2. Swing Mr. Fritz Streiff Grade 6 12.04.03

3. What was going on when Swing was king? The Roaring Twenties The Stock Market Crash The Great Depression World War II 1920-1945

4. Roots of Swing: Over time, smaller ensembles evolved into groups averaging 15 musicians, otherwise known as “Big Bands.” The increased size allowed for these groups to play a wide range of articulation and dynamics. Swing evolved out of earlier styles of jazz.

5. Improvisation: Originally orchestrated music made room for much improvisation. Swing music allowed musicians to brake away from many structural standards set by earlier forms of jazz. Improvisation is to make music that is original, free, creative and unplanned.

6. Syncopation: Swing music used much syncopation to accent the music and give it a light and edgy feel. Syncopation means for beats that are often unaccented in a measure to be accented. This created a sound that people of all backgrounds and generations could enjoy listening and dancing to.

7. The Melodic Section: 4-6 reeds (saxophones and clarinets) 4-6 brass (trumpets and trombones)

8. The Rhythm Section: Piano String Bass Drum Set Guitar

9. Styles of Music: Hot Bands – provided hard-driving sounds (Benny Goodman, Count Bassie, Duke Ellington), these sounds were fast like “Opus One” Sweet Bands – provided less emphasis on rhythm and more on feelings and emotions displayed in the music (Glen Miller, Freddy Martin, and Wayne King), these songs were more slow ballads.

10. Musical Differences: Swing music is written straight but the instruments steal from the evenness and emphasized notes making it into a swing feel. Bands also experimented with Bebop, Cool Jazz and Latin music

11. Soloist: Solo or lead instrumentalists were showcased often backed up by ensemble playing Ensemble parts or “Riffs” are short melodic ideas that were used repetitiously in call and response patterns between instrumental sections of a band.

12. Famous Swing Musicians: Early Big Bands were heavily orchestrated and conducted. As Swing music increased in popularity the conductors became known as Bandleaders. This allowed for talented band leaders to serve as both conductor, arranger, and lead soloist. Some played reeds or brass and others lead the bands from the piano.

13. Are you ready to Swing?

14. Duke Ellington (1899-1974) “Satin Doll” “Black and Tan Fantasy” “Creole Love Call” “The Mooche” “Mood Indigo”

15. Count Basie (1904-1984) “One O’clock Jump” “The Atomic Mr. Basie”

16. Benny Goodman “Sing, Sing, Sing” “King of Swing” “King Porter Stomp” “Why Don’t You Do Right?” (1909-1986)

17. Glen Miller (1903-1984) “Chattanooga Choo Choo”

18. Tommy Dorsey (1905-1956) “There are such things” “I’ll never smile again” “Opus No. 1”

19. Swing Dancing: Swing music was often played at public gatherings and clubs. The music really seemed to cut through past racial, age and economic barriers.

20. The End of Swing: Swing found difficult times as racism limited access of musicians and audiences. With the end of World War II people wanted to move on emotionally and the music and dance of the times reminded them too much of war. With the War also came the Draft, so musicians were required to go to war and leave the bands. Fuel rationing limited bands ability to tour.

21. Difficult times: There was also a jazz musician strike from 1942-1944, so no recordings were made during that time. This opened the door for vocalists to become more prominent in the vocal music scene. In 1941 a newly enacted cabaret tax forced clubs to pay 30% of proceeds in taxes. Requiring clubs to hire smaller performing groups.

22. Neo-Swing Era: Swing reached its peak in the early 1940’s. Swing music and dancing found a revival in the 1990’s and is continuing today. It provides for its listeners and participants a great social activity. Jazz and specifically Swing is truly an American art form with fans from around the world.

23. Swing Today: Swing cuts to the core of human emotion with driving rhythms and emotional ballads. It will continue to be a relevant piece of our musical past, present and future…