Musi Exam 1

20s

roaring 20s, recovery from WWI, ended October 1929 with the stock market crash

30s

great depression, start of WWII eased country out of depression

40s

turbulent decade, saw bloodiest war of in history, war brought money which increased employment, country became affluent and peaked in the 50s

popular music consisted of

crooner and swing bands

popular music demographic

upper to middle class white people

reason for popular demographic

white people controlled most major record companies and held stock in large radio stations

popular music distributions

national

hillbilly and race music were considered

minority music

where was minority music common

economically depressed regions

hillbilly music is based on

folk and country music from the Appalachian mountains

race music was based on

a mixture of old slave songs with upbeat styles such as blues and ragtime

hillbilly music would become

country and western

race music would become

R&B

the three forerunners of rock and roll

pop, country & western, R&B

the two chordal progressions

12 bar blues and doo wop

12 bar blues is defined by

measure, length, phrasing, lyrics, and chord structure

12 bar blues was used to build

larger forms such as simple verse chorus or simple verse form

example of 12 bar blues in simple verse form

rocket 88: Jackie Brenston

example of 12 bar blues in simple verse chorus

shake, rattle, and roll: Joe turner

a doo wop progression is

a pattern popular with early doo wop groups that is used to build larger forms

doo wop had a big resurge at

the end of the fifties

types of musical forms

simple verse chorus, simple verse, contrasting verse chorus, AABA

simple verse chorus form

a single pattern used as a basis for the verses

example of simple verse chorus form

can the circle be unbroken: the carter family

simple verse form

song with only verses and no contrasting material to suggest a repeating chorus

an example of a simple verse form

thats all right and heartbreak hotel: elvis

contrasting verse chorus

verse section is distinct from chorus e

examples of contrasting verse chorus

rock and roll music: chuck berry

that’ll be the day: buddy holly

AABA form

consists of verses: A and contrasting bridge: B with a partial or full reprise

example of AABA form

hey good lookin: Hank william’s

first important radio broadcasts

KDKA Pittsburgh and WWJ Detroit

radio was developed for

military and maritime communication

in the 20s, radio had an increase in

superstations and federally licensed frequencies

due to the US’ limited power of transmitters

radio stations were set up across the Mexican border called X stations

in its early days, radio expanded to include

radio plays and soap operas

national network defined

national pop culture

radio became the main forum for

distribution of pop music

golden age of motion picture

40s and 50s

motion picture national distribution led to

an increased expose to different music in different geographical locations

the introduction of TV

led toa shift in corporate interest from radio to TV

TV made what genres more national

C&W and R&B

radio used focus on blank blank as a ploy for survival

regional styles

3 medias combined to establish national pop culture

TV, radio, motion picture

pop music can also be termed

tin pan alley tradition

characteristics of a pop song

non offensive lyrics, simple emotions, background rhythm, easy melodies, written by professionals, moderate to slow tempo

Music music music: theresa brewer instruments

piano, percussion, brass, winds

Music music music: theresa brewer lyrics

non offensive

a faster pop song tempo indicates

a bouncy, cute song with light, humorous lyrics

music music music theresa brewer chacteristics

beat on downbeat and beat 3, instrumental intro, straight rhythm, written instrumental break

Cry: Johnny Ray instruments

piano, bells, guitar, drums

Cry: Johnny Ray lyrics

heartbreak, declamatory and emotional vocal style

Cry: Johnny Ray characteristics

begins with harmonized vocals, use of falsetto, backup vocals and instrumental in background of the texture

Too Young: Nat King Cole demographic

one of the first songs directed towards teens

Too Young: Nat King Cole vocal style

crooning, forefront of musical texture

Too Young: Nat King Cole instruments

strings, piano

Too Young: Nat King Cole characteristics

begins with strings followed by piano solo, strings take end of intro, piano and strings play fills between vocal entries, instrumental break followed by melody line

