Chapter 1 Extra Credit Questions
1. Why is jazz hard to define? Describe some of the reasons why it is sometimes difficult to determine if a musical recording or a performance qualifies as jazz.
Jazz does not have one set style, but rather many styles which leaves the definition of jazz hard to define. A jazz player can play any style they want and there aren’t really set rules they have to follow to be considered jazz, just a few guidelines that are taken into consideration. It can sometimes be difficult to determine if a musical recording or a performance qualifies as jazz because its styles can be heard in other kinds of music. Jazz can also be played with a variety of instruments so it can be confusing as to whether or not the
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Rules that rhythm section instruments must adhere to is they must support the soloist even if that means they are playing while the soloist is playing. While supporting the soloist, they also have some freedom as to what they play by improvising in a more limited way.
Chapter 1 Extra Credit Questions
1. Why is jazz hard to define? Describe some of the reasons why it is sometimes difficult to determine if a musical recording or a performance qualifies as jazz.
Jazz does not have one set style, but rather many styles which leaves the definition of jazz hard to define. A jazz player can play any style they want and there aren’t really set rules they have to follow to be considered jazz, just a few guidelines that are taken into consideration. It can sometimes be difficult to determine if a musical recording or a performance qualifies as jazz because its styles can be heard in other kinds of music. Jazz can also be played with a variety of instruments so it can be confusing as to whether or not the music qualifies as jazz.
2. Describe the relationship between the rules rhythm section instruments must adhere to and the freedoms they have to play what they want in fulfilling their specific roles.
Rules that rhythm section instruments must adhere to is they must support the soloist even if that means they are playing while the soloist is playing. While supporting the soloist, they also have
The jazz is a musical expression that was created it in Africa America and also it is Americas classical music, but first it started 20th century in Africa America. When the Jazz started in the United States, it started first New Orleans, so the Jazz in that time started to become American’s popular music. According to the article Jazz, “The 1950s saw the emergence of free jazz, which explored playing without regular meter, beat and formal structures”, so the free jazz was changing during that time because it was played different (Jazz). In the jazz has faster tempos and it is playing without formal and beat. The elements of the jazz have a steady beat, fast tempo, and polyphonic texture. In addition, the part of rhythm of the jazz is that
The music called Jazz was born sometime around 1895 in New Orleans. It combined elements of Ragtime, marching band music and Blues. What made Jazz such a different perspective of traditional music was its act of improvising. There was a widespread use of improvisation often by more than one player at a time. Songwriters would write the music down on a piece of paper, and then the Jazz musicians would try their best to play the music. Usually in a Jazz piece, musicians would use the song as a starting point to improvise around. Jazz musicians would play a familiar song to the audience, and by the time they were done with the piece they would stir up a totally different feeling away from the
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
For this reason, their music incorporated a lot of dynamic improvisation and creativity, a characteristic that separates jazz from the other musical styles at the time of its birth.
Jazz was the first music type that was made in America and was not based on other countries idea. Usual music before Jazz was taken from Europe or other countries and sometimes mashed together some types but Jazz was created in America.
To begin with, jazz is an all American dance that has some African rhythmic influences. The first group that portrayed jazz to the American society were a group called the flappers in the 1920’s. This group was young western women who wore short skirts and bobbed hair and were considered wild based on the image
During the early 1900’s, a new style of music began to take shape in the colorful city of New Orleans. People from all over the world came to exchange stories, conversation, and music. Although it is a very hard genre of music to define, it is said that Jazz is the combination of European and African music that was brought in via the ports. With mostly an African American population, the musicians shared their music in Storyville - a cultural melting pot, and began to spread the “New Orleans Sound”. They contributed to what would soon be known as Jazz in 1917. The spontaneous nature of Jazz’s syncopation and sound makes it a very humanistic style of music and makes every performance original. Every day we improvise, whether it is in conversation or spur of the moment decisions. These truly unique elements caused Jazz to become a symbol of America, and changed music forever.
Jazz is among one of the most interesting genres. It has encompassed all cultures since it arose in the late 18th century. Cool jazz, hot jazz, gypsy jazz, and many other sub-genres of Jazz have emerged throughout the years; however, it is seen through history that many of those sub-genres emerged during the Harlem Renaissance. This was a time period in the late 1920s and early 1930s in Harlem, a neighborhood within the northern section of New York that celebrated black intellect, black voice, and black ways of life. Jazz music was widely popular among that movement. Traditionally, Jazz is an improvisation and syncopation that showcases brass instruments, piano, and woodwind instruments. This genre will also generally have a forceful rhythm.
Jazz is an American music genre, founded by African-American musicians. It emerged in the early 1900s as its creators merged aspects from West African musical traditions with aspects from religious music and from many other types of popular music based on European traditions. While some elements of jazz were borrowed from other musical genres, the music that came forth was one of a kind, an art form of its own. A significant element of jazz is improvisation, the adjustment of a melody or countermelody as a song is being performed. Therefore, a song may be different every time it is played.
Jazz is a music genre that has complex characteristics and history of development and thus many musicians and scholars face troubles in defining what jazz is. In general, jazz is believed to have born in New Orleans. Jazz developed for the pleasure of the social dancers. According to the “Understanding Jazz: What Is Jazz?” of John F. Kennedy center for the Performing Arts, Jazz was created mainly by Afro-Americans, and had elements of European and Afro-American culture. Also, it emphasizes few elements of Jazz, which are swing-feel, syncopation, and improvisation. These different culture and elements of jazz may be explained by how jazz
Jazz is a style of music that began and has been revolutionized within the United States. Jazz music first appeared in the city of New Orleans and eventually moved onto Chicago, St. Louis, Kansas City, and New York City. Jazz unites different elements of African, African- American, religious, brass brand, and blues style of music. The music of Jazz, and its changes through the years, is now a form of music that is known and respected throughout this nation and the world.
The first question I asked myself at the beginning of the quarter was how much do I actually know about jazz? I have always characterized jazz music as a rhythmic and instrumental form of music. My impression on the basis of the jazz has always been portrayed with the African-American race. I think this was build up from the rhythm ‘n’ blues era and meaning according to the dictionary (“style of music that was invented by African American musicians in the early part of the twentieth century and has very strong rhythms and often involves improvisation”). But Louis Armstrong’s famous reply was “if you had to ask, you’ll never know”. Whatever else he meant, he was at least saying that jazz is noticeable, but not necessarily understandable by
What exactly is jazz? As defined by Merriam Webster Dictionary jazz is “American music developed especially from ragtime and blues and characterized by propulsive syncopated rhythms, polyphonic ensemble playing, varying degrees of improvisation, and often deliberate distortions of pitch and timbre”. While this definition is true and a “cookie cutter” definition of jazz it is not completely accurate Jazz is one large genre with many sub-genres within it such as swing, bebop, free jazz, hard bop, and cool jazz. Yes jazz was derived from ragtime and blues but what is not commonly known is that Baroque music had a hand in the development of this art form. In this paper I show the correlation between Baroque music and cool jazz and how their
The rhythm section (piano, guitar, bass, and drums) maintained a steady, even beat; the saxophone and brass sections countered each other with harmonized riffs and repeated figures, with section leaders improvising over this background (Stewart, 1979).
Over time there have been many eras of music and many genres. One could say that the Classical music, or the Romantic era has been the most significant in music history. Although those times are very important to the music world, Jazz in the early 20th century is very significant to the history of music in the United States. Next is a little bit of history and what makes Jazz music Jazz.