in America • The National Jazz Curriculum Test Bank 3 - Jazz’s Beginnings

Select the BEST answer

1. In the 1600’s, African music was predominantly

A. Christian music B. taught in African music conservatories C. artistic music D. functional music E. performed by professional musicians

2. One of the traits in jazz that is primarily of African origin is

A. the number of musicians performing B. unexpressive musical content C. the use of D. the type of instruments used E. the chord progressions utilized

3. One of the traits in jazz that is primarily of European origin is

A. the use of polyrhythms B. the type of instruments used C. the time of day the music was performed D. the number of musicians performing E. its utilization as purely functional music

4. The basic difference between the concept of African music versus European music is

A. African music was Christian music B. European music was functional C. the basic concepts are the same D. European music was more art music whereas African music was more functional music E. African music was a written tradition whereas European music was an aural tradition

5. The evolved from

A. the types of instruments being played together B. slave field hollers and African American folk songs C. European art music D. the blending of particular chords and rhythms E. dance music

6. The blues are usually characterized by

A. fast march-like tempos B. the sweet blending of harmonies C. a plaintive and melancholy melodic line D. an unemotional quality when played E. the use of parade bands 7. The primary function of the pre jazz dance bands of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was

A. to entertain the upper class at formal events only B. to play strictly for their own enjoyment C. to play at various functions, i.e., parties, funerals, parades, and dances D. to pass the time E. to teach musicians how to read music

8. A portion of the typical instrumentation of pre jazz dance bands consisted of

A. , flute, and B. drums, piano, and French horn C. flute, , and drums D. , , and E. violin, French horn, and

9. The 19th and early 20th century pre jazz dance bands played

A. strictly funeral music B. music that provides a sense of discipline and structure C. only tunes that were composed on the spot D. strictly parade music E. popular dances of the day, i.e., music with a steady beat

10. is

A. primarily a solo piano style B. dance band music C. known for its somber musical quality D. music with no E. music primarily played by parade bands

11. The rhythmic quality of ragtime music

A. is simple and easy to play B. has no European influence C. incorporates a steady beat in the left hand and a syncopated in the right D. has no African influence E. incorporates a steady beat in the right hand and a syncopated melody in the left

12. Ragtime reflected the European tradition in the following way:

A. right hand march-like beat B. that were passed down in the aural tradition C. standard European chord progressions D. the number of instruments used in performance E. the vocal quality of the singers

13. The use of the piano in ragtime is

A. African in origin B. infrequent in performance C. used to give the other performers time to rest D. European in origin E. used to accompany singers 14. The predominant African influence heard in ragtime is its

A. right hand march-like beat B. left hand syncopated melody C. complex right hand syncopation derived from polyrhythms D. written musical notation E. use of the saxophone

15. Cultural implications of ragtime include

A. its reflection of a slower paced American life B. its appreciation by upper class Americans alone C. its reflection of stricter standards of social behavior D. its representation of both conservative and liberal attitudes in America E. its performance by predominantly European Americans

16. The birthplace of jazz was

A. New York B. Chicago C. Plymouth D. Salt Lake E.

17. Jazz was born in an atmosphere which included

A. restrictions in the musical traditions of the city B. a different attitude towards than that of the rest of the country in general C. little entertainment D. more conservative, less liberal attitudes E. a mostly homogeneous population

18. The effect of the reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment

A. had no direct influence on jazz B. caused musical ideas to come to a halt C. brought the Creoles greater status D. helped bring the conservatory trained and aurally trained musicians together E. helped to separate the conservatory trained and aurally trained musicians

19. Early jazz () gave each instrument an assigned role:

A. Trumpet-melody B. Clarinet-rhythmic accompaniment C. Bass-embellish the melody D. Piano-melody E. Drums-used only when necessary

20. Early jazz(Dixieland) derived many of its tunes from

A. popular tunes of the day B. European C. military marches exclusively D. rock ’n roll E. religious melodies exclusively 21. The characteristics and performance practices of early jazz (Dixieland) include

A. few dramatic effects B. playing written music only C. complex harmonies with solo performances D. very little collective improvisation E. simple harmonies and improvisation based on embellishing the melody

22. One of the reasons that the Dixieland style lost its popularity was because

A. it was stylistically static with very little room for the development of new ideas B. there were no dramatic effects C. there were no outstanding soloists D. there was no emphasis put on individual improvisation E. the chordal progressions were too complex

23. One of the most important musicians of the Dixieland style was

A. B. C. Frank Sinatra D. Beethoven E. Charlie Parker

24. The first jazz recording was

A. Livery Stable Blues, played by an all white group B. Dippermouth Blues, played by Louis Armstrong and C. , played by Jop Scotland D. , played by Scott Joplin E. Livery Stable Blues, played by an all black group

25. The U.S. Supreme Court declared that Congress had no authority to restrict private individuals from discriminating in which of the following Court cases:

A. Dred Scott v. Sanford B. Civil Rights Cases C. Plessy v. Ferguson D. Brown v. Board of Education, Topeka, Kansas E. None of the above Fill in the blank with the correct answer

1. Jazz’s roots are both African and ______in origin.

2. The use of polyrhythms in jazz is mostly from the ______tradition.

3. The types of instruments used in jazz are mostly from the ______tradition.

4. European music was considered art music whereas African music was considered more ______.

5. The Blues are usually characterized by a ______and ______.

6. The Blues evolved from ______and ______.

7. The primary function of the prejazz dance bands of the 19th and early 20th century was to play at ______,

______, and ______.

8. The typical instrumentation of the prejazz dance bands of the 19th and early 20th century consisted of trumpet, clarinet,

trombone, bass, guitar, violin, and ______.

