Showing posts with label History. Show all posts
Showing posts with label History. Show all posts

Friday, June 29, 2012

Short History of Jazz

Jazz is sometimes referred to as "America's classical music". It has come to be a diverse genre with its roots in native American and African music; in particular, the blues, spirituals and rag time. Jazz first became a defined music form in the early 1920 springing from the Us cities of New Orleans and later Chicago. Early Jazz was characterized by traditional rhythms and melodies being taken and improvised upon, giving a blend of swing and syncopation. Early Jazz performers of note included Jelly Roll Morton, Fats Domino, Bix Beiderbecke and Louis Armstrong. A good taste of this period can be gained by listening to recordings of Louis Armstrong's Hot Fives and Hot Seven ensembles.

By the 1930 Jazz had spread out of its local bases in South American and became more mainstream attracting white musicians as well. One development of Jazz was the big bands such as Ben Goodman and Glen Miller. Glen Millers big band became very successful and popular, but contribution diminutive scope for improvisation jazz aficionados saw it as more of swing rather than real jazz. Any way other big bands such as Duke Ellington and Count Basie provided some of the all time great Jazz recordings.

Symphonic Dances

Whilst the Big Band led jazz in a more accepted direction. The late 1930s and 1940s also saw jazz develop in other direction straight through the creation of the new "Be Bop" craze. Be Bop is epitomized by the great musicians such as Charlie "Bird" Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Sonny Rollins. These musicians took Jazz to new heights of improvisation, loosening the adherence to harmony's and rigid chord structures.

Unlike previous forms of jazz, Be bop was not designed for dancing but was seen more like an opportunity to showcase the musical expertise of the performers. Some of the great be bop recordings came about as the performers played off each other, each striving for greater excellence and improvisation. One of the many recordings of this period was "Jazz at Masey Hall" 1953 featuring Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker amongst others, it is a very good example of live jazz music. In the 1960s Be bop evolved into a form of "free jazz" with diminutive if any adherence to accepted harmonies and chord structures. One of the best selling jazz recordings which characterized this new form was "A Kind of Blue" by Miles Davis.

Alas many of the great jazz performers led tragic lives, a seemingly very high division died prematurely, inevitably from drug and alcohol misuse. Unfortunately many young performers came to join together drugs with being a successful jazz performer so jazz industrialized a strong prestige for connection with narcotics.

To play Jazz music successfully a classical background is surely an advantage. To be a successful jazz player you need to be able to learn the chords and scales of the song. With this basic buildings you can then improvise nearby these chords to give the improvised or jazz effect. Any way to be a great jazz musician a lot more is needed than formal training, successful improvisation is a difficult skill that appears to come really to a rare few.

Short History of Jazz

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Saturday, June 9, 2012

History of Percussion Instruments

Anthropologists and historians repeatedly conjecture that percussion instruments were the first musical apparatus ever came into being. But with the utmost certainty, the human voice was the first musical instrument, and surely, percussion tools such as feet, hands, rocks, sticks and logs came in second to the on-going evolution of music. When humans advanced tools for hunting and agriculture, their knowledge along side with skill, enabled them to yield more complex tools. They use slit drum, made from a hollowed-out tree trunk. For instance, a straightforward log may have been shaped to create louder tones (log drum) and may have been pooled to create numerous tones (set of log drums).

As time moved on, so is the evolution of percussion instruments. In the early 10th century, it was known that most tribes in Africa use sorts of percussions such as djembe, macaras used in Latin America, karimbas in Asia and seed rattles in Australia for their recreational and worship rituals and sometimes used in sending signals.

Piano Concerto

Percussion instruments that are displayed in orchestra first came from Asia Minor. In the 15th century, population began migrating east and brought with them numerous instruments. Our percussion instruments got their introductory stages there, when the Crusades took back the drums that they found in the Middle East. From then on, evolution of percussion and drums kicked up a notch and assortments of percussion instruments came into being.

Percussion is categorized by a collection of criteria at times depending on their cultural origin, construction and function within musical orchestration. It is ordinarily referred as ?the hearbeat? of a musical ensemble, often functioning close collaboration with bass instruments if present.

Drums and percussions as well as bass are known as the rhythm section of the most favorite music genres. Most classical pieces written for an orchestra since the time of Mozart and Haydn are schemed to put emphasis on strings, brass and woodwinds. However, time and again they include a pair of timpani (kettle drums) although not played continuously. But moderately, they serve to offer added accents when needed.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, more percussion instruments (like the cymbals or triangles) came to being and frequently, again gradually and cautiously played in general. The massive uses of percussion instruments become more recurrent in the 20th century, on classical music.

In practically all types of music, percussion plays a basal role. In a military parade, it is the attack of the bass drum that holds the soldiers in step and at a general speed, and it is the snare that endows that crisp, vital air to the tune of a troop. In traditional jazz, one practically at once thinks of the distinguishing rhythm of the hi-hats or the ride cymbal when the word "swing" is uttered. In more current favorite music genres, it is practically impossible to name at least three or four rock, hip-hop, rap, funk, punk, techno, grunge, alternative and blues songs that don?t have some kind of percussive beat maintaining the tune in time.

Because of the mixture and wide assortments of percussive instruments, it is not unusual to find large musical gathering composed wholly of percussion. Rhythm, harmony and melody are all clear and alive in these musical factions, and in live performances they are quite a spectacle to see.

History of Percussion Instruments

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Monday, June 4, 2012

Celebrate Black History Month in uptown Indianapolis

Experience living Black History on Indiana Avenue
Indiana Avenue is a considerable version of the American dream straight through an African-American lens. The Avenue is the historic African-American commercial, entertainment and worship center. Today's scenery is filled with enduring landmarks, a burgeoning university campus, modern residences and a lush waterway. Indiana Avenue truly is rhythm reborn. The rich legacy comes to life on stage, in public art, museums, art galleries, nightlife and in the church.

