The Roots of Rock

Ragtime and Jazz

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

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

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

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”

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

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

Dippermouth Blues - King Oliver

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

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

Swing or Big Band Jazz

• Popular c. 1930-1946• Based in ensemble virtuosity, rather than

individual solos• Dense textures• Riff-based

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