9. The prejazz dance bands played the ______of the day.

10. Ragtime is primarily a ______.

11. Ragtime incorporated a march like beat in the left hand and ______melodies in the right.

12. Ragtime reflected both European and ______musical traditions.

13. Ragtime’s European influence was visible in its written ______.

14. The most prominent Ragtime composer in history was ______.

15. Ragtime reflected the balance of the American attitude from ______to ______.

16. One of Scott Joplin’s most famous Ragtime compositions was ______.

17. The birthplace of Early Jazz (Dixieland) was ______.

18. The reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment to justify segregation forced the African Americans and ______together thus blending their musical traditions.

19. The typical instrumentation of the Dixieland bands included ______, ______,

______, ______, ______, ______, and ______.

20. Each instrument in the Dixieland tradition was giver an assigned role. The trumpet played the ______

whereas the tuba played the ______.

21. One characteristic and performance practice of Dixieland music was collective ______.

22. One of the reasons Dixieland lost its popularity was because it became stylistically ______.

23. The most important musician of the Dixieland style was ______.

24. The name of the first jazz recording was ______.

25. The first jazz recording was recorded in ______(date). Please answer true or false to the following questions

1. Jazz’s roots are strictly European in origin. T F

2. One of the traits in jazz that is primarily of African origin is the use of polyrhythms. T F

3. One of the traits in jazz that is primarily of European origin is the type of instrumentation used. T F

4. African music is considered art music whereas European music is considered functional. T F

5. The Blues evolved from slave field hollers and African American folk songs. T F

6. The Blues are usually characterized by lightheartedness and a fast tempo. T F

7. Prejazz dance bands of the late 19th and early 20th century played at parties, funerals, parades, and dances. T F

8. The typical instrumentation of the prejazz dance bands included trumpet and violin. T F

9. The prejazz dance bands played strictly parade music. T F

10. Ragtime is primarily a solo piano style. T F

11. Ragtime incorporated a march like beat in the right hand and syncopated melodies in the left. T F

12. Ragtime reflected European traditions in its written musical notation. T F

13. Ragtime chord progressions were from the African tradition. T F

14. Ragtime’s complex right hand syncopation derived from polyrhythms is of African origin. T F

15. The most prominent Ragtime composer was Louis Armstrong. T F

16. Ragtime reflected the "balance" of American attitudes (conservative and liberal) in the late 19th and early 20th century. T F

17. Ragtime reflected the new slower pace of American society in the early . T F

18. The birth place of jazz was New York City. T F

19. Leon "Bix" Beiderbecke had a dual career of teaching music composition at prestigious New York conservatories T F and playing the with popular jazz bands at the Cotton Club.

20. Louis Armstrong grew up in New Orleans and was introduced to music in a children’s home. T F

21. Louis Armstrong’s popularity faded when the era began and he was unable to maintain his earlier T F reputation as a leading trumpeter and singer.

22. The institution of slavery succeeded in destroying all aspects of African culture forcing African Americans to T F adopt a white American culture.

23. The Constitution forbade the slave trade while permitting the practice of slavery in the Southern states. T F

24. At the time of the American Revolution, slavery had been abolished in all the northern states and western territories. T F

25. Laws enacted after Reconstruction that segregated the races were known as . T F Match the words in the columns correctly

1. Jazz’s roots A. Slow and melancholy 1. ______

2. African origin B. New Orleans 2. ______

3. European origin C. 14th Amendment 3. ______

4. African music D. Livery Stable Blues 4. ______

5. European music E. 1917 5. ______

6. Blues (its roots) F. African and European in origin. 6. ______

7. Blues G. Trumpet, clarinet, trombone, piano, tuba, and drums 7. ______

8. prejazz dance bands H. Dixieland trumpet player 8. ______

9. Ragtime I. Functional 9. ______

10. Ragtime incorporated... J. Melody 10. ______

11. Ragtime European influence K. Collective improvisation 11. ______

12. Ragtime African influence L. Polyrhythms 12. ______

13. Ragtime composer M. Syncopated right hand rhythms 13. ______

14. birthplace of jazz N. Embellishing the melody 14. ______

15. Creoles and African Americans O. Slave field hollers 15. ______

16. Dixieland instrumentation P. Primarily a piano solo 16. ______

17. trumpet (Dixieland) Q. Stylistically static, little room for growth 17. ______

18. piano (Dixieland) R. a march like beat in the left hand and syncopation in the right 18. ______

19. Dixieland S. Type of instrumentation used 19. ______

20. Dixieland improvisation T. Written musical notation 20. ______

21. Dixieland style trait U. Trumpet, clarinet, trombone, bass, guitar, drums, and violin 21. ______

22. Dixieland trumpet player V. Chordal harmony and rhythmic accompaniment 22. ______

23. Louis Armstrong W. Art music 23. ______

24. First jazz recording X. Scott Joplin 24. ______

25. Livery Stable Blues Y. King Oliver 25. ______Essay Questions

1. Describe how Jazz began. What preexisting cultures influenced jazz? In what way did these traits contribute to form jazz? Give specific examples.

2. Categorize the beginnings of jazz (pre blues through and including Dixieland). What elements existed in each step of the development of jazz?

3. Explain how the Black experience in America led to the development of a distinctive African American culture.

4. New Orleans was fertile ground for the birthplace of jazz at the turn of the century. What type of city was it and what elements contributed to the flourishing of this new music?

5. How did Dixieland differ from the Blues? How did it differ from Ragtime? What made it popular? Include instrumentation and the type of interaction between the various players. Why did the American public eventually lose interest in Dixieland?