From iron chains to gold chains

1. Listen to these ten musical extracts. Match them with the corresponding picture and title.
rock / soul / negro spirituals / work songs / ragtime / jazz / rock and roll / blues / rap / funk

2. Fill in the
blanks with the
following
linking word
shortly after/ As a result / Although / both / Nevertheless / in order to / also / During

………………………………… music in ancient Africa varied widely by location, it was an important

part of African culture. Africans who came to the Americas during the slave trade brought much of their African
heritage with them. This included their musical traditions. In many parts of West Africa, from which many
slaves were taken, music was very rhythmic and incorporated a heavy use of drums. Most slave owners did not
permit slaves on their plantations to use drums. They feared that the slaves would use them as a means of
communication …………….…………………… plan rebellions. …………………………………..….. , slaves
had to adopt European instruments such as the fiddle. ……………………………., African American slaves
used music to help them make it through the horrors of slavery. From the time of slavery until now, music has
played a vital role in the lives of African Americans. …………………. slavery, it was used to overcome
oppression and increase the quality of life. Jazz and Blues picked up in the late 19th century
…………………………. the abolition of slavery and served as a form of expression and a means of uniting
different races throughout the United States. Gospel music evolved from the negro spirituals, which were
developed during slavery, and served for African Americans to celebrate their religion. In the late 20th century,
hip hop began to catch wind in the New York area, informing people about the harsh conditions with which
African Americans were forced to live. Reflecting ……………………… the hardships and triumphs black
Americans have experienced in the United States, their music has ………………. served to shape the national
identity, profoundly influencing the lives of all Americans.

3. Find the musical styles corresponding to these descriptions.

………………………..………….
Sometimes called America’s classical music, this musical genre was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, and it was originally
meant to be danced. It uses complex rhythms, melodies, and harmonies. It served as a form of expression without words;
however, the most notable addition that this musical style brought to society was a bridge between races. Although most
notable musicians were African-American, the majority of critics were white. While this fact symbolizes the power struggle
between African-Americans and white people, it did decrease the degree to which a percentage of the population was racist.
This new form of music was able to bring whites and blacks together from the 1900s to now, but most notably, during the
Harlem Renaissance, which spans from 1917-1935.
…………………………….……..

It is the most complex and influential form of hip-hop culture, combining elements of the African American musical
tradition (blues, funk, jazz, and soul) with Caribbean calypso, dub, and dance-hall reggae. Two of its earliest innovators
were West Indians, DJ Kool Herc and Grand-master Flash. This musical style is related to the African American tradition
of "toasting," a boastful form of storytelling that is usually political in content and aggressive in style. Early interprets
worked with disc jockeys to heighten their audience's excitement. They often competed against one another, using their
verbal skill and poetic dexterity to "battle" each other.
…………………………….……..

It was one of the most widespread of early musical forms among southern blacks. Neither black versions of white hymns
nor transformations of songs from Africa, this music was a distinctly African American response to American conditions.
They expressed the longing of slaves for spiritual and bodily freedom, for safety from harm and evil, and for relief from the
hardships of slavery.

…………………………………………

This music genre originated from African Americans’ work songs, and was built around the premise of simple lyrics sung
in a simple tune. It is known for its brutally honest depiction of everyday life. The simple, plain structuring of this kind of
songs is open to innovations and improvisations; this has led to the emergence of several completely different styles, such
as rock music.

…………………………………………

This style takes its musical inspiration from the black church, using gospel music techniques like call-and-response
structure and melismatic singing (stretching one syllable of a word over many notes to give textual emphasis). Pioneers like
Ray Charles and James Brown at first restricted their songs to the usual topics of love and desire. Where 1950s R&B was
primarily dance music, in the early 1960s certain artists began marrying the R&B musical sensibility to lyrics that dealt
with pressing political topics. (Stevie Wonder, Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin…)

…………………………………………

They were used to accompany the slaves’ work in the fields. They could also be heard in prisons. They incorporated the
"call-and-response" style used widely in Africa, where the lead singer calls out a phrase and the other singers call back a
response. They were also the secular source of jazz in the same way that negro spirituals are the religious source.

……………………………… / ………….

When Americans think of it, most tend to associate the origins of this music genre with the "King", Elvis Presley. However,
its beginnings must also be attributed to the influence of black culture and music, with such artists as Little Richard, Fats
Domino or Chuck Berry. This new music tried to break boundaries and express emotions that people were actually feeling
but had not talked about. An awakening began to take place in American youth culture. In addition, this music may have
helped the cause of the civil rights movement because both African American teens and white American teens enjoyed it.
Many observers saw this musical genre as heralding the way for desegregation, in creating a new form of music that
encouraged racial cooperation and shared experience.

…………………………………………

It is a rhythm-driven musical genre popular in the 1970s and early 1980s that linked soul to later African-American musical
styles such as rap. Some artists such as James Brown or Sly and Stone Family used funk rhythms as their musical
foundation while their lyrics took on themes of urgent social commentary.

…………………………………………..

It became the first nationally popular form of American music in 1899, when Scott Joplin's (1868-1917) "Maple Leaf Rag"
enjoyed unprecedented success, selling over a million sheet-music copies. But ragtime was not new in 1899. Documents
reveal that it was being played as early as the 1870s. Black musicians spoke of "ragging a tune" when describing the use of
syncopated rhythms, whether in classical compositions, popular songs, or genteel dance tunes. While black musicians could
rag tunes on any instrument, this music was specifically developed when the piano replaced the violin as the favorite
instrument for dance accompaniment.

KEY:

1. work songs (2) / negro spirituals (5) / ragtime (6) / blues (1) / jazz (8) / rock’n roll (7) / funk (9) / rock (10) / soul (3) / rap (4)

(I can send you the mp3 file I prepared for the blind test if you send me a pm).

2. Although / in order to / As a result / Nevertheless / During / shortly after / both / also

3. Jazz / Rap / Negro spirituals / Blues / Soul / Work songs / Rock’n roll (Rock) / Funk / Ragtime

If you are interested in this topic I highly recommend you this article:

https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/5f90/f91bda7b35c0c56816e40c62cde58bb10e18.pdf