Module 3

This week we begin to see the effects of the multiple cultures that are melding together in America on the popular music in America.  Our discussion is first on the topic of "race music".  This term is not derogatory only a way of describing the dividing line between cultures and to give a description to some of the music that was becoming popular.

I found it very interesting that the recording companies were all trying to get at the same thing and that they would do this by any means necessary.  When "race music" became popular we saw how the record companies scrambled to get their own version of this type of music out there.  Okeh Records was really the first company to move on this according to the reading, but they were soon followed by many others,  I try to imagine what it would have been like to wonder in to a record store in this era. Trying to be able to choose a song or record would have been difficult with all the record companies attempting the same thing.  I asked my students about how they select music now.  They tell me they decide based on what is popular, what they see on TV, the internet and movies.  This process is the same as it was 100 years ago.

With this race music came the blues style that we all know so well.  "St. Louis Blues" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3rd9IaA_uJI) is a textbook ( no pun intended) example of this blues style.  We still play every day music based on the chord progressions pioneered in this early music.  The chord progression is simple yet is the basis for how I teach improvisation.  This piece of music is an example of that.  Also, you cannot beat the accompaniment of Louis Armstrong on the cornet.  This slow blues moves had an unending march forward making the effect quite striking.

This blues music with its tie to race begins its push into the mainstream consciousness.  From the other side of the equation we have the effect of "country blues".  This style although similar to classical blues has a more folk song style.  A great example of this is "That Black Snake Moan" (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3yd-c91ww8) with it's strophic style and little to no chord progression.  This style of music had the simple ability of catching a feeling typical to middle class and lower class America.  The moaning of Blind Lemon Jefferson is famous.  This kind of music with it's country feel would also have an effect on American music.  These styles mixed with the record companies of the time pushing all this music on the American public would cause a revolution in the music industry.

This would all lead to what would be referred to as the swing era, a mixture of the blues styles, the dance music that was popular, even some latin influences.  The best example of the popularity of the swing era is the music of Benny Goodman.  A great stage man, and an even better businessman, Goodman would change the course of popular music in America, especially as World War 2 got rolling, this kind of music would unify the country.  Goodman's rendition of "Let's Dance" gives us a view of what became truly popular during this time.  Goodman would be joined in swing superstardom by the likes of Glenn Miller, Duke Ellington, and Count Basie.

We are seeing popular music really take hold in America and we are starting to see how radio and TV would start to put music into a new realm of popularity and prominence.