The Music of the Jazz Age Resource Guide

The Roaring Twenties

Period of cultural and social dynamism in the 1920s.

Simple Subdivision

Dividing beats into equal parts, typically two.

Compound Subdivision

Dividing beats into three equal parts.

Mixed Meter

Combining different time signatures in music.

Irregular Meter

Non-standard time signatures, not fitting regular patterns.

Syncopation

Emphasizing off-beats or unexpected beats in music.

Polyrhythm

Simultaneous contrasting rhythms played together.

Harmony

Combination of different musical notes played simultaneously.

Common-Practice Tonality

Western music tradition based on major and minor scales.

Chords

Three or more notes played together.

Triads

Three-note chords built on thirds.

Inversions

Rearranging the notes of a chord.

Keys

Specific tonal center of a piece of music.

Key Signatures

Notation indicating the key of a piece.

Circle of Fifths

Visual representation of key signatures and relationships.

Pitch

Perceived frequency of a sound, determining its highness or lowness.

Dissonance

Combination of notes that creates tension.

Consonance

Combination of notes that sounds stable and pleasant.

Diatonic Triads

Triads built from the notes of a scale.

Dominant Triad

Fifth degree triad in a scale, crucial for resolution.

Dominant Seventh Chord

Four-note chord consisting of a triad and a seventh.

Chromatic Harmonies

Harmonies that include notes outside the scale.

Modulation

Changing from one key to another within a piece.

Texture

The way different musical lines interact in a piece.

Timbre

Quality or color of a musical sound.

Dynamics

Variations in loudness between notes or phrases.

Articulation

How notes are played or sung, affecting their clarity.

Ornamentation

Decorative notes added to a melody for embellishment.

Contour

Shape of a melody as it moves up and down.

Range

Span from the lowest to highest note of an instrument.

Tessitura

General range in which most notes of a piece fall.

Form in Music

Structure or design of a musical composition.

Elements of Form

Components that define the structure of a piece.

Form

Structure or layout of a musical composition.

Perceiving Musical Form

Understanding the organization of musical elements.

Beat

Basic unit of time in music.

Tempo

Speed at which a piece of music is played.

Meter

Pattern of beats in music, e.g., duple.

Rhythmic Notation

Symbols representing rhythms in musical scores.

Time Signature

Notation indicating beats per measure and note value.

Motive

Short musical idea or theme.

Phrase

Musical sentence or thought, often part of a melody.

Cadence

A progression of chords signaling the end of a phrase.

Theme

Main musical idea in a composition.

Introduction

Opening section of a musical piece.

Coda

Closing section that concludes a musical work.

Common Forms

Standard structures used in music compositions.

Repetition

Repeating musical elements for emphasis.

Variation

Alteration of a musical theme.

Theme and Variations

A form where a theme is presented and altered.

Twelve-Bar Blues

A musical form based on a 12-bar structure.

Improvisation

Spontaneous creation of music during performance.

Contrast

Differences in musical elements to create interest.

Ternary Form

Musical structure with three sections: ABA.

Rondo Form

Musical form with recurring themes, e.g., ABACA.

32-Bar Form

Common structure in popular music, often AABA.

Verse-Chorus Form

Structure alternating verses and a repeating chorus.

Development

Process of expanding and transforming musical ideas.

Fugue

A contrapuntal composition with interwoven melodies.

Sonata Form

Structure involving exposition, development, and recapitulation.

Jazz Thrives in Chicago

Chicago became a central hub for jazz music.

The Jazz Wonder Child

Refers to a notable young jazz musician.

The Hot Five (Plus)

Famous jazz ensemble led by Louis Armstrong.

Sweet Georgia Brown

1925 jazz standard by Bernie and Pinkard.

Jazz in the Movies

Integration of jazz music in film soundtracks.

Hotter Than That

1927 jazz piece by Lillian Hardin Armstrong.

Music for Silent Movies

Jazz compositions accompanying silent film performances.

Breaking the Sound Barrier

Transition from silent films to sound films.

Burlesque

Movement IV of Copland's 1925 composition.

Toot, Toot, Tootsie!

Song from The Jazz Singer musical film.

Jazz for Chamber Musicians

Jazz compositions arranged for small ensembles.

Bringing Jazz Back Home

Revival of jazz music in local settings.

Jazz at the Ballet

Incorporation of jazz elements in ballet performances.

Violin Sonata No. 2: Blues

Ravel's 1927 piece blending jazz with classical.

La création du monde

Milhaud's 1922-23 work featuring jazz influences.

Sicilienne

Tailleferre's 1928 composition with jazz characteristics.

Jazz at Carnegie Hall

Significant concert showcasing jazz music.

The Jazz Stepping Stone

Jazz as a foundation for future music genres.

Rhapsody in Blue

Gershwin's iconic jazz-influenced orchestral work.

Jazz for Small Orchestras

Jazz pieces arranged for smaller orchestral settings.

Patrons Pave the Way

Support from patrons crucial for jazz development.

Tales of the Jazz Age

F. Scott Fitzgerald's collection reflecting jazz culture.

Commercial Recordings

Recordings that popularized jazz beyond Southern origins.

Country Blues

A substyle of blues originating in rural areas.

Classic Blues

Urban blues style featuring female vocalists.

New Orleans Jazz

Jazz style influenced by blues and ragtime.

Chicago Jazz

Jazz style developed as musicians migrated north.

Swing

Dominant jazz substyle by late 1930s.

Sound Waves

Energy waves characterized by amplitude and frequency.

Amplitude

Determines loudness of a sound wave.

Frequency

Determines pitch of a sound wave.

Decibel Level

Measurement of sound intensity in decibels.

Pitched Sounds

Sounds with a regular frequency pattern.

Non-Pitched Sounds

Sounds lacking a discernible pitch.

A-440 Tuning

Standard pitch reference at 440 Hz.

Sine Wave

Pure sound wave with a smooth oscillation.

Music Definition

Sound organized in time, requiring perception.

Composer

Person who imagines and creates music.

Mechanical Performance

Use of devices to generate musical sounds.

Human Intention

Conscious purpose behind creating or performing music.