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    Jazz Assignment 1

    Uploaded by

    Diana Fox
    Jazz is difficult to define because it is always changing and incorporates many different styles. Some common aspects of jazz include strong, syncopated rhythms with African American roots and elements of improvisation, as well as melodic and harmonic elements derived from the blues. One approach to defining jazz is through "family resemblance," looking at links between styles, but this is problematic because it allows the definition of jazz to be subjective and does not require specific elements. Improvisation, a key aspect of many jazz definitions, can be distinguished from interpretation based on the level of preparation involved. Early jazz spread quickly due to music publishing and the network of touring shows and theaters that allowed musicians to communicate.

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    Jazz Assignment 1

    Uploaded by

    Diana Fox
    221 views2 pages
    Jazz is difficult to define because it is always changing and incorporates many different styles. Some common aspects of jazz include strong, syncopated rhythms with African American roots and elements of improvisation, as well as melodic and harmonic elements derived from the blues. One approach to defining jazz is through "family resemblance," looking at links between styles, but this is problematic because it allows the definition of jazz to be subjective and does not require specific elements. Improvisation, a key aspect of many jazz definitions, can be distinguished from interpretation based on the level of preparation involved. Early jazz spread quickly due to music publishing and the network of touring shows and theaters that allowed musicians to communicate.

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    Jazz is difficult to define because it is always changing and incorporates many different styles. Some common aspects of jazz include strong, syncopated rhythms with African American roots and elements of improvisation, as well as melodic and harmonic elements derived from the blues. One approach to defining jazz is through "family resemblance," looking at links between styles, but this is problematic because it allows the definition of jazz to be subjective and does not require specific elements. Improvisation, a key aspect of many jazz definitions, can be distinguished from interpretation based on the level of preparation involved. Early jazz spread quickly due to music publishing and the network of touring shows and theaters that allowed musicians to communicate.

    Copyright:

    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    221 views2 pages

    Jazz Assignment 1

    Uploaded by

    Diana Fox
    Jazz is difficult to define because it is always changing and incorporates many different styles. Some common aspects of jazz include strong, syncopated rhythms with African American roots and elements of improvisation, as well as melodic and harmonic elements derived from the blues. One approach to defining jazz is through "family resemblance," looking at links between styles, but this is problematic because it allows the definition of jazz to be subjective and does not require specific elements. Improvisation, a key aspect of many jazz definitions, can be distinguished from interpretation based on the level of preparation involved. Early jazz spread quickly due to music publishing and the network of touring shows and theaters that allowed musicians to communicate.

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    © All Rights Reserved
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    Download as docx, pdf, or txt
    of 2

    1.

    What are some of the aspects that are common to most forms of
    jazz?
    Some common aspects of jazz are that is has strong, syncopated,
    swung and flexible rhythms. Jazz has African American roots and
    improvisation. It is melodic and harmonic elements are derived from
    the blues and songs usually have an instrumental focus.
    2. What are some reasons jazz is so hard to define?
    It is always changing and utilizes many different styles. There are
    numerous books about jazz that do not offer a term. The definitions are
    flexible and jazz covers a multitude of sounds. Jazz is a living art form
    that is ever changing and ever growing.
    3. Briefly explain the family resemblance definition of jazz created by
    Gridley, Maxham, and Hoff. What are some of the problems associated
    with this approach?
    They approach defining jazz as finding the links between
    adjacent styles. The authors explore ways that some styles resemble
    and differ from others. The problem with this is it leaves the person
    using the word jazz to be whatever he/she thinks it is. It also raises
    the concern as to why one jazz element must be present but another
    particular element does not have to be included. Most of the problems
    accompanying a family resemblances approach center about the seen
    for simplicity and giving a jazz a simple definition.
    4. Improvisation is an aspect that is found in many definitions of jazz.
    There are numerous examples of multiple recordings of a work by the
    same artist in which the improvised solo for both recordings are the
    same except for small variations. Briefly discuss factors that help to
    separate improvisation from interpretation. Is the above an example of
    interpretation or improvisation? Are these two ideas at extreme ends of
    a continuum?
    Interpretation is that way a musician performs a composed piece
    of music. Improvisation is created without any preparation. In defining
    jazz improvisation, slight alterations such as rhythm and
    ornamentation are considered interpretation instead of improvisations.
    5. Darwin's theory of evolution has had an impact on the way that the
    history of jazz is presented. What are some of the negative implications
    of this?
    Evolutionary models tend to ignore the many stylistic revivals
    that are found in the history of jazz. Artists feel the need and pressure
    to fit a particular style. It gives the impression that music is evolving in
    a linear fashion towards a certain state of complexity.

    6. Why does Shipton argue that much of jazz history is mired in


    mythology?
    Because a lot of what we know about jazz is the result of bits and
    pieces of information being passed between generations and groups of
    people.
    7. What are some of the reasons that early jazz spread so quickly?
    Music publishing made the dissemination of jazz easy. Sheet
    music was widely distributed, piano rolls were cut, and sound
    recordings were made before 1900. The use of network of touring
    shows and theaters allowed musicians to easily communicate with
    each other.

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