Jazz Test Flashcards
Roots of Jazz
Spirituals, work songs, folk songs, African music, improv
Syncopated rhythm of the cakewalk of minstrel shows
Ragtime
Piano is the chief instrument of this
Ragtime
Scott Joplin is the principal composer of
Ragtime
In 4-4 time, usually 4 strains in 16-32 bar periods each
Ragtime
What time signature is ragtime usually in?
4-4, with 4 strains of 16-32 bars each
Syncopated treble line against a non-syncopated bass
Ragtime
Bass usually moves 1/2 speed of treble, called “stride-bass”
Ragtime
“Blues” describes what?
A depressed emotion state, about ghetto life
12 bars in 4/4 time divided into 3 four bar phrases on the following progression:
4 bars (I), 2 bars (IV), 2 bars (I), 2 bars (V), 2 bars (1)
Blues Chord progression
I IV I V I
How are Blues divided up?
12 bars in 4/4 time, 3 four bar phrases
Blues text is in what form?
AAB
How do blues singers and instrumentalists interact?
Singer sings for 2 bars, instruments respond for 2 bars, called “call and response”
Blues has what technique incoporated?
Call and Response
Blues harmonies use what?
Major and minor scales simultaneously
What is the blues scale on C?
C, Eb, F, F#, G, Bb
What are the “blues” notes?
Lowered 3rd and 7th in the scale
Blues performers include:
“Ma” Rainey and Bessie Smith
Who was the most famous Blues performer?
Bessie Smith, called “Empress of Blues.” St. Louis Blues famous performance
What is Bessie Smith’s nickname?
Empress of Blues
Instrumental combos with drums, banjo, and piano providing rhythm section and cornet, trombone, clarinet, saxophone, as the “front line” which improvised
New Orleans Jazz (Dixieland) 1920’s
Improvisation and spontaneity was an important aspect of
New Orleans Jazz
King Oliver was the leader of
The Creole Jazz Band, the finest of its day
Who made up the Creole Jazz Band?
King Oliver, Louis Armstrong, Kid Ory
What did Louis Armstrong play in the Creole Jazz Band?
Cornet
What did Kid Ory play in the Creole Jazz Band?
Trombone