African American Music In The 20th Century

Jazz emerged towards the beginning of the 20th century, but didn 't just spring up out of nowhere. Instead, it was a creation that developed from popular music styles of the 19th century that were blended and combined to entertain not only the social dancers, but also, the nation as a whole. The two main music styles that jazz evolved from were ragtime and the blues. Both ragtime and the blues had their beginnings in African-American communities. While both of these music styles strongly contributed to the creation of jazz and have a lot of similarities, they do have their differences. These differences lie within their origins, their instruments, the elements of the music styles and how these elements influenced jazz, and their artists and composers.

African American influence in music has been an ever present and controversial subject in American history. Stemming from many different cultures, religions and backgrounds, large portions of American music was introduced by, and credited to African Americans. Although in many cases, this music was used for entertainment by the masses or majority, contrary to popular belief, black music served a greater purpose than just recreation. Dating all the way back to the beginning of slavery in the U.S. during the 17th century, music has been used to make a statement and send a message. As African American music progressed over the years, there were common themes expressed as the genres evolved. It has been an open letter to the world, documenting and protesting the ongoing oppression faced by blacks in the United States, as well as an outlet for frustration. For many African Americans, the music gave them the only voice that couldn’t be silenced by their oppressors.

Jazz has always been a part of the American tradition. Some may say they like Jazz for its rhythmic twist and turns. Others may love the soothing melodies from an improved Trumpet solo. All in all, Jazz has been an American staple and has molded today’s popular music, into what it is today. It’s very different from classical music, which is written out and strict. Jazz is much more. It’s made up of spontaneity and improvisation, which makes up an idea on the spot. There are many wide varieties in Jazz. There is Bebop Jazz, Avante Garde Jazz, Acid Jazz, Free Funk Jazz, Soul Jazz, Swing Jazz, and many, many more! These forms of Jazz can be seen and heard in some of your favorite music of Today. It’s been widely used by the world. There is an important reason as to why this genre contributes to the growing of music. We first take a look into the root of all Jazz. In the late 1800’s and early 1900’s, the country of Africa was the first known country to use rhythm primarily for the element of musical expression, and ensembles composed entirely of percussion instruments created extended polyrhythmic works. These polyrhythms, which means the “layering of multiple rhythms.”, were record in Western music. African music did not use paper, or sheet music. Instead, they relied on Aural rituals, learned by ear and also used” spontaneity, which is later said to be known as improvisation”. In Africa, most of the music that was expressed was for religious

African Americans had a major role in the development of popular entertainment in America. Following the Civil War, black Americans, developed a new style of music called ragtime which eventually evolved into what we now know as Jazz. In developing Jazz, African Americans contributed knowledge of the dance and folk music of people across Africa. Together, these musical forms had a major influence on the development of music within the United States and around the world during the 20th century. Early jazz and blues recordings were made in the 1920’s and the early part of the 20th century saw a constant rise in their popularity.

Duke Ellington is considered to be one of the most influential African-American composers of the twentieth century. He was a composer, bandleader, songwriter, and a musician.  Duke Ellington was born in Washington D.C on April 29, 1899 and died on May 24, 1974 in New York, New York. Often times,  Duke’s music was called “American Music” because it was for America, later his music was placed under the category of Jazz. After his death, Duke’s musical reputation was widely spread across America gaining more popularity.

“In less than a minute, the death wail went up out of every cabin in the Quarters, and Brother Ezekial began the death chant: Soon one morning, Death come knocking at my door…. Oh, my lord, What shall I do” (Walker 17)? Death was common for slaves. They routinely died from disease, beatings and accidents on the plantation, and they expressed their sorrow in the form of song. “I see death around the corner, gotta stay high while I survive, … Keep my finger on the trigger, no mercy in my eyes” (“Death Around”). Death is still common in the African American society. “Black males ages 15-19 die from homicide at 46 times the rate of their white

