Early Jazz History: Blues, Ragtime, and the Birth of Jazz

What year did the first slaves arrive in America?

1619

What significant purchase did the United States make in 1803?

The purchase of Louisiana, including New Orleans, from France.

What was established by the New Orleans city council in 1817?

Congo Square as an official site for music and dance.

What event marked the end of slavery in the United States?

The end of the Civil War in 1865.

What was the first permanent all-African American minstrel group organized?

It was organized in 1867.

What musical genre originated in 1870 as a reflection of African American struggles?

The Blues.

What influences shaped the development of the Blues?

African musical influences and the experiences of enslaved people.

What types of songs did enslaved people sing while working?

Work songs and religious spirituals.

What instruments were commonly used to accompany early blues vocals?

The guitar and harmonica.

What characterizes the lyrics of blues music?

They are often sad and express feelings of melancholy, love troubles, or hardship.

What scale is commonly used in blues melodies?

A minor pentatonic scale with the addition of a flattened fifth.

What are blue notes in blues music?

Flattened third, fifth, or seventh notes of the scale.

What is the most used chord progression in blues music?

The 12-bar Blues sequence.

How is the rhythm of the Blues typically described?

Swung simple quadruple with syncopation to emphasize weak beats.

What was the pianola piano invented?

In 1896.

What style is considered an immediate precursor to jazz?

Ragtime.

What characterizes the melody in ragtime music?

Mostly small leaps and steps, chromatic notes, and a catchy tune.

What rhythmic device is commonly used in ragtime music?

Syncopation, where notes off the beat are accented.

What was the primary accompaniment style in ragtime music?

The left hand played an even quaver accompaniment in an 'oom-pa-pa' fashion.

How was ragtime music 'recorded' before the invention of records?

On piano rolls, which were long rolls of thick paper with punched holes.

What is the typical harmony structure in ragtime music?

Major and simple, based around primary triads and 7th chords.

What is a notable feature of the left hand in ragtime piano playing?

It plays a steady march-like part of alternating bass notes and chords.

What is a player piano and how does it work?

A player piano, or pianola, mechanically plays notes indicated by perforations on a piano roll, which is spun while someone pumps foot pedals to press down the appropriate keys.

What distinguishes ragtime from jazz?

Ragtime is characterized by its lack of improvisation and features syncopated melodies, while jazz includes improvisation and developed from ragtime.

What musical elements of ragtime are derived from European classical music?

The left hand's steady march-like rhythm and chord progressions in ragtime are rooted in European classical music.

What influences the right hand melodies in ragtime?

The right hand's syncopated, 'ragged' melodies in ragtime are derived from complex polyrhythms rooted in African music.

How did ragtime reflect American attitudes in the late 19th century?

Ragtime symbolized cherished American traditions through its classical piano roots and simple left hand parts, while its complex right-hand syncopation reflected fast-paced modern living.

Who was Scott Joplin and what was his contribution to ragtime?

Scott Joplin was a key figure in ragtime, known for popularizing the genre with pieces like 'Maple Leaf Rag' and 'The Entertainer.' He was one of ragtime's inventors and most important composers.

What was Jelly Roll Morton's claim to fame in jazz history?

Jelly Roll Morton claimed to invent jazz by being the first to write down jazz music as sheet music.

What musical styles did Jelly Roll Morton blend in his music?

Jelly Roll Morton blended ragtime, minstrelsy, and blues, incorporating a Habanero rhythm.

What significant event began in 1915 affecting African Americans?

The Great Migration began in 1915, as black workers left the south to find work in the northern United States.

What happened in 1917 that marked a significant moment in jazz history?

In 1917, Scott Joplin died, Storyville was closed, and the Original Dixieland Jazz Band made the first known jazz recording.

Who were the members of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band?

The band consisted of Nic LaRocca (cornet), Larry Shields (clarinet), Eddie Edwards (trombone), Henry Ragas (piano), and Tony Spargo (drums).

What characterized the style of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band?

Their style was punchy with breakneck tempos, little variation between choruses, and almost no individual solos, rooted in New Orleans music and vaudeville traditions.

