianists. hymns, spirituals and blues were also played.
- Describes the earliest fully documented jazz style, centered in new orleans, louisiana. the trumpet carried melody, clarinet played showy countermelodies, and trombone played rhythmic slides.
- Describes louis armstrong as the first true virtuoso soloist of jazz. he was a dazzling improviser, and he set standards for all later jazz singers by creating scat singing.
- Explains the development of the big band can be credited to the achievement of duke ellington and his revolutionary song, "it don't mean a thing if it's not got that swing."
- Explains that a new style started in the early 1940's when musicians started experimenting with more complicated chord patterns and melodic ideas. this new approach became known as bebop or bop.
- Explains how jazz began to lose its reputation as a "lowdown" music, and gained acceptance among intellectuals and college students.
- States that jazz music was revolutionary and is still changing and improving, even today. the music world would not be the same without the influence of these amazing and breathtaking musicians.
546 wordsRead More - Birth Of Jazz Essayexplanatory essayA brief History of the Birth of Jazz In the early 1900’s African American musicians from various European cultures created a new style of music, known as Jazz. New Orleans is known as the birth place of Jazz with the French and Spanish migrants shaping early New Orleans’ culture. Settlers from other European countries including Italy, England and Germany combined Blues, Ragtime and Big Band Music to create what we now call Jazz. A Comparison between the different styles of jazz and the performers who started/created these styles (if appropriate).
In this essay, the author
- Explains that african american musicians from various european cultures created a new style of music, known as jazz, in the early 1900s.
- Compares the different styles of jazz and the performers who started/created them.
- Explains that they will focus on swing, behop, and free jazzswing jazz (1920’s).
- Explains that in the 1920s there was a move to form larger jazz bands (small orchestras), led by paul whiteman (1890-1967) and fletcher henderson (1897-1952).
- Explains that in the big bands of the 1930s and 1940s, music was actually arranged for the band and parts given out for performers to play. jazz players who could not read music were unable to join these bands.
- Explains that swing (also known as big band) refers to the style of jazz that was popular from roughly 1930 until around world war ii.
- Explains that a big band was popular during the swing era from the mid-1930s until the late 1940s and consists of approximately 12 to 25 musicians.
- Explains that big bands' music is highly "arranged" in advance and written down as sheet music. improvised solos may be played only when called for by the arranger.
- Explains the two distinct periods in the history of popular bands. the jazz and the dance forms were characterized by a sweet and romantic melody.
- Explains that jazz is sometimes monophonic — pieces often begin or end with an unaccompanied solo from one of the players (famously louis armstrong in "west end blues").
- Explains that the glenn miller orchestra is considered one of the greatest bands of all time.
870 wordsRead More - Jazz Essayanalytical essayJazz is a musical genre born in the second half of the nineteenth century in the United States, which expanded globally over the twentieth century.
In this essay, the author
- Describes the instruments used by the trombone, cornet, clarinet, banjo, tuba, battery, guitar, bass.
- Describes jazz as a musical genre born in the second half of the nineteenth century, which expanded globally over the twentieth century.
- Analyzes how the old plantation depicts enslaved african americans dancing to the sound of a banjo and percussion. there is little we know about the musical life between american blacks during the first century of independence
- Explains that in many areas of south of the united states, the beating of drums was prohibited by law, so that black slaves had to resort to percussion using the palms of their hands and beat feet to enjoy their holidays.
- Analyzes how the musical character of the african-american population manifested in the early days of jazz. the minstrel was a show that mixed elements of operetta with musical numbers based on the "plantation songs".
- Explains that the civil war was a major change in american musical life. the minstrel lost its character parody of black music and incorporated actors, singers, and afro-american music.
1266 wordsRead More - Culture during the 20s-40s: Great Gatsbyanalytical essayThe twenties were years of prodigious changes and prosperity in many areas of society; for example, revolutionary changes in music and attitude of the people. In fact, this era was so centered on music that author; F. Scott Fitzgerald titled it, “The Jazz Age”. Jazz is a style of music different from any other because of where it came from. Jazz unified musical methods from both Africa and Europe, clearly two very different parts of the world. This distinctive fusion between cultures gave jazz a singular “feel” and rhythm. Jazz originated in New Orleans simply because of the type of city it was. New Orleans being a port city was the most ideal place for people of different ethnicities to mend together the elements of their music and create jazz. With jazz beginning to sweep over the country, it started to change people’s attitude as well, for it created a happy and good-natured environment. (What Is Jazz?" Jazz in America. The Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz) ("Overview of the 1920s." Digital History.)
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes how the poster depicts rosie the riveter dressed in overalls and a red bandana during world war ii, while the men were away overseas.
- Opines that without the 1920s and 1930s, culture wouldn't be the same throughout america.
- Explains that music, dance, and fashion have a great impact on society and culture. the "roaring 20s" influenced adolescents in new orleans, chicago and later, new york city.
- Explains that the twenties were years of prodigious changes and prosperity in many areas of society. jazz originated in new orleans simply because of the type of city it was.
- Explains that music is renowned for changing the moods of people and bettering their state of mind.
- Explains that women received the right to vote in 1920, allowing them to enter the workforce and become independent. this new attitude towards women created an atmosphere of freedom.
- Analyzes how prohibition was aimed to reduce drinking in america during the 1920s due to the disturbances created by flappers and adolescents. the eighteenth amendment took away the rights of conducting business with any brewers.
- Analyzes how inventions created during the "roaring twenties" sparked a new culture in america, with teens blasting music in their cars and staying at motels.
- Explains that the great depression was the world's biggest economic downfall/crashing of the stock market.
