important people wc handy robert johnson bessie smith blind lemon jefferson
TRANSCRIPT
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8hqGu-leFc
The Blues
Genre of music originating in the Deep South – about 1900
At its roots – a poetry about the lifestyle of the time
3 Lines Line A and B can repeat Everything rhymes “Bluesy” text – hardships in life Vocal inflections (pitch bending)
Lyric Examples
I hate to see that evening sun go down,
I hate to see that evening sun go down.
Cause my baby, she done left this town.
There's a place I know, folks won't pass me by,
Dallas, Texas, that's the town, I cry, oh hear me cry.
And I'm going back, going back to stay there 'til I die.
If you ever been down, you know just how I feel
If you ever been down, you know just how I feel
Like a tramp on the railroad ain’t got a decent meal.
Cultural Background
Two elements come together to create this style:
Black community of the deep south
Music is already an important part of the culture
Black community of the deep south At the time – VERY impoverished
Music is already an important part of the culture Was used as during work, at home, church,
etc.
The Blues - Musical Form
Broken into 12 measures What is a measure?
Three chords are used in the entire piece What is a chord?
Extensive use of “blue” notes
Blue notes
First – let’s take a major scale Scale – series of pitches Major scale – most common one we know
Then – we alter some by lowering them Could also be referred to as bending
These altered notes create a “dreary” sound that became the basis of the genre
City blues
Popularized by club singers Moved to the city, wanted to make money
WC Handy
Born in Alabama
Responsible for bringing this “regional” music to the national audience
As a teacher in the south – travelled around and collected the “folk” music of the culture
Memphis Blues – 1909
St Louis Blues - 1914
Memphis Blues
Record Market
Almost entirely black during the 1920s and 1930s
Became to be known as race records
Record companies advertised exclusively to blacks and only black stores sold the records
The Race Records
The record industry saw the promise – but how do you make this work?
Created two markets: “black” music – sell to white market “black” music – sell to black market
Which do you think made more money?
“Race records” was not a derogatory term
In fact – many black musicians took pride in the term Became a sign of nationality/heritage
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St. Louis Blues
Sung by Bessie Smith Female singers were
more popular at the time
Written by WC Handy
Listen for a “Moaning” quality to her voice She draws out notes to
evoke despair = vocal inflection
Smith – St Louis Blues
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNWs0LsimFs
Bio Video on Smith
Enter the Country Blues
WC Handy was responsible for bringing the blues to the general population
In the process – he “cleaned” it up.
But there was a market for the true “original” material.
Country Blues
Throughout the 1920’s - record companies started looking for the “raw” talent. Would travel into the south Arrange for blues singers to come north Later in the 1920’s – mobile recording units
“Country” is not what you think of as country.
Means the regional styles of the blues that developed.
“Blind” Lemon Jefferson
“Father of Texas Blues”
Known for his high-pitched voice and guitar playing
See That My Grave is Left Clean
Black Snake Moan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3yd-c91ww8
Robert Johnson
1911-1938
Mississippi Delta Blues
Poorly documented life
Recognized for his talents only after he died
Influenced MANY guitarists after him – including those that had a hand in creating rock and roll
Come on in my kitchen - 1936https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuSKX_gqHn4
Tou better come onin my kitchenwell, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors
A woman I knowtook my best friendsome joker got luckystole her back again
He better come onin my kitchenit's goin' to be rainin' outdoors
Well she's goneI know she won't come backI took the last nickel out of her nation sack
Uou better come onin my kitchenwell, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoorsYeah can't you hear that wind how;?You can hear it now
You better come onin my kitchen'cause it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors
Oh when a woman gets in troubleeverybody throws her downlookin' for a good friendbut none cane be found
You better come onin my kitchenbabe it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors
12 Bar Blues3 Chords (1,4,5) Each based off of scale note #
A | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
A | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
B | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 (5)|
Almost EVERY Rock song in the 50’s uses this
12 Bar Blueshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd60nI4sa9A
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE9HvSdcaL4
Sweet Home Chicago
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79vCiXg3njY
Another example… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eHJ12Vhpyc
In exchange for this talent….he made a deal with the devil.
At the “crossroads”
Mirrors the legend of
Faust (Romantic era)
Death is a mystery Aug 16th 1838 in Greenwood Mississippi Murdered/Poisoned? No one is exactly sure where he is buried Has 3 different gravestones
Assignment
Start think about topics for a blues composition.
Something “depressing,” but it could be something simple (i.e. ran out of milk)
It will have 4 verses related to your topic