Awakenings from Then ’til Now allows you to Embrace Your Past, Empower the Present, Enrich Your Future.
Welcome to Awakenings
Life IS history in the making. Every word we say, everything we do becomes history the moment it is said or done. Life void of memories leaves nothing but emptiness. For those who might consider history boring, think again: It is who we are, what we do and why we are here. We are certainly individuals in our thoughts and deeds but we all germinated from seeds planted long, long ago.
With the seeds of ragtime, jazz, blues, and spirituals having taken root, let's enter the 1910s with the continuance of the syncopated highly energetic beat of the piano music known as Ragtime. What a strange word with the sound of the word itself initiating toe-tapping where many of the notes are actually not on the beat.
Can you sense it? Visualize fingers dancing across the black and ivory keys with such a rhythmic beat your whole body feels energized!
How many of you are familiar with Alexander's Ragtime Band? Now, that is a classic! It was the first major hit of Irving Berlin, in 1911. Even though it is inconclusive, there is evidence the song was borrowed from a melody by Scott Joplin. What a way to begin a new decade!
Did you know Irving Berlin was musically illiterate and only played piano on the black keys?
The rhythms and pitches of ragtime, the first completely American musical genre, continues to enjoy its peak popularity well into 1917. The songs of the slaves from the mid-19th century that became the basis for such music presents no surprise for African-Americans gaining a stronghold in the soul of music—ragtime and soon to evolve, jazz. This brings an important question to the forefront: What is the difference in ragtime and jazz? Having taken a look at ragtime and listened to some of its offbeat music, let's turn to jazz.
This new style of music was budding in the vibrant city of New Orleans, LA in which ragtime was based. Louis Armstrong, nicknamed "Satchmo or Pops", gave rise to a talent that would change the course of music.The African-American communities of the Southern United States are attributed to originating the jazz music genre. Jazz is not easy to define spanning a range of music from ragtime to present day.
In jazz, the skilled performer will interpret a tune in very
individual ways, never playing the same composition exactly the same way
twice. Depending upon the performer's mood and personal experience,
interactions with other musicians, or even members of the audience, a
jazz musician may alter melodies, harmonies or time signature at will.[Source: en.wikipedia.org]
The standard history of jazz establishes the first Jazz early recording being made by the Original Dixieland Jass Band. The record was produced for the Victor label in New York City on February 26, 1917 and released in May of that same year. Its success was the spark that ignited the Jazz fad seizing the world in the years during and after World War I.
Tiger Rag was recorded and copyrighted by the Original Dixieland Jass Band in 1917. It has become a popular Jazz standard.
There is so much history behind music it is virtually impossible to touch on every genre, each different style and all the changes that evolved from 1910 to 1919. You have, however, been exposed to ragtime and jazz, each of which played an intricate role in the evolution of music. Have you been able to pinpoint the differences in the two musical genres? Take a guess, maybe several guesses, then check out these links... Characteristics of Ragtime
Time to leave for now but not without a quick mention of the blues, which will be touched upon in detail later on. Little is known as to the exact origin of the music we know as the blues. There is one thing to know for sure: Along with the blues comes Wine Whiskey and Women!
The transition from the
Roaring 20s into the Swinging 30s underwent massive change as life
transformed from an economic boom of the Jazz Age into the twin horrors of the Dust Bowl and the Great
Depression. Swing music actually
began in the 1920s flourishing through the early 1930s during a time
when America groped for a new beat, especially after the market crash of
1929.
Duke Ellington & His Orchestra
It was through the music of big bands where swing gained its prominence. Such bands played a major role in defining swing as a distinctive style of music, among which is the music of the Big Bands led at first by Duke Ellington, Fletcher Henderson, Jimmie Lunceford, Glen Gray and Chick Webb. Later contributors to the Big Band Era included Tommy Dorsey, Glenn Miller, Artie Shaw, Woody Herman, and of course, Benny Goodman whose band defined the entire era thus earning him the arguable title of "King of Swing." While the aforementioned is a list all its own, one name that surely cannot be left out is Count Basie, who was a leading figure in the swing era in jazz and along side Duke Ellington, an outstanding representative of big band style.
