Elements of Listening
What is melody?
The main line of a song. Typically sung by the vocalist.
What instrument is primarily used for Ragtime?
Piano
What was the original purpose of the march?
The march was originally used to move troops.
Why was New Orleans in the perfect position to be the birthplace of jazz?
New Orleans had a diverse population where many popular musical styles were in close contact with one another.
What was the most popular dance of the "jazz age"
The Fox-trot
Define rhythm or groove. What are some specific types of rhythms you may here in a song?
Rhythm is the heartbeat of the song. Some examples are swing, straight, or syncopated.
Who was the most famous ragtime composer? What was his most famous piece?
Scott Joplin; Maple Leaf Rag
What type of ensemble would you expect to play a march?
Marches are commonly played by military bands.
Who recorded the first ever jazz record?
The Original Dixieland Jazz Band.
What genre of music encouraged the evolution of popular dance?
Ragtime
Define timbre. Give an example of some timbre words.
Timbre is a way to describe sound. Some examples are: dark, bright, buzzy, brassy...
What rhythm/beat was a key element of ragtime?
Syncopation
Who standardized the military band format in America?
Patrick Gilmore
Who is the band leader credited with leading the first ever jazz band?
Buddy Bolden
What physical location developed to publish popular dance songs?
Tin Pan Alley
What is the most common form in current popular music?
verse-chorus form
Around what years did ragtime become popular?
1880-1900 (Turn of the century)
Who is the most famous composer of marches? Hint: He wrote America's national march.
John Philips Sousa
What are the original names for jazz? What do they mean?
"Jass" or "Hot Music". They referred to a speeding up or intensification of a song.
What was the typical instrumentation of the dance band?
There was no set instrumentation. Typically, there was a leader who played string instruments, a rhythm section, and a few additional harmony instruments.
What are the two types of harmony we have discussed?
Consonance and dissonance.
What musical styles did ragtime evolve from? Where does the name come from?
Ragtime evolves from folk songs and spirituals. "To rag" means to play a syncopated rhythm over a beat.
Any of the following "ABCA, AABBCDA, ABC..."
Trio.
What is a key element of jazz that set it apart from other forms of popular music of the time?
Group improvisation
Which country did the tango originate from?
Argentina