Nowadays jazz is the music for “gourmets”. Jazz influences its amateurs’ lifestyle. Mostly intellectual
people who appreciate comfortable luxurious life are fond of jazz these days. However few hundred years ago situation was very different…
One of the musical styles that contributed to the jazz development greatly is ragtime. It emerged during late 1800's in the southern United States.
Composed primarily for the piano ragtime combined a sixteenth-note-based melody with the form of a march. Playing in syncopated style was called "ragging";
this is probably the origin of the term "ragtime". Scott Joplin, Tom Turpin, Artie Matthews, James Scott are outstanding musicians of the time.
Blues had important impact on the jazz development as well. Blues is a highly expressive vocal tradition; blues songs told the stories of African-Americans.
Blues was not only a type of music, but a way of life and state of mind for many African-Americans during early 20th century. Mostly blues vocalists
sang with instrumental accompaniment of guitar, harmonica, piano and some homemade instruments; often they accompanied themselves on the guitar. Blues
performed on the saxophone or trumpet, imitating the vocal effects of blues singers by bending pitches and recreating the growl of the voice. Ma Rainey,
Bessie Smith, and W.C. Handy are important blues musicians of the early twentieth century.
Rock-n-roll emerged out of blues. With time it developed greatly and influenced youth. “Enjoy your life as much as you can” was the major
slogan of 60-70th. Music reflected young people’s interests, problems and cravings. Most prominent band of that time
are “Beatles”, “The Doors”, “Pink Floyd”, “Grateful dead” and many others.
To these days people all over the world still enjoy the music performed by the abovementioned eminent musicians. Favorite music tunes us in and lets stay positive and happy.
