jazz & blues general music presentation
Post on 20-May-2015
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Teaching Music in the Historical Setting
Blues and Jazz
What IS Jazz?“Man, if you have to ask what it
is, you’ll never know.”
–Louis Armstrong
Improvisation was the main source of melody
Blues Scale was widely used “Blue Note” – Lowered 5th Scale Degree
Musical Characteristics-Melody
“Blue” Note
Swing Style-Asymmetrical 8th Notes
Accent on upbeats Other Styles:
◦ Shuffle◦ Waltz◦ Ballad◦ Latin (Salsa, Bossa Nova, Afro-Cuban)
Musical Characteristics-Rhythm/Style
Blues Form◦ 12-Bar form separated into three sections◦ I I I I | IV IV I I | V7 V7 I I◦ Extensions:
IV in measure 9 ii-V7 in last measure (“turnaround”) Turn mm. 9-12 into one big turnaround:
Musical Characterstics-Form
Extreme dynamics on both ends◦ Miles Davis◦ Dizzy Gillespie
Pushing the envelope of extremes
Experimenting with new sounds
Emotional vocal timbres
Musical Characteristics-Dynamics/Timbre
Extreme tempi on both ends◦ “Jumpin’ at the Woodside” – Count Basie◦ “Naima” – John Coltrane
Pushing the envelope-“As Fast as Possible”
Musical Characteristics-Tempo
Small Ensembles (Combos)◦ Horn Players (Trumpet, Sax, Trombone, etc.)◦ Rhythm Section (Piano, Bass, Guitar, Drums)◦ Sometimes included vocalist◦ Sizes Varied (duet/trios up to eight or more)
Large Ensembles (Big Band)◦ Horns (5 Saxophones, 4 Trombones, 4 Trumpets)◦ Rhythm Section (Piano, Bass, Guitar, Drums)◦ Sometimes included vocalist or “featured”
instrumentalist
Musical Characteristics-Texture/Instrumentation
How Did We Get Here?
Historical/Socio-Cultural Contexts
Map - http://bit.ly/jazzmap◦ Africa◦ Plantations◦ New Orleans◦ Chicago◦ New York◦ Los Angeles
Beginnings of Jazz
The Blues◦ Call-and-Response “work songs” on plantations◦ “Lament” style lyrics◦ Primarily string instruments (drums not allowed)
New Orleans◦ The “birthplace” of the blues◦ Louis Armstrong becomes popular
Socio-Cultural Contexts
Inter-Related Arts: Painting
Inter-Related Arts: Sculpture
Inter-Related Arts: Architecture
Additional Information
Performance PracticeVocal/Instrumental TrendsComposers
Swing Performance Practice◦ Heavy accent on beats two and four (backbeat)◦ Accented upbeats
Exploring new instrumental techniques◦ Trumpet-Growls, Shakes, ½ Valve◦ Saxophone-Altissimo Register◦ Trombone-Growls, Shakes, Glissandi◦ Came from a need to express emotion in a
different way
Performance Practice
Vocal/Instrumental Trends Remember: Jazz roots
were vocal! Instrumental jazz
became predominant Louis Armstrong
brings improv to voice Billie Holliday
continues the tradition
Duke Ellington (1899-1974)◦ Prolific bandleader/composer of jazz music◦ “Take the ‘A’ Train”◦ “Do Nothing ‘Till You Hear From Me”◦ “It Don’t Mean a Thing…”
Count Basie (1904-1984)◦ Bandleader and composer◦ Laid-back style
Thad Jones (1923-1986)◦ Continued jazz composition into middle of century◦ Wrote for his band, along with Mel Lewis
Composers
Supportive MaterialsListening/Composition Lessons
Compare/Contrast Jazz Styles◦ Blues/Swing-
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X9cM3ALga80◦ Blues/Dixieland-http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_WbQYdQty0◦ Solo Piano-http://
www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0t8WSu6Tcc Discuss diversity of Jazz
Listening Lesson #1
Links:◦ Student Handout/File: http://bit.ly/cceK3O◦ Lesson Plan: http://bit.ly/cVwgyO
Composition Assignment
Rhythmic Differences-Dave Brubeck◦ “The Duke” ◦ “Take Five”◦ “Blue Rondo a la Turk”
Discussion on use of rhythm in dances Is “Blue Rondo” easy or difficult to dance to?
Listening Lesson #2
“Goodbye! (Yesterday)”Buddy Rich Big Band
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