Musical and Cultural Roots of Jazz

Question 1

Many people know jazz to be an America's classical music that they have valued since time immemorial. Jazz started to get recognized as a form of musical expression back in the 1920s. the main roots of jazz are in the culture of West Africa and the traditions of Africa-American also portrayed this kind of music. Blues were mainly in America. In that case. The musical and cultural roots of Jazz are in both Africa and Europe. It is from the music of Africa that jazz got its rhythm and feel. The belief is that jazz came from the blues such that the two appear like brothers. The definition is such that blues is both a musical form and a music genre while jazz is a musical art form.

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What makes jazz unique is that it has elements that other music does not have. It contains aspects such as melody which is the tune of the song and the part that one can remember easily. It also has harmony which are the notes that make the melody sound fuller. It also contains rhythm making the music so relaxing.

Question 2

Gumbo is a stew that is popular in the US. It comprises primarily of a strongly-flavoured stock, meat or shellfish and it is a type of thickener used to serve with rice.

Roux is a browned mixture of cooking fat and white wheat flour whose main use is to thicken sauces, stews and also gravies. It is necessary, especially where rich, deep and texture is desired. These are appropriate titles for these sections in the video as they show how music desired is presented in the most basic manner.

Question 3

Jazz is American because it has developed in the United States since its birth. The reason why Jazz is important to America is that it is the closest thing to a music style that is home-grown. It is popular because one can trace a lot of genres in music today to the origin of Jazz. America has used jazz as an integral part of their culture especially because it appeals to people from every echelon of society. Jazz has influenced American society in its popular culture in shaping it and upholding the values of society. It also reflects America's history in its growth and evolution since it is counted as part of the movement to modernism.

Question 4

The remark by Winton describes the different aspects of jazz and how it is comprehensive. Winston states the different things that jazz and blues describe stating that it celebrates human life. It is true that jazz and blues celebrate human life because the content from the singers is mainly towards praising life and the people in it.

Winston also states the range of it, the absurdity, ignorance and greatness which are all I jazz and blues. Creative content is applied in this type of music and one can only keenly listen to the lyrics as they show a wide range of issues, sexuality and profundity. The comment by Marsalis did a great justice in describing these two music genres as great types of music.

Question 5

Jazz was formerly used as a slang word before it initially got incorporated in the world of music. It was used to mean a variety of things and the term was common to have a sexual origin which meant spirit or vitality and also semen.

The initial reception f the word jazz from the American culture was hostile since they labelled it as primitive and evil. They did not agree to the use of the word and its incorporation in music but they changed their perception over time to accommodate the genre. In the 1920s and 1930s, jazz music and dance styles started to gain recognition nationwide and people were happy about the music.