Remember, The Swinging 30s evolved during the era of troubled times in America known as The Great Depression. In spite of the times of unemployment and lack of food, it was a great decade for music creating emotions of happiness with hope for better times ahead. Popularity of music varied and shifted within moods of blues and jazz, vocal groups and soloists.
A question arises here that is sometimes debated: Which came first - blues or jazz? There is no known specific date for the origin of the blues sound. Many believe blues came first having emerged in the first decade of the 1900s inspired by African American traditions. Jazz (ofter spelled 'jass' in its early days) was first used to identify music in Chicago around 1915.
Blues is a simpler and more rigidly structured form of music than jazz.
Blues is usually intended to convey a feeling of sadness (via flatted
notes), and usually uses simple chords with emphasized downbeats,
whereas jazz is usually intended to convey a feeling of cheerfulness
(via syncopated rhythm), and usually uses complex chords with emphasized
upbeats. In short, blues is basically a fixed chord progression whereas
jazz is a general style of rhythm and chord embellishment. Read MORE...
In jazz, unusual tonal effects of musical instruments, such as the trumpet, trombone, clarinet, saxophone, etc, heavily accent the rhythms. The prime musical instruments of the blues are the guitar and the harmonica. Of course, these are not the only instruments; the drums, bass guitar, piano, trombone, trumpet, saxophone are widely used for accompaniment. The most important instrument, however, in blues music is the human voice!
In the 1930s, many blues styles were prominent. Perhaps the most soulful blues music that stretched from Memphis, TN to Vicksburg, Mississippi became the Mississippi Delta Blues. The earliest recordings consisted of one person singing while playing an instrument. The blues also assumed an urban vibe, and post-war blues
incorporated an electric sound. Chicago became home to the urban blues.
“I'm a bluesman moving through a blues-soaked America, a blues-soaked
world, a planet where catastrophe and celebration- joy and pain sit side
by side. The blues started off in some field, some plantation, in some
mind, in some imagination, in some heart. The blues blew over to the
next plantation, and then the next state. The blues went south to north,
got electrified and even sanctified. The blues got mixed up with jazz & gospel & rock and roll.”
―
Cornel West,
Brother West: Living and Loving Out Loud, A Memoir
Ready for a little blues sound? Let's listen to the soul of Robert Johnson...
If the blues has a truly mythic figure, one whose story hangs
over the music the way a Charlie Parker
does over jazz or a Hank Williams
does over country, it's Robert Johnson,
certainly the most celebrated figure in the history of the blues. Of
course, his legend is immensely fortified by the fact that Johnson also left behind a small legacy of recordings that are considered the emotional
apex of the music itself. Read MORE...
Music was so diversified in the 1930s it did not stop with the big bands, blues and jazz. Country music became more widely recognized and out of the dreams of the Wild West and freedom it symbolized came the "singing cowboy." His popularity spanned radio and film singing of life on the trail with all the challenges, hardships and dangers encountered during long cattle drives up the trails and across the prairies.
As we leave this decade, here is a nostalgic tune from the Swinging 30s...
But we are not by any means leaving the Swing Era. . .
Entering the era of the 40s does not leave the Swing behind but instead, finds it going as strong as ever! Early in the decade swing, jazz and big band tunes rocked the radio and jukebox of young and old alike. The big band ensembles generally consisted of 12-25 musicians playing a variety of instruments whose music was often depicted as a form of jazz. Popularity waned due to musicians' strikes and gave way to 'crooners' later in the decade. One of the most famous musicians of the 1940s was Glenn Miller. Click the little jukebox at the right and listen to Glenn Miller's "Jeep Jockey Jump" and check out the other music clips.