What cultural influences shaped New Orleans as a musical melting pot?

New Orleans, as a port city, became a melting pot of cultures, influencing the music styles that emerged there, including jazz.

What musical traditions are reflected in the music of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band?

Their music reflects call and response traditions from black Baptist churches and work songs sung by African-American field laborers.

What was the significance of the piano in American culture during the late 19th century?

The piano symbolized cherished American traditions and was popular among the white middle class, representing rural life.

How did ragtime evolve into jazz?

Ragtime evolved into jazz through the development of stride piano, which featured quicker tempos, larger left-hand leaps, and improvisation.

What was the role of foot pedals in a player piano?

Foot pedals were used to pump air and allow the piano roll to spin, enabling the mechanical playing of the notes.

What was the impact of Scott Joplin's upbringing on his music?

Scott Joplin grew up hearing black work songs and spirituals, as well as European waltzes and marches, which influenced his musical style.

What is the significance of the term 'Habanero rhythm' in jazz?

The Habanero rhythm is a rhythmic pattern that Jelly Roll Morton incorporated into his music, blending various musical influences.

What was the relationship between ragtime and the cultural identity of African Americans?

Ragtime gave African Americans a sense of identity and reflected their cultural experiences through music.

What was the role of syncopation in ragtime music?

Syncopation in ragtime music created a 'ragged' feel, distinguishing it from more straightforward musical forms.

What was the importance of the Original Dixieland Jazz Band's first recording?

Their first recording marked a significant moment in jazz history, showcasing the genre to a wider audience.

What musical influences shaped the clarinet, cornet, and trombone in New Orleans?

They reflect the influence of march music popular during and after the Civil War.

What musical tradition does the piano in jazz come from?

The tradition of ragtime.

What is minstrelsy in the context of jazz?

A tradition of opera and operettas that often insensitively poked fun at the racial divide between white and black.

What instruments are featured in 'Livery Stable Blues'?

Clarinet, drum kit, trombone, piano, and trumpet.

What is the prevailing texture of 'Livery Stable Blues'?

Polyphonic.

What are the characteristics of the rhythm and harmony in 'Livery Stable Blues'?

The rhythms are straight, the harmony is simple, and the time signature is 4/4.

What is the tonality of 'Livery Stable Blues'?

Major.

What significant contribution did the ODJB make to jazz?

They departed from ragtime, introduced jazz to a broader audience, and were the first band to be recorded using 'Jazz' in its name.

What was the impact of 'Livery Stable Blues' on jazz history?

It marked the beginning of jazz's recorded history and was the first jazz recording to achieve widespread commercial success.

What sound effects were used in 'Livery Stable Blues' and why were they significant?

Barnyard sound effects, which were groundbreaking at the time and added novelty.

Who was Joe 'King' Oliver and what was his significance?

He was Louis Armstrong's mentor and moved to Chicago in 1918.

What event began in 1920 that influenced the popularity of jazz?

Prohibition, which led to the rise of speakeasies.

Who were some notable female blues singers of the 1920s?

Bessie Smith, Ma Rainey, and Mamie Smith.

What was Bessie Smith known for?

Her rich contralto voice, emotional intensity in her blues, and confidence.

What themes are commonly found in Bessie Smith's music?

Poverty, oppression, and love—betrayed or unrequited.

What is the time signature and tonality of 'Backwater Blues'?

Swung 4/4 and major.

What is the lyrical form used in 'Backwater Blues'?

AAB.

What emotions does 'Backwater Blues' convey?

Sadness, loss, and endurance.

What musical elements are present in 'Backwater Blues'?

Blue notes and a limited melody.

What was the classical female blues subgenre?

A subgenre of blues spanning from 1720 to 1929, peaking between 1923 and 1925.

What role did classical female blues singers play in the music industry?

They were pioneers in the record industry and among the first black singers recorded.

What is the call and response technique in jazz?

A compositional device where instruments play short breaks in between vocal lines to maintain the song's mood.

What is scat singing?

Vocal improvisation using random syllables to create melodies and rhythms equivalent to instrumental solos.

What significant recording did Louis Armstrong make in 1925?

His first recording with the Hot Five.