MUSIC

Rag Music
● Peak popularity 1900s
● A genre of music featuring syncopated rhythm.
● It is a synthesis of "European Classical" Music and "African Syncopation."
RAGTIME (1897-1918)
● Main features: ragged or off-beat rhythm
● Started as a dance in African communities in New Orleans before being published as a
popular music sheet for piano.
● Generally in duple meter and performed at a moderate march tempo
● Scott Joplin (1868-1971) “King of Ragtime”
○ 52 piano pieces which 42 are rags!
○ He knew different types of instruments.
○ The piano is his favorite.
○ His works: Maple Leaf Rag, The Entertainer
JAZZ
- Started in African - American communities in the Southern part of the U.S
- Special association with swing, improvisation, developing voice quality, and other
musical potentials.
- Improvisation
- Syncopation and rhythmic swing
- Cornet, trumpet, saxophone, piano, clarinet, vibraphone, and trombone.
- Improvisation is one of the key essentials in jazz music.
- New Orleans is known as the birthplace of Jazz.
Louis Armstrong
- One of the most important jazz icons and singers.
- Trumpet and cornet player
- Skillful in bending the lyrics and melodies of the songs.
- Songs: What a wonderful world, 1967 (Traditional pop, jazz)

Ella Fitzgerald
- Career-defining friendship with Marilyn Monroe, to whom Fitzgerald said she “owe a real
debt.”
- Fitzgerald, like many African-American musicians, faced musicians, faced significant
adversity as a result of her race.
- Songs: Dream a Little Dream of Me, Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong
Big Band (1920’s)
- Associated with jazz and swing
- A musical group that consists of brass, woodwind, and rhythm instruments
- Jazz band, jazz ensemble, dance group, society band, or jazz orchestra
- Became popular on the radio during the 1930s-1940s
- Started to emerge in the movies in the 1930’s-1960’s
Popular names in the big band
1. Bob Crosby
2. Benny Goodman
3. Frank Sinatra
Big band: “That’s A Plenty” by Lew Pollack
Rock ‘n’ Roll
- A genre of popular music
- Simple melodies with an accented beat
- Originated in Africa and developed in the United States
- The decline of Roll ‘n’ Roll: end of the 50s to early 60s, due to different events and
issues:
- Death of the three rock legends, Buddy Holly, “The Big Bopper” J.P. Richardson,
and Ritchie Valens, in a plane crash
- The decision of Elvis Presly to give up stardom for a career change.
Famous Rock ‘n’ Roll Legends
THE BEATLES
● An English rock band formed in Liverpool in 1960. It is regarded as the most influential
band of all time.
○ John Lennon
○ Paul McCartney
○ George Harrison
○ Ringo Starr
ELVIS AARON PRESLEY
● An American singer, musician, and actor.
● Had sold over 250 million records worldwide and is currently the best-selling solo
music artist of all time.

FOLK ROCK
● Hybrid music genre combining elements of fold music and rock music.
● Peter, Paul, and Mary were one of the many famous singers of this genre.
○ It was an American folk group formed in New York City in 1961
○ It was composed of tenor Peter Yarrow, baritone Noel Paul Stookey, and
contralto Mary Travers.
Other FAMOUS FOLD ROCK ARTISTS
- Robert Allen Zimmermanis, also known as Bob Dylan
- His songs became anthems for the Civil Rights Movement and anti-war
movement.
- “Blowin’ in the Wind” (1963)
- “The Times They Are a-Changin’” (1964)
- Charles Hardin Holley (Buddy Holly)
- A musician and a singer-songwriter who was a pioneering figure in mid-1950s
rock and roll.
- He was killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.