US Folk Music History: Blues, Jazz, and Soul
Black Folk Music Characteristics
Key Features:
- Very pronounced musical pulse
- Syncopated melodies
- Pentatonic scale
- Call-and-answer pattern typical from Africa
White Folk Music
They sang dances and ballads from their birthplaces.
Key Features:
- Dances: Happy melodies, played with violin and guitar.
- Ballads: Narrative character; topics include travels, love stories, and magical characters.
The Primitive Blues
A mixture of Black and White folk music. Also called Delta Blues.
Songs of wail and irony about hard work,
Read MoreBaroque Art and Literature: A Cultural Movement in Europe
The Golden Age of Spanish Literature
The Novels
Jennifer Lopez’s “Get Right”: A Deep Dive into the Hit Song
Jennifer Lopez’s “Get Right”: A Look Back
“Get Right” is a song by American singer Jennifer Lopez, recorded for her fourth studio album, Rebirth (2005). It was written by Rich Harrison, Usher Raymond, and James Brown, and produced by Harrison and Cory Rooney. An upbeat dance and R&B song with jazz, hip hop, and funk influences, “Get Right” marks a departure in Lopez’s musical style and has been called one of her most “memorable” songs by The New York Times. It is built around a sample of “Soul
Read MoreThe Rise of Zarzuela: Spanish Musical Identity in the 19th Century
The Rise of Zarzuela: A Spanish Musical Renaissance
1850s: Under the M. Cristina government, an amnesty drive was initiated for exiles. The arrival of publications sparked discussion and the exchange of European thought and knowledge. References include “University science and literature, 35,” “Liceo artistico literario37,” and the pedagogical task group of “Iberia mcal, 48 Masarnau,” and “Spain mcal, 47.” Discussions in Castilian, using popular tunes and picturesque elements like the Alhambra, were
Read MoreBaroque Music: Origins, Characteristics, and Key Composers
Baroque Music: Origins and Early Opera
In Florence, noble families like the Bardi and Corsi created a musical environment that led to the development of opera. Jacob Peri premiered his first opera, Euridice, in 1600.
Key Elements of Baroque Opera
- Opening: Instrumental introduction
- Aria: Singers showcase their vocal skills
- Recitative: Advances the plot or expresses emotions
- Chorus: Represents crowds or collective thought
- Dances: Dance sequences during the performance
- Interlude: Symphonic piece with vocal
Jazz Music: Origins, Characteristics, and History
Jazz Music: Origins and Characteristics
Jazz is a type of music that originated among Black Americans, characterized by its rich and varied rhythms, influenced by both African and European musical traditions. It’s clear that Jazz arises from a union of elements of Black origin, like rhythm, and Euro-African elements, such as melody and harmony.
Formal Qualities Defining Jazz:
- Use of Syncopated Rhythms: Jazz features relentless, syncopated rhythms. Sometimes, several different rhythms can be heard simultaneously.