Essay About Popular Music And African American Form

Popular Music Before 1960 Notes
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Pitch- how high/low a note is (measured by Hertz)Registers- pitch ranges Melody- musical tone/ tune/ voice / lineHarmony- simultaneous pitches/ chordsprimary harmonies/triads- I, IV, V – most common chord progression in musicdiatonic scale – “white note scale”scales (major and minor)pentatonic scale- musical scale with 5 notes per octave Timbre- tone color/ quality of musical note that distinguishes different types of sound production (voice vs wind vs percussion, etc.)Dynamics – how loud or quiet music isMeter (Duple or triple)Tempo- speed – beats per minuteRhythm- where notes fall in relation/ correspond to a pulse and emphasize a pulseSquare/ straight- e.g. European music styles Syncopated- do not correspond to the pulse- eg. African American Form/structure:Strophic- A A A Aevery stanza gets sung to the same line of music e.g.A way to tell a story simply and clearlyE.g. “Fatal Flower Garden” (Child Ballad #155)AABA- Tin Pan Alley song form (*A= hook, hook is at the beginning) e.g. Rudolph red nose reindeerVerse-chorus form (*chorus= hook, hook is at the chorus)Popular= “of the people”folk music = music for personal use among peoplepopular music= mass production, commercial purposes, music industryfolk music can be popular, and vice versaEuropean Song in the New WorldEnglish ballad- a song that tells a story in EnglishFunction: to entertain, to tell a story, teach a moralfolklorists → Industrial revolution (Francis Child- one of the first and most popular)Child Ballad #155- “The fatal Flower Garden” broadside- printed version of a song, just the lyrics Thomas Moore- “Thomas Moore’s Irish Melodies” – 1808-1834Took preexisting Irish folk tune and give it new words, publish as a new songArranger- take original tune/ melody and arrange it for recordingMelodic leap – nostalgia, bittersweetness, strain for vocalist= reaching for something, pastoral (because of industrialization) e.g. somewhere over the rainbow“Home Sweet Home” (Henry Bishop, 1823)Strategic essentialism- latching onto traits of your national backgroundE.g. irish- leprechauns, 4 leaf clover, st patricks daySolidify groups identity, but also stereotypesPaddy Wagon- Police car, because Irish were police in America St Louis World’s Fair- 1904 – Kenneth McKellarJohn McCormack- opera singer, combat racist Irish act, combat it using music about love and nobility “Believe Me, If All Those Endearing Young Charms” (Thomas Moore, 1808; sung by John McCormack) Pentatonic scale- 5 note scale- (e.g. black keys are pentatonic)Robert Burns- Scottish poet/ songwriter- changed stereotype of Scottish people“My Love is Like a Red, Red Rose” (Robert Burns, 1794)Blackface Minstrelsy“Woodman Spare that Tree” (Henry Russell, 1837)blackface minstrelsy- white people in blackface lampooned black people as buffoonish, dumb, lazy, etc. in AmericaThomas Dartmouth Rice- popular white American playwright/performer of blackface – “father of American minstrelsy”Jim Crow- trickster blackface characterInversion- black actors playing white peopleCarnival→ masquerade “King for the Day”George Washington Dixon- blackface performer  “Zip Coon” (George Washington Dixon, c. 1830s)Zip coon – black minstrel show character- arrogant, dressing sophisticated to attempt to look dignified, ridiculedmaskingVirginia Minstrels- invented first minstrel showDan Emmett“Old Dan Tucker” (Dan Emmett, 1843)”“De Boatman’s Dance” (Dan Emmett, 1843)Plantation melodies- songs from slaves during work“Mugging”- exaggerating racial features to be demeaning/ funny-         Harriet Beecher Stowe – abolitionist and author        Uncle Tom’s Cabin (1852) – novel depicting harsh life for African American’s under slaveryparlour songs- songs intended for the homeGenteel culture- idea of refinement, respectability, dignity pianos= now affordable, represent middle class respectabilityStephen Foster- “The father of American music” – songwriterTurned blackface minstrel songs into parlor songs”Old Uncle Ned” (Stephen Foster, 1848)“Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair” (Stephen Foster, 1854)James Bland- first successful black songwriter in the United States“Carry me back to old Virginny” 1878Jim Crow Laws- laws enforcing racial segregationHutchinson Family- advocates of slavery abolition, abstinence, womens/worker rights”Get Off the Track” (Hutchinson Family, 1844)Bert Williams – Father of black professional comedy Tomming- blacks behave in an excessively obedient way- black people playing into stereotypes onstage by performing blackface“Dixie”- Dan Emmett (1860)Carol Mosely Braun- 1st and only African American woman in US SenateJesse Helms- racist senator 1859- John Brown- abolitionist- use violence to fight against slavery- blow up ammunitions depot in Harper’s Ferry to protest in Virginia“John Brown’s Body” (Anonymous, c. 1860)lynching- 1850-1950s – public murders of people suspected of crimes- racial prejudice against blacksAmerican Civil War- 1861-1865Julia Ward Howe- “Battle Hymn of the Republic” (1861)- religious battle song against slaveryNegro Spiritual- Christian songs created by slavesIsraeli captivity in Egypt- old testament, Moses delivers them to CanaanPaul