1 Jazz

Music Appreciation I

Study Guide

Styles: Characteristcs:

Blues – Refers to the form of vocal and instrumental music and to the style of performance

Ragtime – Dance hall and Saloon Music. Piano music that flourished from the 1890s to about 1915

New Orleans Style – Also known as Dixieland. Played by a small group of 5 to 8 performers

Swing – Developed in the 1920’s and flourished from 35 to 45. Big Band era or Swing era. 14 to 15 performers in a swing band. 3 sections, saxophone, brass, rhythm. More composed than other Jazz

Bebop – Smaller group of musicians, complex style. Often extremely fast with the beat not marked by the drums. Created to rebel against the swing era.

Vocabulary

Jazz – Rooted in improvisation and characterized by syncopated rhythm, steady beat and performance techniques.

Blues –

Ragtime –

Call and response – Occurs when a voice is answered by an instrument or when an instrument is answered by another instrument.

Chorus –

Breaks – Briefs unaccompanied solos

Riff – Short repeated phrases played by the saxophone and brass during the swing era

Head –

Rhythm section – The backbone of the jazz ensemble. Usually made up of piano, plucked double bass, percussion and banjo/guitar.

Front line – Melodic Instruments – Cornet, clarinet and trombone. Main source of improvisation.

Performers/Composers
Scott Joplin – King of Ragtime. Famous composer and pianist. Known for maple leaf rag and the entertainer.

Bessie Smith – Empress of Blues – Known for her “Lost your head blues”

Louis Armstrong – Known for his gravelly voice and scat singing. Also nicknamed Satchmo. He was part of King Oliver’s Band.

Duke Ellington – “My band is my instrument”, He was an important swing band composer

Count Basie

Benny Goodman

Charlie Parker – One of the greatest jazz