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1920's Music

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Submitted By bellings129
Words 1097
Pages 5
Sharon Bellingeri
English III: 1
Mrs. Sledden
25, May 2011
Sounds of a Nation The loud, ringing sound of a trumpet’s blare, the fresh rhythm of guitars, and the clear crisp voices uplifted in song; these were just a few of the common sounds that could be heard during the 1920s. The Jazz Age incorporated more than just jazz, with blues booming, ballads and ragtime filling the air, and show tunes enrapturing audiences on and off the stage, the 1920s were alive with all kinds of music. The 1920s brought significant changes to music in America with new musicians, styles, and innovations, all of which would influence music around the world for years to come. Jazz music was a significant source of music in the 1920s, a style which originated in New Orleans and had spread throughout the country by the 1920s. Large cities such as Chicago, and New York City become epicenters for jazz music. People of all backgrounds embraced the music which would become synonymous with the time period becoming known as the Jazz Age, named by author F. Scott Fitzgerald (Bruccoli ix). Jazz music was characterized mainly by syncopation and improvisation along with techniques to alter the sound of instruments such as mutes and slides, and the overall swing feel of the music (Tyle). An abundance of jazz musicians became well known for their various techniques, styles, and the instruments they played. Louis Armstrong was one of the most influential jazz
Bellingeri 2 musicians of the 1920s. Hailing from New Orleans, the hub of jazz music, he would become a legacy for the Jazz Age with his trumpet and voice bringing jazz to life. Leon “Bix” Beiderbecke was another great trumpeter and jazz musician of the 1920s. He never learned to read music, but rather played by ear. Willy “The Lion” Smith was a jazz pianist who was largely responsible for creating the “Harlem Stride Style” of piano

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