West End Blues, Louis Armstrong Blues

Question 1

What is the structure of West End Blues?

Answer 1

Head Section, 3 choruses, a coda

Question 2

What is used between chorus sections?

Answer 2

Turnarounds

Question 3

bles?

Answer 3

12 bar my dude

Question 4

Instrumentation

Answer 4

trumpet, piano, trombone, clari, milk bottle, skat singing

Question 5

How does the clari play?

Answer 5

In the low register to sound ragged and rough

Question 6

Whats going on in the LH piano part?

Answer 6

Ragtime-style stride piano

Question 7

What is the predominant texture?

Answer 7

Homophonic, melody line accompanied by chord progression

Question 8

What texture is the introduction?

Answer 8

Monophonic

Question 9

How is this piece different from New Orleans counterpoint?

Answer 9

It was composed in Chicago, where the trumpet played a more central role and was more important than in true new orleans counterpoint

Question 10

What texture is heard in the 3rd chorus?

Answer 10

Antiphonal texture created by call and response

Question 11

What texture is heard in the 4th chorus?

Answer 11

melody dominated homophony

Question 12

What key is in the introduction in?

Answer 12

The introduction has tonal ambiguity

Question 13

When is the key confirmed?

Answer 13

When the clarinet, trombone and piano enter with a perfect cadence

Question 14

What key is the piece in?

Answer 14

Eb major

Question 15

What harmonic progression is heard in b 20?

Answer 15

ii7b V7 I - like Bach

Question 16

What cadence does the piece end with?

Answer 16

Ends with a chromatic version of a plagal cadence

Question 17

What is going on rhythmically in intro?

Answer 17

introduction is rhythmically free

Question 18

What other rhythmic features are there?

Answer 18

Swung quavers, triplets

Question 19

What kind of notes are used?

Answer 19

Blue notes

Question 20

what ides are used in the main melody?

Answer 20

ideas from the introduction e.g. ascending F# G B

Question 21

What kind of range is heard at b18-19

Answer 21

high

Question 22

What is the piano melody based on?

Answer 22

Based heavily on the blues scale

Question 23

What instrumental feature is heard?

Answer 23

portamento

Question 24

What harmonic feature is heard at b24?

Answer 24

substituted chord Abm which is a minor IV

Question 25

What harmonic progression is heard at b26?

Answer 25

I Ib dim 7th V7c

Question 26

Was this piece meticulously composed?

Answer 26

nope, it was only roughly scored, played and then transcribed