The 20th century was a decade of great sorrows and improvement in the African American culture. The beginning of the civil right movement, the contrary to Brown vs Board of Education and black genres of music replicated the griefs in the African American’s community. The sound of Rhythm and Blues and other form of music were their form of therapeutic tool. With the migration of many southern African Americans migrated to northern and western cities to avoid racism they suffered in the south, their music were embraced by white American which created Rock and Roll outburst. Altschuler (2003) states that, “For African Americans, rock n roll was a mixed blessing. At times a force for integration and racial respect, rock n roll was also an act

In the 1960 she started her career at Columbia Records , later on she then signed with Atlantic Records in 1967. Franklin gain the title “The Queen of Soul” , she gain most of her success through songs such as “Respect”, “You make me feel like a natural Woman”, “I say a Little Prayer”, “Think”, “Chain of fools”, “Natural Woman”, “I never loved a Man”.

Jazz was one of the outcomes during the early twentieth century. Jazz was the source of self and community expression; although others did not consider jazz to be part of the Harlem Renaissance. “Chiefly literary, the Renaissance included the visual arts but excluded jazz, despite its parallel emergence as a black art form” (History.com). Jazz had a large impact because it helped distract the people both the African Americans and whites. 1917 was the year Jazz started to come out of the shadows of the other music genera that helped create jazz.

Jazz is first seen in America in the early 20th century, in one of the most diverse and unusual cities of the time, New Orleans. It’s roots however can be traced back all the way to African and European music. It’s rhythm and “blues” quality is seen in African music, as well jazz’s tradition of playing an instrument in your

Developed in the early 19th and 20th centuries, Jazz is a genre of music that originated in New Orleans among the African American culture. The 1920’s became known as the as the Jazz age, making jazz acknowledged as a form of musical expression. New Orleans played a great role in the evolution of jazz music in the 20th century. At this time, the people of New Orleans hailed from many different cultures. As new settlers arrived in New Orleans, musical traditions from all over the world began to unite. African American musicians merged European musical tradition with such music as blues, ragtime, and marching band to create a new style of music—jazz. (Haber, 2016).

It’s this generation, music has probably became one part of our lives. Young and even older people listen to music on the radio, on t.v., on their phones, or even our in public or at family gatherings. But, some music genres are more popular than others. It’s 2018 and based on social media and internet we can clearly see what takes the cake. If you guessed Rap and/or Hip Hop, you are 100% correct. Rap is a genre of music that comes from African American decent. It mainly involves speaking or rhyming lyrics set to beats. To younger artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Big Sean, and Rihanna to older generational artists such as Biggie Smalls, Ludacris, 50 cent, and Tupac, Rap and Hip Hop has had domination in categories like publicity, radio

Jazz originated from the United States in the early part of the 20th century. From Ragtime and blues to Big Bean and Bebop, jazz has been a part of a proud African American tradition for over 100 years. The history of jazz has its roots firmly planted in the American cities of New Orleans, Chicago, and New York City. New Orleans jazz was first recorded in Chicago and New York, not in New Orleans. The first recording was the Original Dixieland Jazz Band. Jazz is often referred to as “American’s classical music.’’ Jazz is known as one’s of North America’s oldest and most celebrated musical genres. Clarence Williams takes credit for the term by declaring that he was the first to ever use the word ‘’Jazz’’ in a song. Jazz originated from brass band and ragtime piano styles of the 1800s that were blende to satisfy dancers. During the 1890s, jazz began to be recognizable as a style of its own. A lot of jazz is offered in night in nightclubs, where people gather to hear music while they drink and talk with friends.

Though the blues were developed in the rural southern United States, toward the end of the 19th century, and found a wider audience in the 1940s as blacks migrated to urban areas. Jazz music has dozens of variations and also utilizes elements from other genres. Albeit the fact that it is

Western 20th century music had began to be greatly associated with large orchestras, which enabled composers to use new forms of expression. It is said that the Civil War was the turning point for new American music. Many different traditions, from people of all regions, shared their musical styles with one another, becoming American folk music. The turn of the century was very important for American music, as fewer people were living in cities. By 1920, there was a massive breakthrough in