Jazz Vs. Classical Music In The 1900's

The 1920’s was a time of innovation, creativity, and recklessness, causing a need for a new style of music. Jazz was fast-paced, upbeat, and very adaptive and it would go hand-in-hand with hedonistic lifestyle, truly giving the 20’s the title of The Jazz Age.

This also affected the conservative populace of the suburbs who were afraid their young girls were mesmerized by the "black music." Jazz was so closely tied with to African American culture that it was often referred to as being "the accompaniment of the voodoo dancer" (Roaring 2). By referring to jazz in this manner, critics were trying to degrade and undermine everything that it meant to the black community. They were also trying to lure white Americans into their train of thought and trying to get them agree with their mind mapping accusations. "Many […] Americans were appalled to see their children dancing to music that was believed to have emerged from […] [the] Negro brothels of the south"(Roaring 2). In addition, a plethora of jazz critics became famous for voicing their dislike of jazz. But in fact, they hid behind their critiques of jazz in order to express, not the dislike of the music, "but the social and political dislike of the black population" (Anderson 135). The problem that worried white conservatives the most was interbreeding between black and white young people who were really into jazz mainly because it belonged to the new counter-culture. Jazz served as the highway that joined blacks and whites. Whites were not only racists towards blacks emotionally, but their prejudice expanded to influencing their physical behavior as well.

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.

One of the greatest tragedies in the 20th century can be seen in the debasing of the Jazz genre as a unworthy equal to it's predecessor, European Classical music. This can be seen in various statements about Jazz, such as Boris Gibalin commit, "The "Jazz Mania" has taken on the character of a lingering illness and must be cured by means of forceful intervention."1 This conflict can be traced through out the history of Jazz, as Classical composers have relatively disregarded this new type of music. Before Duke Ellington's Cotton Club performances, Jazz play on the radio was delegated for late night audience only. This sub-culture treatment has led many critics to disregard the Jazz movement as a dance craze, or unsuccessful recreations

The Jazz Age was a national undertaking that took place in America during the 1920’s, also known as “the Roaring Twenties” from which both jazz music and dance emerged. Despite the era ending with the beginning of The Great Depression in the 1930’s, jazz has lived on in American pop culture. The birth of jazz music is often credited to African-Americans, but it soon expanded to America’s white middle class. This resulted in jazz being combined by both African-American traditions and ideals with white middle class society.

African Americans are largely credited for the creation of the jazz style due to their use of woodwind instruments and African genes. For example, the Charleston, a 1920’s era dance, was popularized by African Americans. However, many middle class white Americans adopted jazz as their own. Due to racial prejudice, white American jazz artists received more credit on radio stations and shows opposed to African Americans, who originally idolized jazz. Jazz exacerbated racial tensions during the post war period. Due to white Americans receiving credit for jazz, African Americans grew angry, thus increasing tension between the two races. Despite the tension, jazz still influenced all aspects of society. Young people especially were largely impacted by the jazz age. Many families moved into cities or towns opposed to staying outside of town in the country. Farming became less popularized as people wanted to rebel against their old ways (A New Jazz

The early 1900s were a time for new beginnings. You had new ways of life starting to become normal, new style of clothing and hair, new technology even. Then you had the new styles of music that started to come up. One important style is the iconic Jazz music. You had artist like Jelly Roll Morton, Joe King Oliver, Sidney Bechet, Louis Armstrong, and Duke Ellington. Even though they all played Jazz music, they all had different upbringings and careers, what they contributed to this genre of music, and how each of these artist ended up after their run with Jazz.

Jazz is one of few purely American art forms. Its creation came out of the southern United States and the social conditions associated with the relationship between the white and African American communities there (Larson 1). African American musicians in particular were the key proponents in the development of jazz in the early 20th century. The creation and shaping of jazz music came from a combination of the musical styles of spirituals, the blues, ragtime, and Western European classical music (Larson 37-38). Although jazz originated from these four styles, defining jazz itself cannot be done so plainly. Since its origin, jazz has continued to progress and branch out into a wide variety of musical styles and genres. At its root, jazz is about the individual expression of the musician (Larson 2). John Coltrane was one of many musicians that used jazz as this medium. Through his early works in the bebop and hard bop styles to free form and more spiritual styled music later in his career, Coltrane pursued deeper expression from his music (Wikipedia). John Coltrane’s upbringing and early interest in music led to a successful career of highly innovative works that have left a lasting legacy and influence on the jazz community.

