MUS 15 Study Guide - Final Guide: Jonny Spielt Auf, Ernst Krenek, Kurt Weill
Mus 15 Final Study Guide
Unit 9
Be able to briefly describe the origins of jazz in Weimar Germany. Do modern scholars consider
German jazz of the 1920s to have been based on “legitimate” American jazz? Be able to briefly
explain their reasoning.
○Jazz bands originated from the café bands turning into jazz
○Books that told them how to play jazz
○All German jazz not American jazz because they wouldn’t allow African American
music to be played in Germany (race records not imported)
■Matrix recordings
■Musicians also wouldn’t have wanted to go there because of worthless money in
hyperinflation
○Obsession with the US and the US was playing Jazz
○No, not legitimate jazz because they just based it off sheet music from marches from
before the war, using a book in order turn regular bands into jazz bands had never heard
real jazz
○All jazz that they were hearing was by German bands who had never even heard real jazz
so no not authentic
What things did jazz represent in the operas of Weimar Germany? What did it represent and/or
why was it used by Ernst Krenek in Jonny spielt auf
? What did it represent and/or why was it used
by Kurt Weill in Mahagonny Songspiel
and The Threepenny Opera
?
○In Weimar Operas it represented
■African American ness
■American ness
■Modernity
■Connections to the notion of America
■Wanted to seem in style and on trend
○Johnny spielt auf
■By krenek
■Portrayed by a character in black face
■About American jazz player touring Europe
Document Summary
Be able to briefly describe the origins of jazz in weimar germany. Jazz bands originated from the caf bands turning into jazz. Books that told them how to play jazz. All german jazz not american jazz because they wouldn"t allow african american music to be played in germany (race records not imported) Musicians also wouldn"t have wanted to go there because of worthless money in hyperinflation. Obsession with the us and the us was playing jazz. No, not legitimate jazz because they just based it off sheet music from marches from before the war, using a book in order turn regular bands into jazz bands had never heard real jazz. All jazz that they were hearing was by german bands who had never even heard real jazz so no not authentic. Wanted to seem in style and on trend. Portrayed by a character in black face. Commentary exemplifying the dominance of american culture.