Robeson- Black activist- singer and actor about civil rights movements- spoke against racism, supported communism- blacklisted “Go Down Moses” 1860s- against slavery/ racism, dignified and skilled musical performanceBiddleville QuintetteRythym, percussion, drumming- spiritual African American traditions- taken away from them – turned to body percussion – clapping, stamping, etc. Fisk University- African American universityFisk Jubilee Quartet- sang Negro SpiritualsWallace Willis –wrote negro spiritual “Swing Low, sweet chariot”, 1862 – example of call and response song Underground Railroad- Harriet Tubman- escaped slavery to the North- used songs to free slavesMid- 19th Century Popular SongIndustrialization- Labour separated among gendersPublic sphere vs. domestic sphere“Housewife” introduced –  women responsible for men being fed, sober, raising children, moral beacon of household, domestic purity, virtuedouble standard- women are blamed for immoral behavior of men Ovarian determinism- women are genetically not capable of holding professional responsibilities outside the house and can only do domestic workSquare Dances- man leads woman, predetermined orderly pattern, group danceWaltz- controversial 19th century dance, round dance, couple dance involving embrace, sensual, appealed to women, female empowerment through dance¾ timeLouis Jullien- “Prima Donna Waltz”-  1853ornamentation- eg. Gracenotes- teasing, playful, disobedient qualitychromaticism- break the rules of the key “New Woman”- feminist, educated, independent career woman  The Waltz and the Rise of Tin Pan Alleythe waltz ruining women so they can’t be acceptable housewives hybrid form- chorus form and AABA form Tin Pan Alley- street where sheet music publishers were located, where they tried to publish the next hits- giving the name, because of all the noiseCharles K Harris- songwriter of American Popular music, advanced the new genre- first songwriter to create multimillion seller“king of tearjerkers” and “master of sentimental ballad” “After the Ball” (Charles K. Harris, 1892)Monroe Rosenfeld- music publisher- made the phrase “tin pan alley”“Those Wedding Bells Shall Not Ring Out” (Monroe Rosenfeld, 1896)RagtimeFrontier towns- transition from slave to free economy, African American populated towns Ragtime- ragged/ syncopated rhythm of the right handRagged time-improvise score of tunes and syncopate the performanceSyncopationCakewalk- dance accompanying rag time, originated by African American slave culture- forced to dance by white masters, mock pretentious elite slave owners, silly exaggerated gestures that suggest refinement/ dignityEventually used in minstrel shows to demean blacks 1893, Chicago World’s Fair- black performers performed outsideScott Joplin- African American pianist/composer – “King of Ragtime” writersIntroduced ragtime to the fairMaple Leaf Rag” (Scott Joplin, 1899)John Stark- promoted Scott Joplin’s musicStrains (section)- march Classic rag- AABBACCDIrving Berlin- songwriter“Alexanders Ragtime Band” (Irving Berlin, 1911)Irene and Vernon Castle- ballroom teachers – popularized african American music, loose corsets, shorter full skirts, hair bobJames Reese EuropeVaudeville, Music Hall, and BroadwayWild west showsCircusesBurlesque showsParodyFemale performersVaudeville- “voice of the city”- variety show included diverse actspublisher, songwriter, lyricist, song plugger (sit in music stores and play new music), performer, arrangertheatre owners, booking managers/agents performers, tour managers, barkerrube character- redneck stereotype, dim witted, low class, rural whitesMay Irwin- vaudeville star, coon shouterZiegfield Follies- high class vaudeville variety show, beautiful chorus showgirlsSophie Tucker- coon shouting- coon song- African American influenced songs- “the Last of the Red Hot Mamas”- used sexuality in shows- “Therell Be Some Changes Made” (Sophie Tucker, 1927)Fanny Brice- “My Man” (Fanny Brice, 1921)Under the Bamboo Tree” (James Weldon Johnson and Bob Cole, 1902)women are being more empowered by Vaudeville- female independence and strength B.F. Keith- making vaudeville family entertainment instead of just men- refined and clean atmosphereimposed patriarchy in VaudevilleThe Jazz Age1918-1929the “roaring 20s”prosperity after WW1 in Americacoincides with prohibition- 1919-1933rise of the speakeasy→ underground illegal bardancing “the Charleston”New Orleans – the most diverse American city- also known as “The Big Easy”Storyville- district that was free from policeCongo Square- parade bandsJelly Roll Morton, aka Ferdinand Lamothe- “inventor of Jazz”JazzmanInvented riffs Improvisationswing/ shuffle rhythms-  added bounce and swing to music“Maple Leaf Rag” (composer, Scott Joplin; perf. by Jelly Roll Morton, 1938)Irvin Berlin – “King of Ragtime” Frontline – musicians playing the lead parts stand in front, bass/drums, accompany in the back (rhythm section)Dixieland (new Orleans) Jazz- “hot Jazz” – original jazzOriginal Dixieland Jazz Band- “Livery Stable Blues” (Original Dixieland Jazz Band, 1917)1917, recorded 1st Jazz Record by blacks12 bar blues- chord progressions / musical formula for “boogie woogie” songsFrontline- cornet/trumpet (melody), clarinet (countermelody), Trombone (bass), Rhythm- drums, banjo or piano (chords)blue scale- use