Background and Context Flashcards
What three important historical and sociological facts contributed to the circumstances allowing jazz to emerge?
Abolition of slavery (Emancipation Proclamation in 1865).
End of the American Civil War (1866) - abondomed brass instruments adopted.
Louisiana classified all non-whites under one umbrella, meaning musical cultures intermingled.
How did emerging jazz musicians change the sound of brass instruments?
They created a new sound with blues inflections, a different timbre and a different approach to vibrato which ‘made the instrument sing’.
Where did jazz mainly come from and why?
New Orleans, one of the most cosmopolitan cities in the world:a cultural melting pot.
What were vaudeville and minstrel shows?
Performances which included various musical arts.
What were Work Songs?
Songs typically sung by slaves to help with repetitive/strenuous tasks. They were highly rhythmic and featured call and response.
What were spirituals?
Sung by slaves, with elements of French, Spanish and even Scottish folk melodies.
What was music of the Baptist church?
The intoning of a preacher followed by improvised responses of the congregation: call and response, collective improvisation.
List musical precursors to jazz.
Blues, ragtime, vaudeville and minstrel shows, work song, spirituals, music of the Baptist church, West African drumming, chanting of Southern street vendors.
How did the chanting of Southern street vendors influence jazz?
The vendors would intone and inflect their words with references to the blues.
How did West African drumming influence jazz?
Contributed to the rhythmic aspects of it.
