Jazz is a musical genre rooted in improvisation and interpretation. Performers use rhythms, melodies and sounds to express themselves individually based on their emotions, the way the music is making them feel and even interactions with other musicians. The genre combines both African and European influences to create a unique sound. With the help of a handy little website, www.apassion4jazz.net, I was able to gather a little more background information about jazz music, its origins and its importance to the American culture. It appears that jazz originated in the New Orleans area in the early 1900's but was rapidly taking hold in other urban areas of the country, particularly in the Southern states. It is unique and holds a special place in American culture because it originated here and is considered to be one of the most important cultural contributions that Americans have made to the world on a large scale.
Jazz music continues to flourish today. Class greats such as Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong are still extremely popular while contemporary artists continue to push the envelope and make their own impact on the genre. I have included a few clips of contemporary jazz artists that I enjoy.
This first clip is Diane Krall performing "I Love Being Here With You".
The second clip is a relatively new jazz artist named Esperanza Spalding performing "I Know You Know".
Peter and the Wolf
The composer of this work, Sergei Prokofiev, uses instruments to represent the characters of the story. Peter is represented by the string section including the violin, viola, cello and bass. The duck and the bird are represented by the oboe and the flute, respectively. The wolf is brought to life by a member of the brass family, the french horn. Peter's grandfather is given voice by the bassoon while the Hunters are portrayed by the woodwind family. Gunshots from the Hunters are made using the timpani and the bass drum.
Classical Music
According our classroom discussions, classical music is noted for its clarity of form and logical development. Classical music developed early in the history of music (estimates place its development around 500 A.D.) and has continued to evolve over time. Some of the most famous composers of all time such as Beethoven and Mozart are considered to be classical musicians. I have included a few clips of work from these composers.
No comments:
Post a Comment