"A band ought to have a sound all of it’s own. It ought to have a personality." - Glenn Miller
The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra formed in 1956 is the most popular and sought after band in the world today for both concerts and swing dance engagements. Its music involves a lot of bass instruments led by a strong rhythm section.
And, that is not all...the music just keeps getting better! One of the innovators of the 1940s musical style was Dizzy Gillespie. Dizzy's puffy cheeks were his trademark denoting he was a prominent jazz trumpeter and band leader during the 40s era. Did you know he helped create the bebop style of music? A fast-tempo style of jazz found itself combined with scat singing(improvised vocal jazz using non-sensical words). The music appeared to sound racing, nervous, erratic, and often fragmented. Jazz musicians and jazz music lovers found bebop to be exciting and a beautiful revolution in the art of jazz.
Of course, we can't leave without mentioning the baritone voice of Cab Calloway. He was a successful band leader often referred to as the "Hi De Ho" guy who came to prominence in the 1940s. Legend has it Cab forgot the words to a song during a performance. His only recourse was improvising nonsensical syllables to fit the beat of the music. It was a hit! [Calloway is also synonymous with the Betty Boop Cartoon. His popular song "Minnie the Moocher" was used as the score for one of the episodes.]
Then, there was WAR!
Many musical scores tried to capture the pain and suffering of World War Il, while at the same time, instill a feeling of hope within an atmosphere of hopelessness. The music remained upbeat even though the impending future of the country was uncertain.
Swing
music led to swing dancing, very upbeat, high energy and fun! Watching
people dance the swing leaves you with the feeling they KNOW how to
dance. Lot different from the so-called dancing of our youth in the 21st
century.
You decide: After watching the video, are you energized or just plain pooped? Me? I am exhausted just from moving my feet to the music...I am sitting down!
The age of "Crooners" was at its height during the 1940s. The term "Crooners" was coined after male vocalists who often displayed powerful, professionally trained voices. Their stage demeanor portrayed an intimate posture and stage presence. There were many recording artists classified as a Crooner, such as Bing Crosby, Nat "King" Cole, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and Dean Martin. Even some females were acclaimed to be "Crooners" because of their powerful voices: Judy Garland, Dinah Shore, Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Kay Starr, Doris Day, to name a few. So much nostalgia within the era of the 1940s!
The Jazz Age (Roaring 20s) and Louis Armstrong: Nostalgia reigns when you repeat those words to just about anyone growing up in the 20s to the end of the 20th century. The 1920s roared because of the high rise in popularity of music and dance. Cultural changes abounded!
No way to depict every hit song, writer or performer during this era. Hopefully, you will leave today with a feeling, a heart-to-heart, gut feeling about the life & times of the 20s.
Are you ready? Let's ROAR... Ever heard the expression Riding On ARail? Its meaning here will be quite different than than depicted in the Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. Nothing painful. No kind of punishment. Just excitement like riding a mono-rail roller coaster for the first time. You know...exhilarating! With music comes natural rhythm which in turn leads to body movement...really hard to listen to the music of the Roaring 20s without wanting to dance the night away! Thus, a burst of newly invented dances came about in this era.
One cannot enter or leave the Jazz Age with mention of the flapper. The 1920s brought with it significant changes in lifestyle and culture, especially on the part of the woman. Judging from the savoir faire hailed by the flapper, fashion, radio, music and dance were all culturally connected. Whether she always did the right thing might be debatable but the flapper certainly aired a confidence unsurpassed for the times...a rebel flaunting contempt for what was considered acceptable behavior.
Enjoy a taste of the music and dance within an excerpt from Awakenings...
***
Embracing all styles modern
Appeared the fashionable flapper
Short sleek hair, shapeless shift dress
NOT often referred to as dapper
Revealing bare knees during the Charleston dance The flapper was a bird out of a cage Typifying the reckless rebel spirit Who danced the nights away in the Jazz Age
What about Louis Armstrong? His name was mentioned in the beginning and he IS an integral part of 1920s music. He relished an active music career from 1914 to 1971 but came to prominence in the 1920s as a result of his musical inventiveness with the trumpet and cornet. He is known as The Jazz Original carrying with him the nicknames "Satchmo" (short for "Sacthelmouth" referring to the size of his mouth) and "Pops" (his humor and positive disposition made people around him feel good). He will always be remembered as one of the most influential artists in the history of music with lyrics and sound still going strong well into the 21st century.
