A. Please compare the techniques used in Early Jazz to those used in Big Band Swing. What are the differences in instrumentation? What does an arranger do? Â How do solos differ?
B. What are some of the characteristics of songs from the American Songbook? Who are some of the greatest singers, songs and composers?
C. What did Charlie Parker bring to Bebop? How did Bebop differ from Big Band Swing?
D. What were the dance centers of Latin Jazz and Big Band Swing?
E. Why was Louis Armstrong so important? Benny Goodman? Describe the genius of Duke Ellington.
American Songbook/Jazz Singers
1. Â “I’ve Got Rhythm“, George & Ira Gershwin, John Pizarelli
2. Â “Cheek to Cheek”, Irvin Berlin, Louis Armstrong & Ella Fitzgerald
Four significant types of music were present in New Orleans around the turn of the century to 1900 which influenced the beginnings of America’s great art form, jazz.
These include Ragtime, Blues, Minstrel and Classical Music.
Ragtime was America’s most popular music from 1890-1915 and is typified by the Composer Scott Joplin and his two masterpieces “The Maple Leaf Ragâ€,
and a piece that is still a popular ring tone, The Entertainerâ€,
Ragtime music was written down and used a fairly complex formal organization with as many as four different melodies and little repetition. The capital letters stand for sections of melody:
AABBACCDD
Ragtime was often recorded on piano roll making it playable by seemingly “ghost pianos” in an age before records and radio.
Ragtime made its way to the marching band or concert band, which was also popular at the time. A great trombone soloist named Arthur Pryor featured ragtime with his band, including the “The Ragtime Drummerâ€
Later recordings of bands used a victrola to cut a record. Musicians had to distance themselves from the victrola to ensure balance. Another great Ragtime pioneer was James Reese Europe, one of the top society band leaders in New York. While playing a special mix of music based on Ragtime, Reese’s band seemed to point to a future of jazz.
Reese Europe and many black Americans lobbied for their own regiment, “The Harlem Hell Fightersâ€, and crossed the lines against the Germans. During World War I -America entered in 1917. This was a terrible war including trench warfare, chemical warfare, more than 15 million deaths and more than 20 million injuries. This also coincided with the great Spanish Flu Epidemic.
CLASSICAL MUISC
The influence of classical music on jazz is considerable. From the concepts of harmony and notation to the very instruments themselves, all are derived from Classical Music.
Classical music popular in New Orleans around the time of Jazz would have included the Music of America’s March King, John Phillip Sousa. Consider one of his biggest hits, “The Star Spangled Bannerâ€.
Other dance music popular around the world would have been the Vienese Walzes of Johann Strauss like “The Blue Danube Waltzâ€.
New Orleans had at least two opera houses, and Verdi must have filled the streets, like “Finiculi Funiculaâ€.
Since New Orleans was easily the most French influenced city in the United States, the music of France was of particular interest. French music at this time was exceptionally innovative harmonically. “Creloes of Colorâ€, were sons and daughters of Whites and Blacks. They enjoyed French status in New Orleans above many whites and even owned slaves themselves. The musicians among the Creoles of Color were famous for master dance music, but also French Harmony. Perhaps some would have even been educated at the Paris Conservatory. This arrangement of Claude Debussy’s “Claire de Lune†is an example of French Impressionism in music.
MINSTREL MUSIC was considered by some to be a common cultural experience from 1840-1920, and included skits, acts and songs. While it often denigrates blacks, Wynton Marsalis has observed that it also admired them. In some cases, minstrel music afforded white and black musicians access to one another’s music.
James Bland was a master minstrel composer. “Oh ‘Dem Golden Slippersâ€, is one of his biggest hits.
He also wrote “Carry Me Back to Old Virginnyâ€, performed here by Ray Charles
Another famous minstrel composer was Stephen Foster, most famous for “Oh Sussanahâ€, performed here by Roy Rogers.
The “Father of the Bluesâ€, W. C Handy spent some of his early career as a minstrel band leader. Two composers who would become bedrock composers of the American Song Book, George Gershwin and Irvin Berlin contributed to minstrel music early in their careers.
“Swaneeâ€, by George Gershwin is sung by the most famous minstrel performer Al Jolson. Al Jolson appeared often in blackface, but was said to have spent much of his career honoring and supporting black musicians. Jolson was the star of the first film with sound, entitled, “The Jazz Singerâ€
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4. Identify simple intervals, or intervals an octave or less.
5. Construct simple inter vals.
5. Provide the beat unit and subdivision for simple meter signatures.
6. Provide the beat unit and subdivision for compound meter signatures.
7. Identify and correct errors in notation: stem direction, flag direction, accidental placement, correct grouping of beats for a particular meter, correct rhythmic values for a particular meter. Correct usage of dots and rests.
8. Invert simple intervals. Identify more simple intervals.
10. Construct basic triads in basic or closed position, where the outer voices are less than an octave.
11. Construct and identify inverted closed position triads.
12. Express the Roman numerals which represent Major, Natural minor, Harmonic minor and Melodic minor scales.
13. Construct and analyze chords using Roman numerals with regards to function within a key signature.
14. Identify open position triads and the simple and compound intervals contained within them Be sure to account for inversion, when present.
