Jonathan Javier Perez Module 7
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Central Carolina Community College *
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LN12
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Arts Humanities
Date
Dec 6, 2023
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docx
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Javier Perez 1
Jonathan Javier Perez
Mr. Edward Yasick
MUS LN12
Part 1
1.
Discuss the development within the American experience of jazz from its roots, covering the
distinctive elements of jazz in terms of rhythm, melody and harmony, tone color, and
improvisation.
Jazz is a musical genre that originated from the blending of African-American musical traditions,
including ragtime, marches, blues, and other African-American music. It was initially used for dancing
but later evolved into a lively and rhythmic form. Funk emerged in African-American neighborhoods in
the 1960s, combining jazz, soul, rhythm, and blues to create lively and rhythmic music. Jazz has
influenced various genres, including pop, hip-hop, R&B, and rock, and has been incorporated into Latin
and R&B. Jazz dance often features isolation moves, exact leg, arm, and foot motions, amazing jumping
abilities, and twists. The genre begins with a melody and then each artist improvises, playing a variety of
strange notes, including high, low, long, short, gravelly, and clear. Comping refers to background playing
done by those not soloing. Blue notes, also known as glissandi or slurred notes, are a distinctive aspect of
jazz. In summary, jazz is a highly influential and enduring musical genre that has been influenced by
various musical genres, including pop, hip-hop, R&B, and rock. Its unique rhythm patterns, harmonic
techniques, and improvisational techniques have made it a significant part of American society.
Part 2
1.
a. What is the form of Take the A Train?
The form of Take the A Train is in AABA form
b. What is the medium (Genre)?
Take the A Train is in the style of progressive jazz, a subgenre of jazz made up of various elements. It also
falls into the categories of modal and hard bop. The four-movement, easy-going song A Train is sung
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gently to calm the listener.
c. What solo instruments are featured in Take the A Train?
Keyboard Instrument, Bass Clarinet, French Horn, Trombone, Piano
d. How is "call and response" used in this piece?
This composition uses the term "call and response" in the sense that it asks the reader to respond
melodically. This song's use of spoken words at the beginning will enable those who have trouble hearing
to still be able to follow along, and it is full of memorable lines that will guarantee its early success. This
composition is especially well-liked by jazz artists and traditionalists who appreciate learning about the
early years of jazz since it offers a look back at the past. A call and response, to use colloquial language, is
when an individual or group takes action, and others react by taking similar action. Anything from
speaking to dancing to singing can be used for this. For instance, while engaging in an
e. What effects can be heard in the trumpet solo?:
In the trumpet solo, three main impacts are audible. First, there's the metallic sound produced when you
strike a trumpet bell and then lift the same pitch by bending your fingers. The second effect appears in
other octaves as well as one octave below the one that is now being played. You can accomplish this by
applying pressure to the trumpet's mouthpiece, which will force air through a port in the instrument's rear
and cause it to vibrate at high frequencies. Playing a note, bending the pitch across it, and then bending it
back up again produces the third effect. On the pitch, this produces a screeching or squeaking sound when
you bend up and down. The trumpet playing in that tune, both in the solo and throughout, makes
extensive use of all these effects.
f. What makes assigning the authorship of this piece to Strayhorn or Ellington difficult?
The difficulty in determining who wrote this composition—Strayhorn or Ellington—comes from both
men writing the melody and lyrics, with Strayhorn serving as the arranger. Usually, the person who
arranged the piece gets credit for writing it, but this time, things are a little more complicated. The
arrangement of the tune is credited to both men, and Strayhorn wrote all of the lyrics in the original. It's
also important to note that Ellington added a bridge part to "Take the A Train for Today" when he
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rearranged it for the big band, making it his creation.
2.
a. Who wrote the lyrics to West Side Story? Who wrote the music?
Bernstein is the author of the West Side Story lyrics. He's not only the guy who wrote West Side Story. In
addition, he writes, composes, and writes lyrics, writes plays and plays, teaches, and is an activist in
politics. Bernstein is the author of several musicals, including Mass, Wonderful Town, On The Town, and
Fiorello, that are well-known for their avant-garde aesthetic. His work served as the inspiration for two
well-known movies: Shurban's People (1956), starring Sammy Davis Jr., and On the Waterfront (1954),
starring Marlon Brando.
b. What is the story about? On what is it based?
The Sharks and the Jets, two rival Puerto Rican street gangs, are the subject of West Side Story. The
narrative, which takes place in New York City, follows the two gangs as they assemble for their major
dance fight. It was unique from the start because it wasn't your typical musical with lots of singing. Two
members of the cast, Maria (in her role as Anita) and Tony (in his role as Bernardo) sang a very well-
known song in this Broadway show. Tony and Anita sang the song in both the movie and the high school I
attended. It's "One Hand, One Heart" that I am explicitly referring to.
c. What gives the Mambo in West Side Story its Latin-American flavor? What gives it a
jazz-like character?
What makes West Side Story's Mambo The usage of "mambo," a rhythm originating in Cuba and Puerto
Rico, gives it a distinct Latin-American feel. The most popular dancing style in Latin America is the
mambo, which has its roots in Africa. It has distinct 1/4 and 3/8 rhythms, with an upbeat on 2 or 4 and a
downbeat on 1 or 3. The beat is straightforward to master and quite simple. The musical composition
contains numerous variations of the "mambo" rhythm. It is present in every scenario that is set in Puerto
Rico, including the one where there is "lindo aires," or "pretty air." These locations provide a cozy,
welcoming, and romantic vibe.
d. What is the structure of the ballad Tonight?
Arrangement of the ballad There is an introduction, chorus, A-section, B-section, and coda in tonight's
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performance. The upward slope of a naturally occurring minor scale that rises to a high "iv" and then
descends makes up the ostinato figure that opens. The major motif of the song is established by the
repetition of this sentence. The chorus, which is in duple meter, builds tension with a descending
tetrachord that employs harmonic seventh chords. The chorus is revisited in the B-section, which employs
the rising of iv this time. A sequence of disharmonic seventh chords that create tension and release it
through modulation comes next. The coda is a tetrachord phrase that descends, but it advances one step
further from iii to vi. Every verse (first and second stanzas) has its last line repeated twice, with a focus
on the second repetition for impact.
e. How is the Tonight ensemble like an operatic ensemble number?
The Tonight ensemble puts emotion and its expression front and center in the music, much like in an
operatic ensemble piece. The confrontation between an operatic voice and more subdued jazz numbers
subverts the combined might of these two forces through a clash of musical textures, tempos, and moods.
Dramatic tension is created by this clash in this tale of two incompatible universes. It's amazing to
observe how Bernstein combined the two approaches such that each is given equal weight rather than
only existing as a compromise.
f. How are the music and story of West Side Story still relevant today?
Given that there is an ongoing controversy in America regarding racial and ethnic diversity, the tale and
music of West Side tale remain relevant today. Newspaper headlines these days might read, "The cracks
in America." "Race and ethnicity will never be settled." Furthermore "We are not a colorblind society."
Because they offer people an idea of the hardships New Yorkers experienced before they joined together
with cultural variety, shows and music like West Side Story serve to make it more understandable for
Americans. It also represents what America might become if everyone unites.