Chapter 8 – The Blues Class Issues: There were class distinctions within the African American community. There were class distinctions within the African American community. Blues musicians were outcasts, rejected by the more settled, upwardly mobile members of the race, particularly the devoutly religious. Blues musicians were outcasts, rejected by the more settled, upwardly mobile members of the race, particularly the devoutly religious. To the devout, the blues were “devil songs.” To the devout, the blues were “devil songs.”

The Spiritual and the Blues Considering both the spiritual and the blues, what role did slavery play in the evolution of these genres? spiritual spiritual began in slaverybegan in slaveryblues evolved after the Civil War, strongly influenced by the changes that affected the lives of African Americans following emancipationevolved after the Civil War, strongly influenced by the changes that affected the lives of African Americans following emancipation What are some of the changes that affected the lives of African Americans following the Civil War? new dimension of leisure new dimension of leisure new degree of solitude new degree of solitude new set of social and economic problems; need for money; necessity for finding employment new set of social and economic problems; need for money; necessity for finding employment broader contacts and experiences broader contacts and experiences greater fluency in the American language greater fluency in the American language new mobility new mobility

Characteristics of the Blues 1. Blues subjects - the man-woman relationship 2. Musical form - a succession of three-line stanzas Line two tends to repeat line one (a, a, b).Line two tends to repeat line one (a, a, b). 3. Instruments - The folk roots of the blues were often sung unaccompanied. Which was the first instrument to become the standard accompaniment to the blues? guitarguitar

Melodic material and singing style: What are some of the different singing styles? shouting shouting humming humming singing in falsetto singing in falsetto singing in the false bass voice singing in the false bass voice chanting in the manner of a recitative chanting in the manner of a recitative Speaking Speaking What is the general tendency for melodic contour of the blues? to start the phrase high and proceed downwardto start the phrase high and proceed downward ending with a dropping inflectionending with a dropping inflection

Structure: The importance of 1912 What are the conventions of the post 1912 tendencies? number of lines/stanza: three, the second a repetition of the first number of lines/stanza: three, the second a repetition of the first phrases: four bars long (“12-bar blues”) phrases: four bars long (“12-bar blues”) harmonic plan: harmonic plan: phrase 1: I I I I7phrase 1: I I I I7 phrase 2: IV IV I Iphrase 2: IV IV I I phrase 3: V7 (IV) I Iphrase 3: V7 (IV) I I instrumental accompaniment: instrumental accompaniment: guitarguitar harmonica (“blues harp”)harmonica (“blues harp”) improvised instruments:improvised instruments: Call and reponseCall and reponse

Ma Rainey’s “Countin’ the Blues” Identify the structural and stylistic traits Listen for: twelve-bar blues pattern twelve-bar blues pattern breaks breaks call-and-response pattern call-and-response pattern

Blind Lemon Jefferson ( ) Texas blues singer and guitarist Texas blues singer and guitarist performed in Dallas, Texas where he performed at times with Leadbelly performed in Dallas, Texas where he performed at times with Leadbelly recorded in Chicago in the late 1920s recorded in Chicago in the late 1920s died mysteriously in 1929 died mysteriously in 1929 Major influence on blues and later rock guitarists Major influence on blues and later rock guitarists “Prison Cell Blues” recorded in Chicago in Listen for: “Prison Cell Blues” recorded in Chicago in Listen for: unconventional form (NOT twelve-bar blues)unconventional form (NOT twelve-bar blues) fluid performance stylefluid performance style

Instruments and the Blues Style What are some other instruments commonly heard in blues music? harmonica (“blues harp”) harmonica (“blues harp”) improvised instruments: improvised instruments: jugjug washboardwashboard inverted washtub, with a piece off rope stretched between a hole through its center and a broom handle (= bass)inverted washtub, with a piece off rope stretched between a hole through its center and a broom handle (= bass)