1. Michelangelo, Florence-The Cradle of the Arts (At the fall of Constantinople, many Greek Scholars and Artists fled to Florence.)
2. Leonardo Da Vinci
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kam9kdcN_Ig
3. Raphael, School of Athens, Air on a G String, by J. S. Bach
4. The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare
Sonnet 130-a poem, My Mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun
My mistress’ eyes are nothing like the sun; Coral is far more red than her lips’ red; If snow be white, why then her breasts are dun; If hairs be wires, black wires grow on her head. I have seen roses damasked, red and white, But no such roses see I in her cheeks; And in some perfumes is there more delight Than in the breath that from my mistress reeks. I love to hear her speak, yet well I know That music hath a far more pleasing sound; I grant I never saw a goddess go; My mistress when she walks treads on the ground. And yet, by heaven, I think my love as rare As any she belied with false compare.
from the Drama/Play Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare
But, soft! what light through yonder window breaks? It is the east, and Juliet is the sun. Arise, fair sun, and kill the envious moon, Who is already sick and pale with grief, That thou her maid art far more fair than she: Be not her maid, since she is envious; Her vestal livery is but sick and green And none but fools do wear it; cast it off. It is my lady, O, it is my love! O, that she knew she were! She speaks yet she says nothing: what of that? Her eye discourses; I will answer it. I am too bold, ’tis not to me she speaks: Two of the fairest stars in all the heaven, Having some business, do entreat her eyes To twinkle in their spheres till they return. What if her eyes were there, they in her head? The brightness of her cheek would shame those stars, As daylight doth a lamp; her eyes in heaven Would through the airy region stream so bright That birds would sing and think it were not night. See, how she leans her cheek upon her hand! O, that I were a glove upon that hand, That I might touch that cheek!
5. The Medieval Bank, Medici and the Church
6. A Mighty Fortress is Our God, music composed by Martin Luther
7. Giovanni Perluigi Palestrina, Kyrie from Missa Pape Marcelli
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bhufzaZB2DM
8. “Spring”, Antonio Vivaldi of Venice
9. Toccata and Fugue in G minor, J. S. Bach
10. Cantata 140, Wachet Auf, J S Bach
11. Gutenberg and the moveable-type printing press
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkfiT7p_1GA
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkfiT7p_1GA
12. Machiavelli, The Prince
13. Bernini
14. Hallelujah, from the Oratorio The Messiah, George Frederic Handel
15. Rembrandt
16. Monteverdi, Tu se morta
17. Isaac Newton, Principia
18. Jacques-Louise David
19. Mozart
Eine Kleine Nacht Music, by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Don Giovanni, Don Juan
20. Beethoven, piano sonata
“Appasionata”
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5. Parthenon of Athens, Temple of Athena, Acropolis built by Pericles, 438 BC
6. Pantheon of Rome, 12 Main Gods, built by Hadrian in 118 AD
7. The Great Colosseum of Rome built by Vespasion and his son Titus, 80 AD
8. Hagia Sophia, built by Constantine (360 AD), Justinian II, 537 AD
9. Plato, “The Allegory of the Caveâ€, circa 400 BC , (Compare to the apostle Paul’s “Through a Mirror Darklyâ€, 1 Corinthians 13:11-12, 55 AD)
I am the LORD thy God, which have brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me.
1st
I am the LORD your God: you shall not have strange Gods before me.
2nd
Exodus 20:4-6 You shall not make for yourself an idol in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the fathers to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my Commandments.
Deleted.
3rd
Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God In vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.
2nd
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
4th
Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD your God: in it you shall not do any work, you, nor your son, nor your daughter, your manservant, nor your maidservant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger that is within your gates: For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.
3rd
Remember to keep holy the LORD’S Day.
5th
Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.
4th
Honor your father and your mother.
6th
Thou shalt not kill.
5th
You shall not kill.
7th
Thou shalt not commit adultery.
6th
You shall not commit adultery.
8th
Thou shalt not steal.
7th
You shall not steal.
9th
Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.
8th
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbour.
10th
Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.
9th
You shall not covet your neighbour’s wife.
(The Tenth Commandment is split into two to get back to Ten Commandments.)
10th
You shall not covet your neighbour’s goods.
11. Gregorian Chant, Monks of Santo Domenico de Silos, by Anonymous
Matthew 6:3-4, 50 AD
So when you give to the needy, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. Truly I tell you, they already have their full reward. 3But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.
12. “Organum Duplum†by Leonin, Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, 1150 AD
13. “Organum Triplum†by Perotin, Notre Dame Cathedral, Paris, 1200 AD
14. “Messe de Notre Dameâ€, by Machaut ,1350 AD
15. Code of Hammurabi, 1750 BC, (Compare to Joshua’s Sanctuary Cities, Joshua 20:1-6, 1400 BC)
16. Emperor Justinian and his Courtiers, Empress Theodora and her Retinue, 537 AD, Ravenna, Italy
