MUSC 200 Lecture 5 Outline of Last Lecture I. TPA Pop Music FeaturesII. Musical Features of “I’m Old Fashioned”III. Bluesa. Social Contextb. Musical Predecessorsc. Musical Termsd. Musical Featurese. 12 Bar Blues FormOutline of Current Lecture IV. Blue NotesV. Call & ResponseVI. Early Bluesa. Rural Bluesb. Classic/City Bluesc. Boogie WoogieVII. Country Roots of Rock & Rolla. Folk Musicb. ECMi. Mountain Styleii. Country StyleCurrent Lecture\Blue notes: a particular kind of melodic devicemake music more interesting & lively; one must review melody in order to understand blue notes- Major scale: defined by a series of whole & half steps; 7 pitches; defined by intervalo Interval: distance between 2 pitches Half step: smallest intervalo Blues musicians took notes 3, 5, & 7 (essential notes) & lowered/flatted them ½ astepgave music a distinct sound More pitches to play with; gave music a distinct soundo *Blue notes ARE the flatted 3rd, 5th, & 7th notes Blues musicians would bend & slide between the notes to create more expressive opportunities- Singers use melody to play a phrase, then play instrumentals to emphasize the 1st phraseo Melody sung over 1st 2 bars; incomplete sound (call)response melody in next 2bars Call, response; call, response; call, response- Like a dialogue between peopleCall & Response- This device was just an element in European music, but it was ESSENTIAL in West Africanmusic- Blues is quintessentially an African American form of musicEarly Blues (3 types)- Rural blueso 1st style of blues to emerge; not on records until 1920’so Practiced largely by itinerant musicians Male singer & a guitar Many opportunities to play w/ tempo b/c of solo style – rhythmic twists, extra beats, etc.; much expressiono Sub-styles: TX style, E. Coast style, Mississippi River Region, *Robert Johnson* (retroactively famous)o “I Believe I’ll Dust My Broom” by Robert Johnson Bouncy 12 Bar Blues form (intro, then 12-Bar)- Played w/ the time…added beats, dropped measures, etc. Call & response is heard pretty clearly; the 2 are clearly separated “I believe…” – part where singer beautifully uses blue notes- Classic/City Blueso 1910’s: start, but took off in 1920’so *Generally a female vocalist w/ a piano or a small jazz band Sang in large Vaudeville theatres; strong, powerful voiceso REGULAR 12 Bar Blues form becomes standardo 1st style of Blues on a record Radio callo RKOH Records Bessie Smith (1st on record) Enforced segregation within music styles Needed a name for music to sell it in a catalogue…they called the Blues “race music”o “Race music” started selling like hotcakes Scouts sent out to find good blues singerso “Backwater Blues” by Bessie Smith Call & response pattern is pretty simple to hear & distinguish 12 Bar Blues form followed to a T Blue notes…singer must adjust the pitch of her voice to hit the blue notes- Beautifully sculpted blue notes- Boogie Woogieo Originated at the start of WWI; did not take off for a couple of decadeso Played at partieso Primarily a PIANO form of music Had to be loud (playing at parties; had to be louder than the chatter) Took basic 12 Bar Blues form, but adjusted things to make it interestingo Usually had a fast, driving rhythmo “Honky Tonk Train Blues” by Meade Lux Lewis Juxtaposition of driving rhythms (left hand) & contrasting rhythms (right hand)Country Roots of Rock & Roll- Significant relationship: country=Euro-American music; usually performed by white guyso Country music borrowed elements from the Blues Music industry tried to enforce musical segregation (power force)- Certain “racial” musical styles are not so clear cut; overlap between styles- Social context: urbanization & modernization of the U.S.o Early country (1920’s): newly industrialized U.S.; 1 style of country music rejectedthis; songs rebelling vs. social changes that came w/ industrialization All about coming to terms w/ this new world- Roots in folk music (rural, white Southerners)o Ballads were characteristic of folk music- Country dance musico String bands (fiddle)o Developed in U.S. & Europe- Cheaper guitars were a revolutionary developmento Guitars had been used in the background as accompaniment instruments- Choral songo Congregation would sing shake note music, a form of easy-to-follow folk music (indicated pitch changes & such; Average Joe could sing this stuff)- Oral tradition of folk music- Early Country Music (ECM)o 1st form of country music; took elements from folk music; lyrics had folk influence, too Also elements of TPA music & Blues- TPA ignored Southern styles of music (“unsophisticated”)o 1920’s: slump in record salesmusic industry decided to find some new music to sello Radio really got country music out here Radio needed to fill up its dead air timefolk musicians would play live on the radio Radio barn dances began in 1927Grand Old Opry still well-known fromthis Mexican radio was influential as well- Powerful radio stations were set up across the border; no U.S. government regulations on how much power could be used by thestation in a given amount of time (& other regulations did not apply)o Lots of country music was played by these stationso Stations were so powerful that their signals could be received all the way in Canada 1923: Ralph Peer recorded fiddler John Carson & music went on record- The music actually sold!- Sent more A&R guys out to scout out country/folk talent New part of catalogue: “Hillbilly Music” for rural white Southerners Summer 1927: Peer took a road trip & advertised an open audition- 20 people responded, 2 of whom were VERY influential country guyso Carter Family: Mountain Styleo Jimmy Rogers: Country Style- Mountain style had more instrumentals, nasal singing sound, harmonic vocals- Country style had older instruments & jazz, steel guitar, brass & reed, TPA blues & influences, *SOLO SINGER*Both drew from folk roots, but both also incorporated new elements in their