flatted 3rds and 7ths (minor scale)enhance blues sound by pitch bending – sliding between spaces of notes- detuned and retune to create novelty and sillinessjoe “King” OliverKing Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band- racial mix of black and white“Dippermouth Blues” (King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band, 1923)Trumpet mute makes the- “wah- wah” soundThe Great Migration- mass movement of blacks from the South to the NorthLouis Armstrong- most important/ influential Jazz artist Grew up in “the battlefield”, in an orphanageLouis Armstrong’s Hot 5 (Hot 7)Improvisation Records “west End Blues” written by King oliver “West End Blues” (Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five, 1928)Lil HardinPaul WhitemanCharles Black –white supremacy, racistBecame civil rights lawyer from watching Louis Armstrong playAssimilation turned into Black Nationalism—“New Negro” –assertive black person not willing to compromise and fights for their rightsStarted to build their own institutionsHarlem Renaissance- cultural rebirth- African American artists are celebrated, true to their own heritageWEB DuBoisLangston HughesZora Beale HurstonMarcus Garvey (NAACP)Stride piano- extension of ragtime – wide leaping in left hand, larger rangeRent parties- hire pianist and charge cover at the doorCutting contests- musical street battlesJames P. Johnson- composed “the Charleston” – theme of the Jazz age “Charleston” (James P. Johnson, 1923; perf. by Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra)Paul Whiteman – the King of JazzSweet jazz vs hot jazzCotton Club- most prestigious club in Harlem –Duke EllingtonCalled his music – Jungle Music“slumming” “East St. Louis Toodle-Oo” (Duke Ellington, 1926)Bubber Miley and Duke Ellington – A A B A form The Golden Age of Tin Pan AlleyWW1 (1914)→ WW2 (1945)1877- Thomas Edison invents phonograph“Hello, Ma Baby” (Joseph Howard and Ida Emerson, 1899)-first song to reference telephone- tin pan alley songVictor Talking Machine Company1901, Victrola – records are becoming available to middle class householdsCopyright Act of 1909- sheet music publishers get a share of their music that get recorded – royaltiesASCAP (American Society of Composers, Arrangers, and Publishers)The Great Depression→ 1929-1939Theodor Adorno – criticized Tin Pan Alley- passive consumers who mindlessly consume happy music to distract/blind themselves from more important issues, like social inequality- called “False Conciousness”Rudy Vallee – first radio star, enabled mass culture to hearperforms “Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries”- 1931crooner- mellow, soft voice made possible by invention of microphoneBing Crosby- ”Brother can you spare a Dime?”- 1932Race Records; The Bluesblues- feeling of sadness a musical form12 bar blues“blue notes” – flatted 3rds and 7thspitch bendingmarketing categoryauthenticity- male southern poor rural black musicians, emphasize “folk” quality instead of “popular music or professional entertainment”the Bluesman- southern oppressed impoverished black male w personal suffering/misery, untrained musician with a guitarClassic blues vs Delta bluesClassic blues- first style of blues that become popular- female flamboyant, elegant performers w jewelry & boas elegant in Northern citiesBlues queens Field holler- working in hot oppressive fields, to help work, raw vocals, suffering & moaningChurch Hymn- I, IV, V format, lyrics are A A B formatA (I/ I/ I/ I) A (IV/ IV/ I/ I) B (V/ IV/I/ turnaround)W.C Handy – middle class African American songwriter & performer- “Father of the blues”Used 12 Bar blues – AAB structureWrote “Memphis blues”, “St Louis blues”Okeh Records- started by Otto KH Heinemann- started ethnic lines of music for expanding market1920s, African American performers started being recordedRalph Peer – took old folk songs and copyrighted them Made the term“race records” – music by African Americans for African AmericansMamie Smith- first hit blues record by a black woman – vaudeville performer“Crazy Blues” (1920)- composer Perry Bradford Not AABA form- closer to “jazz” style, but proved there was a market for African Americans to produce recordsAlso made the term “Hillbilly” musicartificial boundaries between these 2 styles and audiencesBlues queens- female performers w flashy expensive gowns and jewelrystrong women, defying conventional roles & not taking abuse from menStarted in TOBA- theater Owner’s booking Association – Toured in Chitlin’ circuit- southern cities, faced violence from these townsBessie smith- performed “St. Louis Blues”- WC handyused AABA form- professionalized/ commercial tin pan alley format Gertrude “Ma” Rainey”- mother of the blues”“Prove It On Me Blues”- (1928)- challenge view against lesbians, proclaiming her female relationshipDelta Blues/ country blues – music about desperation and hope that they can endure-        Blind Willie Johnson- street preacher in small town for donations- accompanied with music“It’s Nobody’s Fault But Mine” (1927)- anguish, pain through vocal timbre/style, distorted guitar – used swiss army knife to play guitar- AAB format –        Robert Johnson- most mythologized blues man – represented suffering artist & authentic expression, oppressed black man – British youth resonated with him