Important People WC Handy Robert Johnson Bessie Smith Blind Lemon Jefferson.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O8hqGu-leFc

The Blues

Genre of music originating in the Deep South – about 1900

At its roots – a poetry about the lifestyle of the time

3 Lines Line A and B can repeat Everything rhymes “Bluesy” text – hardships in life Vocal inflections (pitch bending)

Lyric Examples

I hate to see that evening sun go down,

I hate to see that evening sun go down.

Cause my baby, she done left this town.

There's a place I know, folks won't pass me by,

Dallas, Texas, that's the town, I cry, oh hear me cry.

And I'm going back, going back to stay there 'til I die.

If you ever been down, you know just how I feel

If you ever been down, you know just how I feel

Like a tramp on the railroad ain’t got a decent meal.

Cultural Background

Two elements come together to create this style:

Black community of the deep south

Music is already an important part of the culture

Black community of the deep south At the time – VERY impoverished

Music is already an important part of the culture Was used as during work, at home, church,

etc.

The Blues - Musical Form

Broken into 12 measures What is a measure?

Three chords are used in the entire piece What is a chord?

Extensive use of “blue” notes

Blue notes

First – let’s take a major scale Scale – series of pitches Major scale – most common one we know

Then – we alter some by lowering them Could also be referred to as bending

These altered notes create a “dreary” sound that became the basis of the genre

City blues

Popularized by club singers Moved to the city, wanted to make money

WC Handy

Born in Alabama

Responsible for bringing this “regional” music to the national audience

As a teacher in the south – travelled around and collected the “folk” music of the culture

Memphis Blues – 1909

St Louis Blues - 1914

Memphis Blues

Record Market

Almost entirely black during the 1920s and 1930s

Became to be known as race records

Record companies advertised exclusively to blacks and only black stores sold the records

The Race Records

The record industry saw the promise – but how do you make this work?

Created two markets: “black” music – sell to white market “black” music – sell to black market

Which do you think made more money?

“Race records” was not a derogatory term

In fact – many black musicians took pride in the term Became a sign of nationality/heritage

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St. Louis Blues

Sung by Bessie Smith Female singers were

more popular at the time

Written by WC Handy

Listen for a “Moaning” quality to her voice She draws out notes to

evoke despair = vocal inflection

Smith – St Louis Blues

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNWs0LsimFs

Bio Video on Smith

Enter the Country Blues

WC Handy was responsible for bringing the blues to the general population

In the process – he “cleaned” it up.

But there was a market for the true “original” material.

Country Blues

Throughout the 1920’s - record companies started looking for the “raw” talent. Would travel into the south Arrange for blues singers to come north Later in the 1920’s – mobile recording units

“Country” is not what you think of as country.

Means the regional styles of the blues that developed.

“Blind” Lemon Jefferson

“Father of Texas Blues”

Known for his high-pitched voice and guitar playing

See That My Grave is Left Clean

Black Snake Moan

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h3yd-c91ww8

Robert Johnson

1911-1938

Mississippi Delta Blues

Poorly documented life

Recognized for his talents only after he died

Influenced MANY guitarists after him – including those that had a hand in creating rock and roll

Come on in my kitchen - 1936https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuSKX_gqHn4

Tou better come onin my kitchenwell, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors

A woman I knowtook my best friendsome joker got luckystole her back again

He better come onin my kitchenit's goin' to be rainin' outdoors

Well she's goneI know she won't come backI took the last nickel out of her nation sack

Uou better come onin my kitchenwell, it's goin' to be rainin' outdoorsYeah can't you hear that wind how;?You can hear it now

You better come onin my kitchen'cause it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors

Oh when a woman gets in troubleeverybody throws her downlookin' for a good friendbut none cane be found

You better come onin my kitchenbabe it's goin' to be rainin' outdoors

12 Bar Blues3 Chords (1,4,5) Each based off of scale note #

A | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |

A | 4 | 4 | 1 | 1 |

B | 5 | 4 | 1 | 1 (5)|

Almost EVERY Rock song in the 50’s uses this

12 Bar Blueshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yd60nI4sa9A

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PE9HvSdcaL4

Sweet Home Chicago

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=79vCiXg3njY

Another example… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-eHJ12Vhpyc

In exchange for this talent….he made a deal with the devil.

At the “crossroads”

Mirrors the legend of

Faust (Romantic era)

Death is a mystery Aug 16th 1838 in Greenwood Mississippi Murdered/Poisoned? No one is exactly sure where he is buried Has 3 different gravestones

Assignment

Start think about topics for a blues composition.

Something “depressing,” but it could be something simple (i.e. ran out of milk)

It will have 4 verses related to your topic