The Origin Of African American Music

In the late 19th Century, a new art from was emerging out of the combination of all that had gone before it on American soil... jazz. Many factors propelled jazz music into the 20th century, but none as significant as those concerning race; the segregation between blacks and whites, and the political actions taken by the American government. From 1900 to 1940, it seems, three main jazz music eras brought their own set of political events and racial tensions from a long historical past particularly of African American slavery. With each era, the following statements always apply: When a people group suffers hardship, it results in the birth of valuable new ideas and culture. And: the development of all society has just as much an impact on the path of music as the music creators themselves. This essay will analyse these ideas throughout three different eras and provide a clear explanation on the evolution of music and how it draws from the good and bad around it.

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.

I have definitely learned a lot about the Evolution of Music in this class. I found it to be very intriguing. So when I was faced with the chore of deciding what I would do my report on, I chose to use the book Black Music in America by James Haskins. This book gave a detailed account of not only the music genres but it’s performers. American music is made up of music from many different types of ethnic backgrounds. What gives this book a plus is that it highlights aspects American music, and its performers. The people and events that really caught my attention were the concert singers, Minstrelsies, Jubilee songs, and brass bands. Born as a slave, a girl by the

Thesis: Despite the oppression of slavery, African Americans were able to keep their culture alive through their music and oral traditions.

In ancient African civilizations music took precedence in all activities that the tribes participated in. There was a song for every celebration, every birth, and every death. As Africans were enslaved and moved to North America by Europeans, many customs and traditions followed with them. As their culture was stripped from them and European ideals were placed upon them, they kept song as their universal language and their link to the motherland. From early on, slave songs also known as “Negro Spirituals” were the first inclination of what could be considered African American music. These songs were largely influenced by the conversion of many Africans to Christianity, and generally held a religious overtone. As slavery came and went and

The roots of modern american rock and roll music, are firmly planted in Africa. As the native Africans were torn apart from their family’s and brought to the new world their lives were immediately and drastically changed forever. Finding themselves immersed in a completely new environment with a foreign culture, they thankfully persevered and carried on with their own traditions and most importantly to this paper, musical ones. Most American slaves originated from Western and Central Africa. The West Africans carried a musical tradition rich with long melody lines, complicated rhythms (poly rhythmics) and stringed instruments CITATION. The West Africans music was also strongly integrated into their everyday lives. Songs were preformed for religious ceremonies and dances and music was often a

“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

African American religious music is the foundation of all contemporary forms of so called “black music.” African American religious music has been a fundamental part of the black experience in this country. This common staple of the African American experience can be traced back to the cruel system of slavery. It then evolved into what we refer to today as gospel music. The goal of this paper is to answer three main questions. What are the origins of African American religious music? How did this musical expression develop into a secular form of music? What is the future of African American religious music? These questions will be answered through factual research of African American traditions, artists, and various other sources.

Music is a common thread and form of expression throughout all cultures. In every country the world over you will find a different style or genre of music with a unique sound. Each original style stems from the different kinds people and their cultures. The music industry has a major influence in our society. As of 2014, America had the world’s largest music market with a retail value of almost 5,000.5 million dollars, and it continues to grow.

“From the lyrical cries of black street vendors in 18th-century Philadelphia to the infectious dance rhythms of the Motown sound, African-American music has been heard at all times and in every corner of America. This particular part of this article shows you the elements and eras of music we will be talking about.” (“The History On African-American Music”).

Music is an expressive language of culture which tells a story, reveal ideas, offers various opinions and share emotions of life's experiences. Music is a unique identity of a particular culture. Different cultures have different ranges of music. Music creates and shapes culture and it is true for vice-versa. There is a circular relationship. In the South, it is treated as a heritage and has a great history of evolving on a large platform. Music ties generations together. Hillbilly music and Blues music were the lifelines of people in the South. This music reflects the American Culture of patriotism and era of World War II. There is a great story related to hillbilly music’s history, image and popularity.

The twentieth century was a great time for America, things were changed dramatically and this was strongly shown through music. America is actually the birthplace too many different types of music from jazz to rock. During this time period there was the swing, country music all the way to things such as rhythm and blues, even classical music. The music world was definitely changing as it is continuing to.

Throughout the history of this country, the music of African-Americans has remained a strong influence upon our society and culture. Beginning with the music carried over from Africa with the slaves, up until now, with the new styles created by urban youth today, African-Americans have retained certain elements within their music which makes it unique from any other musical form. Some of the musical forms which were created from, and/or were strongly influenced by afro-centric musical characteristics are: Hymnals, Gospel, Spirituals, Ragtime, the blues, and R&B. While many of these musical forms are still popular today amongst Blacks and Non-Blacks, jazz and hip-hop are arguably the two most widespread and

In the nineteenth century, European countries expanded their interest in foreign music globally. Through world fairs like the 1889 Universal Exposition, cultural and material riches were displayed, which sparked widespread interest in exotic cultures and music, especially the Indonesian gamelan. Exotic music was ranked on a spectrum of exoticism, ranging from pure exoticism to transcultural composing. The term exoticism represents a non-Western object referred to as “Othering, where one group is discriminated from one’s own group due to self definition. Exotic music evokes “cultural and geographical Otherness” and should be perceived as different from home, both by the composer and by the audience.1 On the other side of the spectrum, transcultural transposing incorporates certain styles and conventions of another culture’s music and “merge musical elements that the composer and audience would recognize as our own with those of the distant other culture”.2 Some pieces, such as Colin McPhee’s Tabuh-Tabuhan, were easier to place on the spectrum, while others, such as Benjamin Britten’s opera Death in Venice, were harder to decide. Through the characteristics, and overall purpose of the opera, although Britten integrates exotic gamelan music in Death in Venice to represent homosexuality, which was prohibited in English society, Death in

Music has always been a substantial part of the human life. Whether in America or Northwest Africa, music is enjoyed by different cultures in unique ways. Listening to different genres of music has influenced the way people perceive life. We learn about the history of the world in order to not make the same mistakes we, as humans, have in the past. History has shown that music correlates in past cultures all around the world. A question that has not been asked by many historians is, how has genres such as jazz or pop music influenced young adults and cultures like Northwest Africa and America and how will these cultures continue to grow with the influence of music? This question can relate to topics learned in this class from globalization to racial inequality. This semester, we have learned about globalization where it can be defined as the gathering of knowledge, culture, and anything else that different countries have in common or share. Music in general, is shared by many types of cultures and countries, to go further in depth with the subject of music, Jazz and pop music is shared with a majority of different countries all around the world. Another topic that was discussed in this class this semester was racial inequality. When we hear about racial inequality, we think slavery. What most people do not notice is that music has played a major role in the history of slavery during the 1800s. In fact, jazz music stared in south America where slave workers sang to keep