Also placed on Indiana Avenue is the historic Madame Walker Theatre Center. The Madame Walker Theatre Center, housed in the historic Madame C.J. Walker Building, has long symbolized the spirit of creativity and community pride in uptown Indianapolis. Celebrate Black History Month with the Walker Theatre by joining Freetown village for an evening supper theatre called "This exiguous Light" on Feb. 18. Enjoy live music and a part in history at this living history museum. Also join the Madame Walker Theatre for Jazz on the Avenue Feb. 25 in the Ballroom for live jazz and cocktails. Call 236.2099 for more information.

Symphonic Dances

Art & Soul at the Indianapolis Artsgarden
Don't miss more than 18 Free performances throughout the month of February as part of the 15th yearly Art & Soul in the Indianapolis Artsgarden, which kicks off Jan. 27. This yearly celebration of African-American art and artists celebrates Black History Month. The performances feature a broad range of musical, dance, spoken word, poetry and living history from both established and emerging artists. Highlights throughout the month of February include Billy Wooten Jazz Trio, Gregg Bacon, June Rochelle, the Asante Children's Theatre and many more. For more details and a agenda of events call 631.3301 or visit the Indy Arts Web site.

Learn about black history
Join The Children's Museum of Indianapolis as black history comes alive while the month of February. Don't miss Target family Night Feb. 3 from 4 - 8 p.m. Celebrate African-American legacy and achievements in history, science, art and music Free of charge. Sense a slave's flight to relaxation and learn to navigate using the Big Dipper while consequent the Drinking Gourd starting Feb. 1 at 11 a.m. On Feb. 3, 5 and12, celebrate Black History Month in Lilly Theatre with vignettes exploring the lives of Levi Coffin and Madame C.J. Walker at 6:30 p.m. On Thursday and 1 p.m. On Saturday. To learn more, call 334.3322.

In celebration of Black History Month, the Indiana Historical community and Indianapolis-Marion County public Library (Imcpl) invite children and families to learn about Indiana's rich African-American history by participating in the Indiana Black History Challenge. The Indiana Black History Challenge is a contest that invites participants to study preponderant African-American Hoosiers and their contributions to society. The 10-question challenge can be taken online starting Feb. 1. Printed game cards will also be made available at the starting of February at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, as well as all branches of the Imcpl.

The first 5,000 entrants to the Indiana Black History Challenge will receive a prize. All participants who perfect the challenge and write back all questions correctly are entered into a drawing for the grand prize and runner-up awards. The grand prize is a family Fun Pack that includes an overnight stay at the Omni Severin Hotel in uptown Indianapolis; four tickets to extra exhibitions at the Indianapolis Museum of Art; a gift certificate to Weber Grill bistro and a family membership to the Indiana Historical Society, which includes free admission to the Indiana Sense for a year. One winner from each Imcpl subject and the History center will receive a runner-up prize of a family four-pack of tickets to an Indianapolis Indians game. For more information, Sense the Ihs at 232.1882.

The Indianapolis Museum of Art's (Ima) Hard Truths: The Art of Thornton Dial exhibition will open Feb. 25. As an artist, Dial explores the truth of American history and culture in all its complexities and contradictions. This exhibition includes more than 50 pieces of Dial's work that range from sculptures to paintings and that address some of the most compelling issues of our time. Find out more facts on the exhibition call 923.1331.

Visit the Indiana State Museum for their "African Americans in Indiana" gallery search starting Feb. 1 to uncover the rich culture and contributions of Indiana's black communities. Meet President Lincoln on Feb. 12 and enjoy duration music and activities or see Martin Luther King Jr.'s speeches in the legacy Theater straight through the end of March. Call 232.1637 for more information.

The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art will host the 4th yearly Leon Jett Memorial Lecture featuring Dr. Quintard Taylor, professor of American History at the University of Washington, on Feb. 19 at 1 p.m. Taylor will discuss how African Americans helped shape and compose the American West. A new exhibit that is partnered with the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian called Red Black: related straight through History will open Feb. 12. Red Black will showcase the interactions between early black slaves and Native Americans. Call 636.9378 for more information.

Head over to the Garfield Parks Art center for "Black Pearls": An Artistic Celebration of Black History Month starting Feb. 5. The Free exhibit showcases African and African-American artists and will display sculpture, drawing, painting and ceramics. Hands on creative family activities will take place every Saturday and Sunday throughout February. Hours for Garfield Parks Art center are Tuesday - Thursday 2 - 9 p.m., Friday 1 - 5 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. And Sunday 1 - 5 p.m. For more facts call 327.7135.

Black History performances
The Indiana Repertory Theatre (Irt) presents Charlayne Woodard's Going Solo: Neat from Feb.10 - March 6. In this sequel to Woodard's "Pretty Fire," teenaged Charlayne encounters boys, high school, civil ownership and her own vivid imagination, all while studying to live with her disabled aunt, Neat. Tickets, show facts and a agenda of consortium events are available by calling 635.5252.

Join the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra for the 26th Anniversary Celebration of Black History Concert Feb. 8 at 7:30 p.m. The Iso's yearly concert celebrates the requisite impact of African-American culture on classical and symphonic music as well as the superb artistry and creativity of black artists, composers and conductors. This year the concert will be conducted by an Indianapolis audience favorite, Thomas Wilkins. This event is Free and open to the public. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. For general seating. Call 639.4300 for more information.

Celebrate Black History Month in uptown Indianapolis

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