1. American Music History
Vernacular Music: Ragtime and Blues

2. VERNACULAR MUSIC RAGTIME: SCOTT JOPLIN: 1868 – 1917 (King of Ragtime)
Originated in the cakewalk, a couples dance described as strutting, acrobatic and was popular in minstrel shows.
Combination of the “march” made popular by John Philip Sousa and African music using polyrhythms.
Most important characteristic: syncopated or “ragged” rhythm.
Originated in St. Louis and New Orleans.
SCOTT JOPLIN: 1868 – 1917 (King of Ragtime)
Most famous for the “Maple Leaf Rag”
Son of an ex-slave musician
Born in almost total obscurity

3. BLUES
Origin: rather unknown except that it begun somewhere in the deep south:
Mississippi Delta plantations, small towns and industries demanding heavy labor
African American singers in the south (Mississippi, Georgia, Tennessee) around began singing laments about life, love, loss or some other depressing state and sang in style known now as “The Blues”
Form: AAB (two-line stanzas: first line repeat, second line is different but rhymes)
Blues Scale: the adding of “blue” notes to a major scale: 3rd, 5th and 7th
Chord accompaniment: European classical tradition, I IV V chords
IMPROVISATION: “breaks” in the music where a soloist would create a new variation of the melody
Bessie Smith: (1894 – 1937) exemplifies this style particularly with “St. Louis Blues” written by W. C. Handy (1873 – 1958) a famous blues composer