Developments in jazz 1900-1950 = Blues

Question 1

The origin of blues

Answer 1

style of African American music
appeared alter 19th century
flexible African approach to pitch and rhythm combined with European tonal harmony

Question 2

melody

Answer 2

often improvised
blues scales - flat 3,5 and 7
chromatic notes added to scale
stop time accompaniment emphasises chord change - like Ragtime
vocal improvisation - Scat singing (L.A. “Hotter than that”) and vocal glissando (Bettie Smith St Louis Blues)

Question 3

tonality and harmony

Answer 3

chromatic tones
blues notes
basic harmony I,IV,V. Then II,V,I and tritone subs
variations of 12 bar blues including flattened 7ths.
flat 3,5,7 - minor blues
Flat 3 - major blues
heterophony - 2 or more instruments improvising on same melody together eg Lil Hardin “ Hotter than That” where vocal and guitar improvise duet in 4th chorus
walking bass

Question 4

form and structure

Answer 4

basic - 12 bar blues
evidence of 16 and 32 bar blue structures
strophic
use of I,IV,V and II,V,I with tritone subs

Question 5

texture and instruments/voice

Answer 5

origin - plantation hollering, vocal glissandos
instrumental uses bends in notes, appoggiaturas on piano, tailgating on trombone, mutes on brass (varying trumpet timbre)
originally vocal and accompaniment
scat singing
heterophony
comping
stop time

Question 6

rhythm and metre

Answer 6

4/4
call and response
syncopation
melody heard against steady pulses - emphasises ho chords move

Question 7

example - St Louis Blues

Answer 7

new Orleans style
chord sequences and structures varied - no standard 12 bar pattern
3rd verse becomes 16 bar structure in tonic C minor
Blues notes in vocal line have hinted but this is the first actual harmony shift.