MUS 127 Lecture Notes - Lecture 6: Benny Goodman, Fletcher Henderson, Swing Era
Document Summary
Polyrhythm: many rhythms; important to african american music. Polyphony: new orleans jazz had a lot of this with the diff instruments. Riff and head arrangement: melodies that can be repeated (count basie"s band); oral tradition learning by ear. Jazz was new - novelty, frenetic, sweet, hot, symphonic. Prohibition spawned both speakeasies and large dance halls. 1929-32 saw drop from to 11 mil in annual record sales. Dec 1933, prohibition repeals; fdr elected - the new deal enacted. Swing combined depression era ideals (collective work, self-sacrifice, working-class ideology) with the pace of modernity. Radio and recording grew immensely and consolidated. Dippermouth blues - king oliver"s creole band (w/ louis) Shift from two beat to 4/4 time. Rhythm section becomes lighter and leaves novelty sounds behind. High hat time keeping instead of drums. Shift from collective polyphonic/improvised ensemble playing to multi-sectional written arrangements pitting sections against each other and supporting solo improvisations. Call-and-response , block voicings, hits, pads, shouts.
