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Jazz Appreciation
Homework Assignments
Chapter 1
- What were the two direct (stylistic)
predecessors of jazz?
- Why did African-Americans in the North
have a greater difficulty preserving their musical
heritage?
- Why did African-Americans in the South
have an easier time preserving their musical traditions?
- What is the link between the Ring
Shout and Traditional West African Music?
- Describe the African musical
aesthetic.
- Describe the difficulty one might
encounter in attempting to transcribe (notate) Early
African-American music.
- Where was Congo Square
(geographically)? What was its significance to the
development of jazz?
- Describe the differences between a
Field Holler and a Work Song.
- What was significant about Minstrel
Music? Describe the positive and negative results of the
existence of this musical form.
- Describe the process of
"ragging"?
- Who was Scott Joplin? What was
significant about his music?
- Who was Bessie Smith? What was
significant about her music?
Chapter 2
- What is the origin of the word jazz
- Where was Storyville (geographically)
and what was the significance of this area to the
development of jazz?
- What social functions did bands in New
Orleans provided music for?
- Who was Buddy Bolden? What did he
bring to the music?
- What was unique about Sidney Bechet's
playing? What did he bring to the music?
- What was unique about Jelly Roll
Morton? What did he bring to the music?
- What was unique about King Oliver's
playing? What did he bring to the music?
- What was unique about Louis
Armstrong's playing? What did he bring to the music?
- What was the significance of the
Harlem Renaissance?
- What was significant about Fletcher
Henderson's band?
Chapter 3
- Why was the version of music played by
swing bands not considered jazz.
- How swing writers altered the melodies
of popular songs?
- How did the "rhythm section"
change during the swing era with reference to bass,
drums, and piano?
- Describe the development of Count
Basie's piano playing and band-leading.
- Who was Lester Young? What made his
style work? Who did he influence?
- Who was Coleman Hawkins? What was
unique about his playing? Who did he influence?
- What four types of music did Ellington
write?
- Compare Charlie Christian and Freddie
Green.
- Describe Billie Holiday's singing
style.
- Describe Ella Fitzgerald's voice.