Bed Bug Blues, Bessie Smith Early Jazz/Blues Flashcards
1
Q
What is the form of this piece?
A
Intro, 3 verses, outro (verses very repetative)
2
Q
Blues?
A
12 bar
3
Q
Instrumentation?
A
Voice, Piano, Banjo/Harmonica (typical small ensemble size)
4
Q
What is the predominant texture?
A
homophonic
5
Q
What other textures do we hear?
A
Fill-ins provide antiphonal call and response texture
6
Q
What Harmonic devices are used?
A
12 bar blues and blue notes
7
Q
Rhythmic features?
A
Syncopation, Held notes
8
Q
Name 3 melodic features
A
Many pitch bends in the voice, Loose improvisation on blues scale, melody sung all in chest voice this makes it sound impassioned and fierce
9
Q
Any other notable features?
A
It is likely that the lyrics of the song are metaphorical as being a black woman in america was extremely rough with virtually no rights at all