Louis Armstrong's stage personality matched his flashy cornet and
trumpet playing. Armstrong is also known for his raspy singing voice.
His raspy voice reverberated with a charismatic air in much the same manner as his trumpet playing. Both grabbed the listener with a sound typical of being right there in the heart of New Orleans. He lived the worst of times, the best of times but none of the times without music.
He began to scat sing(improvised vocal jazz using non-sensical words) and recorded "Heebie Jeebies" in 1926. This new type of jazz was hailed across the country by both black and white musicians. He is considered the most important improvisor in jazz and taught the world to swing. His infectious, wide grin won the hearts of people everywhere.
With each decade comes a change in music...style, beat, melody, rhythm. Music from one decade often influences music of another as has been witnessed into the 21st century. Many songs from the 50s all the way through the 90s are still popular. Of course, it was by way of the 20s, 30s and 40s that music has evolved into a passion relative to survival as many listeners would so declare today.
Each decade has offered its own unique genres of music. Below are the #1 hits in the US on October 20 of each decade from the 1940s to 2010.
Entering the era of the 40s doesn't leave the Swing behind but instead, finds it going strong as ever! Early in the decade swing, jazz and big band tunes rocked the radio and jukebox of young and old alike. Many
musical scores tried to capture the pain and suffering of World War Il remaining upbeat even though the impending
future of the country was uncertain. MORE @Awakenings...
It's the 50s - Rock and Roll, Rock & Roll, Rock 'n' Roll, Rockin' and Rollin'! During the 30s and 40s, combinations emerged binding country singing and steel guitar with big band jazz influences and horn sections. These two-beat jazz rhythms preceded rockabilly recordings. A mixture of musical genres definitely made and kept the 50s rockin' and rollin'! MORE@Awakenings...
During a time of racial division amid the turn of the civil rights movement, Motown became the sound that changed America with the spirit of the 60s music. Popular music, pop-culture, sprang forth with a tremendous influence on young and old. Now, after over 50 years of success, Motown's sound still reverberates worldwide. Long live rock 'n' roll! MORE@Awakenings...
This was a time often described as s.h.r.i.l.l, colorful and simply cr-r-r-r-r-azy. When was it? If you guessed the super groovy 70s, also known as the Decade of the Disco, you nailed it! This was an era filled will the mads, glads and the fads. What do you remember best? Do you ever feel Stuck in the 70s? MORE@Awakenings...
Pop stars and their music changed in the 80s with the help of MTV and a greater focus on image. Thanks to MTV the images accompanying recording artists became more important than ever. Several new genres popped up and by early 80s, hip-hop's distinctive place in music history was set. Unique techniques were established as a new genre of music. MORE@Awakenings...
With the coming of the new millennium, the music industry entered a
crisis. The advent of digital downloading took quite a toll on single
records and albums with sales tumbling within the first decade.
Simultaneously, though, hip hop, aka rap music, solidified its standing as the dominant influence on global youth culture. MORE@Awakenings...
Rock music has remained popular, though it declined in
charts presence beginning in the late 2000s, alongside changes in radio format.
It has also moved from hard rock and heavy metal genres that have
dominated the genre since the Mid-1980s. Pop Rock music since the early
2010s has become softer and more refined, such as Indie Rock. MORE @wikipedia.com
In jazz, the skilled performer will interpret a tune in very individual ways, never playing the same composition exactly the same way twice. Depending upon the performer's mood and personal experience, interactions with other musicians, or even members of the audience, a jazz musician may alter melodies, harmonies or time signature at will.[Source: en.wikipedia.org]
