Music has always been important in Negro life Coming mainly from West Africa,the blacks who were brought to America already possessed a rich musical tradition.This music centered on religious ceremonies in which dancing,singing.clapping,and stamping to the beat of a drum were important forms of musical and rhythmic expression.As these people settled in to their new life in the plantations of the South,music retained its importance.In the fields,they made up work songs Singing made the hard work go faster.And as the people were converted to Christianity,they composed lovely spirituals which have become a permanent part of American music
5. Music has always been important in Negro life. Coming mainly from West Africa, the blacks who were brought to America already possessed a rich musical tradition. This music centered on religious ceremonies in which dancing, singing, clapping, and stamping to the beat of a drum were important forms of musical and rhythmic expression. As these people settled in to their new life in the plantations of the South, music retained its importance. In the fields, they made up work songs. Singing made the hard work go faster. And as the people were converted to Christianity, they composed lovely spirituals which have become a permanent part of American music
6.Another musical form which contributed to jazz was the blues.Blues songs always describe something sad--- an unhappy love affair,a money problem,bad luck.To this day,the expression "feeling blue"means being sad or depressed. 7.In fact,there was hardly any activity or social event that could not be set to music.Weddings,births, christenings,funerals,picnics,parades all had their musical accompaniment
6. Another musical form which contributed to jazz was the blues. Blues songs always describe something sad--- an unhappy love affair, a money problem, bad luck. To this day, the expression “feeling blue” means being sad or depressed. 7. In fact, there was hardly any activity or social event that could not be set to music. Weddings, births, christenings, funerals, picnics, parades—all had their musical accompaniment
8.After the American Civil War(1861-1865),the Negroes had gained their freedom and were ready for a new type of music,one that would preserve their musical traditions but be fast and happy to express their new-found freedom.They wanted something they could play as professional musicians for both black and white audiences.Jazz was the answer.It combined themes from Negro work songs,spirituals and blues,set to a fast beat,with the musicians improvising as they went along like the funeral marching bands.To be good. a musician had not only to remember his part but also to be able to invent new variations on the spur of the moment
8. After the American Civil War (1861-1865), the Negroes had gained their freedom and were ready for a new type of music, one that would preserve their musical traditions but be fast and happy to express their new-found freedom. They wanted something they could play as professional musicians for both black and white audiences. Jazz was the answer. It combined themes from Negro work songs, spirituals and blues, set to a fast beat, with the musicians improvising as they went along, like the funeral marching bands. To be good, a musician had not only to remember his part but also to be able to invent new variations on the spur of the moment