Too Young: Nat King Cole lyrics

young love

Blue Tango: Leroy Anderson instruments

strings, winds, drums

Blue Tango: Leroy Anderson characteristics

hit instrumental, no vocals, constant exotic tango rhythm, melody between stings and winds is most important, ostinato on drums, string melody, winds fill

ostinato

highly repetitive riff

Doggie in the window: Patti Page type of song

example of novelty song, humorous, for laughs

Doggie in the window: Patti Page instruments

strings, winds

Doggie in the window: Patti Page characteristics

¾ time, like a waltz, starts with strings and winds, harmonized vocal chorus, solo verses, winds play fills, clear forefront vocals with accompanying instrumentation

country and western was called blank until blank

hillbilly music, mid 30s

country and western demographic

regional, small audience

country centered in

SE and Appalacians

western centered in

SW and california

country and western kept regional styles until

nashville became the central location

country and western mainly produced by

indies

country and western was distributed through

artists driving around to radio stations with records

country and western demographic

poor white adults

typical country and western instruments

fiddle, banjo, mandolin, steel and acoustic guitar, acoustic bass, NO DRUMS

country and western characteristics

steady beat, 4 beat pattern, boom chick rhythm, simple triadic harmonies, passed down aurally, lyrics tell a story and express emotion, nasal tone delivered deadpan style or intensity of being on the verge of tears

boom chick feel is called a

2 beat bass

country music was derived from

folk music of the british isles

Can the circle be unbroken: The Carter Family lyrics

rooted in white gospel music

Can the circle be unbroken: The Carter Family characteristics

begin with guitar, boom chick feel, nasal vocals, harmonized chorus

western swing

big band with cowboy twist

western music has a connection to

hollywood cowboy movies

Back in the saddle again: Gene Autry lyrics

tell a story

Back in the saddle again: Gene Autry instruments

fiddle, slide guitar, accordion, mandolin

Back in the saddle again: Gene Autry characteristics

nasal vocals, slide guitar supplies fills, fiddle solo over slide guitar and accordion

New san antonio rose: Bob wills and his texas playboys instruments

trumpets, sax, fiddle, piano, bass, guitar

New san antonio rose: Bob wills and his texas playboys lyrics

lost in love

New san antonio rose: Bob wills and his texas playboys characteristics

mariachi style trumpet, boom chick style, vocal interjections state song title, extended instrumental opening

nashville became C&W center when

Grand Ole Opry Show largely impacted central C&W business enterprises in the 40s

Hey Good Lookin: Hank Williams FORMAL ANALYSIS Genre

Country and Western

Hey Good Lookin: Hank Williams FORMAL ANALYSIS instruments

slide guitar, acoustic bass, fiddle, acoustic guitar, steel guitar, violin

Hey Good Lookin: Hank Williams FORMAL ANALYSIS vocal style

nasal

Hey Good Lookin: Hank Williams FORMAL ANALYSIS lyrics

about loving a women, double entendres

Hey Good Lookin: Hank Williams FORMAL ANALYSIS time signature

4/4

Hey Good Lookin: Hank Williams FORMAL ANALYSIS form

AABA, nasally A section

Hey Good Lookin: Hank Williams FORMAL ANALYSIS musical characteristics

acoustic bass playing a boom chick rhythm, slide guitar solo, slide guitar and fiddle are the featured solo instruments

Hillbilly Fever: Little Jimmy Dickens was the prototype for

rockabilly

Hillbilly Fever: Little Jimmy Dickens instruments

steel guitar, bass, fiddle, guitar

Hillbilly Fever: Little Jimmy Dickens characteristics

steel guitar solo accompanies by bass, fiddle, and guitar, solo vocals precedent over instruments, steel guitar plays fills at end of verse, harmonized vocal chorus

bluegrass music

virtuosic instrumentals overshadowing vocals used as theme music in TV and movies

Blue moon of Kentucky: Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass boys instruments

fiddle, mandolin, guitar

Blue moon of Kentucky: Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass boys lyrics

heartbreak, nasal vocals

Blue moon of Kentucky: Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass boys characteristics

¾ country waltz, begins with fiddle solo over mandolin and guitar, mandolin takes solo