American Idea + Rap

Question 1

American Musical Styles

Answer 1

Jazz: “Four Piano Blues.”

Western Styles: Gene Autry, “The Singing Cowboy”
Movie star who came in singing on his horse, uplifting people from the great depression.

Folk: Appalachian Spring - simple with big leaps

Question 2

Copland

Answer 2

“American Gothic”

Rodeo Hoedown - musically evokes its country and dance

Loves the idea of America and writes music “for the poor” very simple tunes

Ex. “Simple Gifts” uses theme and variations

Question 3

Appalachian Spring Ballet

Answer 3

Martha Graham - modern dancer

a train ride across the US
when she was 14 years old
struck by the space

Question 4

Black Lives Matter

Answer 4

started in 2013 after a black man was shot and the police were held responsible. to intervene in the violence inflicted on Black communities

Question 5

Fight the Power

Answer 5

Public Enemy (band) 1989
- new version released in 2020
lyrics speak directly to the experiences of African Americans facing oppression and discrimination

Question 6

Sub-Saharan Africa Music

Answer 6

1) Call and Response
2) Improvisation

Question 7

Lining out

Answer 7

practice of reciting or performing lyrics without the accompaniment of a beat or instrumental backing - a capella rapping

Question 8

New Orleans

Answer 8

• port city, culturally diverse
• gambling was huge
• party city, it supported music
• louis Armstrong was born here

Question 9

Scat

Answer 9

vocal improvisation of nonsensical syllables

Question 10

3 Precurrors to Rap

Answer 10

1) “The Dozens” - Africa
2) Personality DJs
3) Jamaican Yard Dances

Question 11

The Dozens - Africa

Answer 11

• Babbling - verbally attacking opponent
• Insult game - slaves sold individually but by “the dozen” if impeded.
• Improvisation

Question 12

Personality DJs

Answer 12

• Black american DJs who talks over records
• Common 1940s - 1960s

Question 13

Jamaican Yard Dances

Answer 13

Combines PDJs (from Miami) & the dozens
Competitions in yards

Question 14

The Bronx, NYC + Cross-Bronx expressway 1948 - 1968

Answer 14

• was a stable working class part of NYC up to the mid 1950s
• expressway allowed drivers to cut through the bronx
• People moved away from bronx
• Landlords sold their properties & slumlords moved in.
• From “working class” to the “underclass”
• A significant number of new immigrants move in especially from Jamaica

Question 15

Sugar Hill Gang “Rapper’s Delight”

Answer 15

fun, insult, over disco

Question 16

Public Enemies “Nighttrain”

Answer 16

Brown’s train unifies. PE’s train shows how black indiviuals are “lumped” together.