Jazz and Rock and Roll Study Guide

Originally an American musical genre which enjoyed popularity from the late 1800s to around 1920.

Ragtime fell off when Jazz hit the big sceneRagtime is a descendant of jigs and musical marches played by black bands.Many Historically Black Colleges and University (HBCU) Bands got their start from the ragtime era...

"Novelty Ragtime" involved the use of a rolling scroll on old pianos allowing the performer almost complete creative freedom, since the music was nothing more than hollow chords or what is now refferred to as fake sheets.

Composers that you will need to be familiar with are:Scott Joplin- the most famous ragtime composer by far. Famous for "Maple Leaf Rag" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMAtL7n_-rc)and the "Entertainer."(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPmruHc4S9Q&feature=related)

Jelly Roll Morton- jazz pianist, bandleader and composer. Famous for Black Bottom Blues and Buddy Bolden's Blues

Tom Turpin- African-American composer of ragtime music. He was so large in stature (6'4", 300lbs.) that his piano had to be raised on bricks to accomodate his stomach. He is also a Savannah, GA native

Also, be familiar with minstrel shows and their aspects. They will be discussed...

As for Rock and Roll, be familiar with the following topics...

Rock n Roll genre of music that evolved in the United States after World War II.composed of blues, gospel, folk, and country musicarrived at the time of technological change...after the development of the electric guitar, microphone, and the amplifier.

Rockabilly- refers to the type of rock and roll music that was played and recorded in the mid-1950s by white singers such as Elvis Pressley, Carl Perkins and Jerry Lee Lewis, who drew mainly on the country roots of music.American Bandstand- a term used for television show which premiered in the 1950's. It usually catered to teenagers and socially dictated everything from clothing, music, dances, and dialogue.

Royalty Cluase (Compulsory License)-usually when a government forces the holder of a copyright, patent, or other exclusive right to grant use to state or others. This law is still in effect today.Covers-partial re-writes of a song. Usually done by speeding up the tempo and the backbeat. See example: (Big Mama Thorton http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=70b25AOZunE&feature=related) (Elvis Pressley http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQyHYGUJnuc&feature=related)

Doo Wop- one of the most popular forms of Rock n Roll. Featured multi-part vocal harmonies and meaningless vocal background lyrics. Still used in movies and musicals (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1bwzw9wVB10&feature=PlayList&p=E7A15F7277155D5F&index=3) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-cHB3Rbz1OI)

Also be familiar and able to speak on these terms:

• Hop - a social gathering usually segregated, where music was played
• American Bandstand
• Difference between "covering" and "sampling"
• Issues gathered during the viewing of the "Hairspray" musical...