20th Century Music: Jazz and Musicals

Question 1

Key features of Jazz

Answer 1

• Syncopation/swung rhythms
• Improvised solo
• Rhythm section as accompaniment (drum kit/piano/bass)
• Walking bass line
• Pitch bending in vocal line
• Scat singing-singing to nonsense syllables instead of words
• Use of drum-kit/Jazz band instrumentation
• Blue notes/blues sale/extended chords
• Brass/horn section (muted brass effects)
• 12-bar blues chord pattern
• Comping - rhythmic chordal accompaniment

Question 2

Key composers of Jazz and Musicals

Answer 2

George Gershwin

Question 3

Key features of Musicals

Answer 3

• Use of ‘band’/jazz instruments or mix of orchestral and jazz band instruments
• Use of saxophones, electric guitar, drum kit
• Use of voice accompanied by a small band or orchestra;
• Use of instrumental effects such as muted trumpets and harp glissando, pizzicato bass
• Syncopation/off-beat
• 32 bar (AABA) song structure for the chorus
• Change of key between verses
• Rock and roll/pop/jazz style, including style of singing, Mixture of speech and song