Through music many genres and popular styles have evolved through the years. There are many connections between events that have happened to create the music of that time. While listening to "Castle House Rag" I thought to myself that this did not sound like a rag that one would normally hear. It included some different timbres than one is use to hearing. When listening and hearing the violin I would not normally think of hearing such an instrument within a rag. When considering who performed this piece is was the James Reese Europe's Society Orchestra. The piece is mainly split up into even measures except for both C sections and a 4-measure transition. Some of the alternate instruments that are heard are percussion instruments as well as the violin and I am sure there is piano as well. The sections do not seem to be clearly formulated as sometimes the material is fuzzy. In the form of this piece around the F section is sounds a bit chaotic, but then comes into control for the last five seconds to close out the statement.
In the "Tiger Rag" the clarinet and trombone are the highlighted instruments throughout. The use of the musical trick stop-time sequences are brilliant to focus on one instrument such as when the clarinet has a few beats to play by itself and shine. The higher register of the clarinet is highlighted within the rag. Also the use of slides is great within the trombone with short sudden pauses in addition to the slides on the clarinet also.
"My Blue Heaven" is a wonderful tune. Gene Austin's interpretation was the best-selling record of its era (Not until Bing Crosby recorded "White Christmas" in 1942 did any record sell more copies) (Starr and Waterman, 2014, p. 110). This tune follows the typical form of a tune from the Tin Pan Alley song form. The verse is shorter than the refrain. The song 'hooks' listeners from the beginning with the cello solo rather than having typical instrumentation that individuals were use to hearing. In the each refrain, the AABA form is followed. In the first refrain, the main tune is carried, and the melody and rhythm from each A section is the same for each refrain section. In the second refrain, it switches from the voice having the melody to the cello taking the lead and then switching back to the voice. There is a twist on the third refrain with whistling in the background representing the whippoorwill. One item that is heard in the A section of the refrain is the call and response of the voice to the piano, then voice and cello, and finally whistling and voice.
The first thing that came to mind when listening to both versions of Al Jolson's "April Showers" was Billy Joel's "We Didn't Start the Fire". I know it sounds silly...but in Joel's song, the words are primarily spoken and this is what I thought of when I listened to the later recording of "April Showers". As "My Blue Heaven" has the typical two-part verse-refrain, which is common in Tin Pan Alley music, "April Showers" uses the second most popular form, ABAC pattern. In the 1921 recording, the orchestra plays the 'hook' in the beginning and at the end. This is a typical musical style to get the listeners attention and to remind them at the end of a tune. In the 1932 recording, there is no 'hook' per say. In both recordings, there is a reoccurring leaping gesture in the voice throughout the tune. Jolson's voice was clear and strong and came across with no problem. This was different for this time of music.
One of the best known standards is "I Got Rhythm". This is an iconic tune by Gershwin. Some places that many have heard this is within a show, or even a movie, Mr. Holland's Opus to name one. "I Got Rhythm" offers and upbeat tempo, which was not too often likely and also with an offbeat feel. As from the Tin Pan Alley music is follows the AABA form. The singer also uses the four-syllable word phrase within the tune/melody. Within, 'questions' are also asked, and answered within the refrain. This tune is one of the most well-known standards in American popular music.
No comments:
Post a Comment