The Roots of Rock

1. Ragtime and Jazz The Roots of Rock

2. Ragtime • Emerges from mix of influences c. 1880 • Piano style, named for ragged melody line

3. Ragtime • Emphasis on cross-rhythms • Left hand establishes steady beat • “walking bass” - primarily arpeggios • “stride bass” - single note on beats 1 and 3, chord on 2 and 4 • Right hand plays complex, syncopated melody

4. Maple Leaf Rag - Scott Joplin • Four strains (= sections), each repeated • A strain returns in middle of piece • Form: A A B B A C C D D

5. Syncopated dance music • Ragtime spreads to instrumental ensembles • Ex. Copenhagen - Fletcher Henderson • Syncopated, like ragtime melody • Banjo and tuba alternate between bass note and backbeat = two-beat rhythm • Popular for fox-trot and other “animal dances”

6. New Orleans Jazz • Solid beat - not “raggy” • Extensive syncopation • Collective improvisation • Musicians “making up” parts according to carefully defined rules • Rhythm section: tuba, banjo, percussion

7. New Orleans Jazz • Influence from the blues • Blue notes: lowering of certain pitches for emotional effect • Particularly 3rd, 5th, 7th notes of scale • four-beat style beat: strong accent on each beat of bar

8. Dippermouth Blues - King Oliver • Blue notes • Thick texture • Blues form (but no words) • King Oliver solo: wah-wah mute

9. Louis Armstrong (1900-1971) • Most influential jazz trumpeter ever • Also had great impact as singer • Scat singing: vocalizing on nonsense syllables, singing without words • Instrumental quality to singing • Ex. - I Got A Right To Sing the Blues

10. Swing or Big Band Jazz • Popular c. 1930-1946 • Based in ensemble virtuosity, rather than individual solos • Dense textures • Riff-based

11. Count Basie, Jumpin’ at the Woodside • Cymbal clearly states four beat rhythm • Riffs in trombones, trumpets • Syncopated melodies • Number of rhythmic layers • Cymbal • Riffs • Soloist • Other rhythm instruments