1924 was booming with Jazz music. The most famous jazz artists were good ole Louis Armstrong, Al Jolson, and the incredible Bix Beiderbecke. Jazz was becoming increasingly popular in New Orleans, Kansas City, Chicago and New York City. It was the "rhythmic beat of our everyday lives," according to people back then. While jazz was pouring out of every window, it was used for entertaining at cocktail parties. At the same time, party foods such as lady fingers and finger sandwiches were created to make serving food at a party easier. If there isn't enough entertainment at the cocktail party, you can catch a flick at the local cinema. Some movies out at the time were the first Peter Pan, Girl Shy, and even The Navigator! Okay, so maybe parties

Jazz music was born in New Orleans, Louisiana. In the 1900’s, the music was developed during the times of slavery and segregation. Jazz was not only played for the pleasure it was played as a way of expressing feelings and telling stories. Another form of jazz was called Ragtime, which brought out mixed feelings. This was upbeat music and caught the attention of many of the young listeners. This era brought on the age of Flappers. Flappers were young women who felt free and wore shorter skirts that also had shorter hair styles to portray their freedom, the women were considered rebellious. The Flappers were known as the “new woman.” They dressed as they pleased and enjoyed showing that women can work and can make decisions. The Flappers gave

Jazz has had a significant effect on American culture. It has played a significant role in defining America’s cultural capacity’s and has been the catalyst of issues that have dealt with race, politics and sex over the past hundred years. It has also served as a podium of national identity and expression to the country to such an extent that it has become widely known as America’s Classical Music. In this essay, one will present the impact that jazz as had on American culture, taking into consideration the issues and ideologies that contributed to its cultural significance. The origins of jazz are widely attributed to African Americans, it though however became associated and integrated with the white-middle class and took on a new idiom that encapsulated and infiltrated American culture.

Jazz music as we know it today has evolved since the early twentieth century. Its’ evolution is due to the influence of many different players who have added their own styles, interpretations and techniques. Two masters of Jazz who have been a big influence on the music are cornet and trumpet player, Louis Armstrong, and piano player, band leader and arranger, Duke Ellington. Each came from different socio-economic and geographical backgrounds, but both became masters of their trade, reached worldwide fame and became legends of the music.

The most enthusiast type of music is jazz. The 1900's is where it mostly orginatied. Africa is the home and roots of jazz. Jazz has gathered from many types of old music. They style is unlike any other and is loved by all.

One of the greatest tragedies in the 20th century can be seen in the debasing of the Jazz genre as a unworthy equal to it’s predecessor, European Classical music. This can be seen in various statements about Jazz, such as Boris Gibalin commit, “The “Jazz Mania” has taken on the character of a lingering illness and must be cured by means of forceful intervention.”1 This conflict can be traced through out the history of Jazz, as Classical composers have relatively disregarded this new type of music. Before Duke Ellington’s Cotton Club performances, Jazz play on the radio was delegated for late night audience only. This sub-culture treatment has led many critics to disregard the Jazz movement as a dance craze, or unsuccessful

Even though Jazz music was predominantly of African-American audiences, it grew to all listeners of music regardless of their race. But, if we look at the audience of today, the listeners of Jazz music are white. Jazz was also able to grow during its height because of the fact that music was able to be recorded. This gave everyone the ability to hear this genre of music, even if they were not able to go out and enjoy it live. Also during this time and through the mid-century Jazz was the dance music of Americans. Jazz in fact influenced the younger crowds in how they dressed, their language, as well as a certain attitude. Most of all, Jazz, more than most other music, has been firmly related with the societal, political, and financial impacts of American urban communities and in addition the changing status of American workmanship and music all through the