- Explains how the great depression affected everyone in america, including adolescents, and how they turned to music and entertainment to ameliorate this pain.
- Explains that blues was affluent and reflected the toilsome times america was going through.
- Explains that president franklin roosevelt created the new deal in 1933 in hopes of getting america to recovery from the great depression.
- Explains that the 1940s were influenced by the culture during the 20s and 30s because of many factors, such as the role women played during world war ii.
- Analyzes how the poster depicts rosie the riveter dressed in overalls and a red bandana during world war ii, while the men were away overseas.
- Opines that without the 1920s and 1930s, culture wouldn't be the same throughout america.
- Explains that music, dance, and fashion have a great impact on society and culture. the "roaring 20s" influenced adolescents in new orleans, chicago and later, new york city.
- Explains that the twenties were years of prodigious changes and prosperity in many areas of society. jazz originated in new orleans simply because of the type of city it was.
- Explains that music is renowned for changing the moods of people and bettering their state of mind.
- Explains that women received the right to vote in 1920, allowing them to enter the workforce and become independent. this new attitude towards women created an atmosphere of freedom.
- Analyzes how prohibition was aimed to reduce drinking in america during the 1920s due to the disturbances created by flappers and adolescents. the eighteenth amendment took away the rights of conducting business with any brewers.
- Analyzes how inventions created during the "roaring twenties" sparked a new culture in america, with teens blasting music in their cars and staying at motels.
- Explains that the great depression was the world's biggest economic downfall/crashing of the stock market.
- Explains how the great depression affected everyone in america, including adolescents, and how they turned to music and entertainment to ameliorate this pain.
- Explains that blues was affluent and reflected the toilsome times america was going through.
- Explains that president franklin roosevelt created the new deal in 1933 in hopes of getting america to recovery from the great depression.
- Explains that the 1940s were influenced by the culture during the 20s and 30s because of many factors, such as the role women played during world war ii.
1380 wordsRead More - The Harlem Renaissance: Jazz Analysisexplanatory essayJazz is a musical form, often improvisational, developed by African- Americans and influenced by both European harmonic structure and African rhythmic intricacy. It is often characterized by its use of blues and speech. .Jazz was starting to become a popular form of dance music at the same time of the arrival of the New Negro Renaissance, also known as the Harlem Renaissance, lasting from 1919 to 1939. This period in African American life was filled with black civil rights activists promoting self-consciousness. In an attempt to do so, black leaders such as W. E. B. Du Bois, James Weldon Johnson, Charles S. Johnson, and Alain Locke sought to create a school of black literature because they thought that if blacks were to achieve greatness as a people, they
In this essay, the author
- Describes jazz as a musical form developed by african-americans and influenced by european harmonic structure and african rhythmic intricacy.
- Opines that new york and chicago were crucial to the development and growth of jazz music, especially for black artists. the youth of the 1920's rebelled against the traditional culture of previous generations.
- Explains that the african american response to jazz during this era was mixed. for many members of the middle class, the educated blacks, jazz was considered low class worldly music from the devil.
- Explains that jazz became more prominent in black literature and became accepted after world war ii.
- Explains that the 1960s was the era of the black arts movement, when younger black writers wrote about their desire for race solidarity and denounced acts of racism and many things affiliated with white people.
- Explains that white american jazz artists received more air time than black artists such as louis armstrong and joe "king" oliver. big-band jazz represented african americans in the predominantly white cultural scene.
630 wordsRead More - Impact of Music of the Harlem Renaissance Upon the Artists of Todayexplanatory essayThough Jazz has changed, the background behind it still inspires those today. Even though each artist has their particular style or expression, they all can agree that music is art. They can all agree that Music is emotions and feelings. Through the years, just as all things do, Jazz and Bebop have grown and flourished across America and the World. All in all Jazz for African Americans opened the doors in America, jazz alone opened doors and ears all across the Earth.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the impact of music of the harlem renaissance on the artists of today. music in this era was the beginning of new life for musicians and african americans.
- Explains that the h.r (harlem renaissance) had many musicians who contributed to jazz, such as louis armstrong, coleman hawkins, bessie smith, josephine baker, duke ellington, and dizzie gillespie.
- Explains that jazz was created to rid of the restraints held against african americans. it was a section of music that is based on feeling.
- Explains that during the jazz era, many sections had broken away and created new identities for jazz. swing, blues, ragtime, and bebop were a couple.
- Explains that bebop music was characterized by fast tempos, complex harmonies and intricate melodies that laid down a steady beat only on the bass and drummer's ride cymbal.
- Explains that many musicians transitioned from swing jazz to bebop, including ray brown, charles migus, art blakey, kenny clarke, j.j. johnson, dizzy gillespie, and others.
- Explains the influence of the h.r. on musicians today, including john tesh, kenny g, carlos santana, and others.
- Opines that jazz musicians today would not fit in during the h.r era. jazz for african americans was their only way of breaking away from white america.
- Explains that jazz has introduced tons of famous musicians, including duke ellington and kenny g. both of these musical geniuses have helped develop and shape jazz.
- Describes edward (duke) ellington as the "godfather" of jazz. he was awarded the presidential medal of freedom and the legion of honor by the french government.
- Describes kenny g as one of the most sought-after special guest performers in the recording industry.
- Explains that jazz has been commercialized, influenced classical composers, and migrated from the united states to paris.
- Explains that jazz has changed, but the background behind it still inspires those today. jazz and bebop have grown and flourished across america and the world.
- Cites sources for net zero, 6-2-02, and windz, cary d. the harlem renaissance.
1614 wordsRead More