What are some common techniques that players use to alter the sounds of the instruments? “bending” the pitch “bending” the pitch On guitar, pushing or pulling on the string to make the pitch sound higherOn guitar, pushing or pulling on the string to make the pitch sound higher Likewise, the voice might slide into the pitch. Likewise, the voice might slide into the pitch. “bottleneck” or slide guitar “bottleneck” or slide guitar sliding the back of a knife blade on the strings of the guitarsliding the back of a knife blade on the strings of the guitar using a broken top of a bottleusing a broken top of a bottle

Robert Johnson’s “Preachin’ Blues (Up Jumped the Devil” Example of slide guitar playing “bottleneck” style on the guitar “bottleneck” style on the guitar Note: Johnson does not follow the twelve- bar blues pattern in this example. Note: Johnson does not follow the twelve- bar blues pattern in this example. Who is Robert Johnson ( )? Who is Robert Johnson ( )? Mississippi Delta blues singer and guitaristMississippi Delta blues singer and guitarist recorded only twenty-nine songsrecorded only twenty-nine songs died young, yet extremely influential, largely due to his recordingsdied young, yet extremely influential, largely due to his recordings

Early published blues 1912 important because many pieces were published Who was W.C. Handy? composer/bandleader composer/bandleader from Memphis from Memphis promoted blues as popular music and brought it to a wide public promoted blues as popular music and brought it to a wide public Blues: An Anthology (New York, 1926), a famous collection of early published blues (by Handy and others). Blues: An Anthology (New York, 1926), a famous collection of early published blues (by Handy and others).

Boogie Woogie What is boogie-woogie? solo piano form (like ragtime) solo piano form (like ragtime) developed out of the blues: form and harmony developed out of the blues: form and harmony driving left hand; ostinato (repeated pattern) driving left hand; ostinato (repeated pattern) likely an adaptation of what blues singer-guitarists had been doing likely an adaptation of what blues singer-guitarists had been doing popular in the late 1930s popular in the late 1930s major influence on rock ‘n’ roll of the 1950s major influence on rock ‘n’ roll of the 1950s Mr. Freddie Blues Lux Lewis, piano Ostinato in left hand Repeated figure in right hand Underlying 12 bar blues format

Urban Blues What are some of the distinguishing characteristics of urban blues? reflects harsher aspects of urban life reflects harsher aspects of urban life piano, essentially the blues-related boogie-woogie piano, essentially the blues-related boogie-woogie electric guitar electric guitar bass bass drums drums strongly influenced by gospel tradition strongly influenced by gospel tradition very influential on later blues, rhythm and blues, and rock ’n’ roll very influential on later blues, rhythm and blues, and rock ’n’ roll Chicago-home for musicians from the south Chicago-home for musicians from the south Kansas City –rise of blues singers backed by big bands Kansas City –rise of blues singers backed by big bands

What are some of the changes that have occurred in blues at the turn of the century? fewer recordings are being produced fewer recordings are being produced technologically and stylistically slicker recordings technologically and stylistically slicker recordings Blues festivals and live concerts have largely replaced the clubs. Blues festivals and live concerts have largely replaced the clubs. racial and gender shifts: racial and gender shifts: White male blues singers have come into prominence:White male blues singers have come into prominence: Stevie Ray Vaughan (1980s) Stevie Ray Vaughan (1980s) Johnny Winter Johnny Winter William Clarke William Clarke

Texas Flood by Stevie Ray Vaughan -virtuosic guitar technique -urban sound of bass and drums -12 bar form -Vaughan had both a conservative taste in music and progressive approach to guitar playing. conservative conservative twelve-bar blues patterntwelve-bar blues pattern blues song written in the 1960sblues song written in the 1960s progressive approach to guitar playing. progressive approach to guitar playing. Jimi Hendrix was a significant influence on his playing and performance style.Jimi Hendrix was a significant influence on his playing and performance style. Made use of such effects as pedals (wah-wah and others) and the guitars tremolo bar.Made use of such effects as pedals (wah-wah and others) and the guitars tremolo bar.