Chapter 72 Early Jazz

Lecture Overview Can jazz be defined? Origins of jazz: ragtime, blues, popular songs, dance music Ragtime: –Scott Joplin and “Maple Leaf Rag” Blues: –Bessie Smith and “Lost Your Head Blues” New Orleans jazz: –King Oliver and “Dippermouth Blues” –Louis Armstrong and “West End Blues Review

Typical Characteristics of Piano Rags moderate march tempo duple meter percussive treatment of the piano syncopated melody, regular accompaniment pieces composed and played as written multithematic, multisectional form with contrasting trio sections

Typical Characteristics of Early Blues flexible in medium (vocal or instrumental) wide range of expression use of blue notes swinging, vocal rhythms variations upon a 12-measure harmonic pattern

Typical Characteristics of the New Orleans Style of Early Jazz small bands divided between melody and rhythm groups of instruments any type of music (ragtime, popular songs, dance music, blues) group improvisation

Scott Joplin, “Maple Leaf Rag,” 1899 Multithematic, multisectional form

James P. Johnson, “Carolina Shout,” 1921 Multithematic, multisectional form

Bessie Smith, “Lost Your Head Blues,” measure blues form (variational)

King Oliver, “Dippermouth Blues,” measure blues form

Louis Armstrong, “West End Blues,” measure blues form

Review Key Terms jazz ragtime rag Scott Joplin syncopation stride walking bass blues blue notes call-and-response improvise chorus fill spiritual minstrel show verse-and-refrain form jazz standard foxtrot Charleston James Reese Europe rhythm section New Orleans style Joe “King” Oliver stop time break Louis Armstrong scat singing