Singing the Blues

Singing the Blues

A history

Poll

How much do you know about the musical style "The Blues?"

• I know a lot!

• I know a little bit.

• I don't know very much.

• I've never heard of it.

Listen to this example of the blues:

"Ain't Got Nothin' But the Blues" - Ella Fitzgerald

What do you notice about the song?
The lyrics? The style of singing? The instruments?
Enter your response on the next slide.

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Listening Example

Open Ended

What is one thing you noticed about the song "Ain't Got Nothin But the Blues" by Ella Fitzgerald.

(Hint: you can talk about the lyrics, the instruments, the style of singing, the speed, the mood, or many other things!)

Blues History

​Read the Introduction

Have you ever felt sad or lonely? Have you ever felt like singing about your troubles when you were sad? A lot of early Americans, particularly slaves, often felt this way because of the bad situations in which they found themselves. They believed an important part of dealing with those feelings was sharing them. They did so through songs that can be traced directly to their African musical heritage.

Blues History

​Read about African Heritage of Music

Music in African culture is an extremely important part of life. In African tribes, people sing songs as they do their work throughout the day. They learn songs about different aspects of life. They learn specific songs about family life, their family history, the traditions of their tribe, and even songs for specific daily chores. They also created songs and music for special events. When Africans were brought to America and forced into slavery, they brought this heritage with them.

Multiple Choice

True or False: Music in African culture is an extremely important part of life.

• True

• False

Multiple Choice

Which is NOT something that African tribes learn songs about?

• Family life

• Traditions of their tribe

• Specific daily chores

• Falling in love

Multiple Choice

How did the African heritage of singing make its way to America?

• When American soldiers visited Africa, they learned the songs there.

• When Africans were brought to America and forced into slavery, they brought this heritage with them.

• When the internet was invented, people were able to share this heritage.

While they worked in the fields, slaves would sing songs to help them do the work and to help them feel better about their

situations.

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Slavery and Music

Blues History

Slavery and Music (continued)

When they were not working, slaves would sing melancholy songs in their homes or in religious gatherings. These songs were about the hardships of being a slave, the difficulties of losing their family, and the sadness of being separated from the ones they loved. Often they would petition God to help them in these difficult times in their lives.

Multiple Choice

What does it mean when the article says the slaves' songs were "melancholy?"

• They were lively, spunky, fun, and fast.

• They were sad, thoughtful, gloomy, or depressed.

• They were full of history and information.

Multiple Select

What kinds of things were slave songs about?

Check ALL the correct answers.

• Hardships of being a slave

• Difficulties of losing their family

• Sadness of being separated from loved ones

• Happiness at being alive

Multiple Choice

What does "petition" mean?

• To request or ask for something

• To work hard in the field

• To make music in a particular style

This, therefore, is the origin of what we now call the blues. The slaves continued to create these songs until they were freed at the end of the Civil War. Even after they were freed, the songs and the style remained popular.

​

By about 1900 the blues had developed into a standard musical form of about 12 measures that would be repeated for all the words in the song.

The Blues develops

Multiple Choice

How many measures are in a standard Blues form?

• 6

• 8

• 12

• 16

• Singers and instrumentalists who took the style further

• Mixed blues with jazz, pop, and other styles

Later: 1930-present

• Country/Rural blues

• City/Urban blues

Earlier: 1860s-1930

Two periods in Blues History

​Country blues singers usually accompanied themselves on the guitar. Some of the best-known country blues singers of the early period were Big Bill Broonzy, Robert Johnson, Blind Lemon Jefferson, Teddy Ledbetter (also known as Ledbelly), and Lightnin' Hopkins.

Early Blues: Country/Rural

​The city blues was more rhythmic and often faster than the country blues. Also, the city blues performers were often accompanied by a complete jazz combo or rhythm section, consisting of a piano, bass, and drums, with other instruments such as trumpet, clarinet, and trombone. The most famous urban blues singers were women including Ma Rainey, Mamie Smith, and the most famous of all, Bessie Smith.

Early Blues: City/Urban

​Notice how the instruments imitate Bessie's voice. This was the beginning of jazz music!!!

Multiple Choice

What instruments were played in the country/rural blues?

• Only guitar!

• Trumpet and Clarinet

• Piano, Guitar, and Drums

• Trombone

Multiple Select

What instruments were played in the city/urban blues?

Check all 3 correct answers.

• Piano, bass, drums

• Trumpet and Clarinet

• Guitar

• Trombone

Open Ended

In your own words, what is the difference between country/rural and city/urban blues?

Some late blues singers include Joe Turner, Jimmy Rushing, Joe Williams, and Jimmy Witherspoon.

Late Blues: Singers

Some instrumentalists, many of whom also sang, were the great Louis Armstrong, Jack Teagarden, and Ray Charles.

Late Blues: Instrumentalists

Poll

Now, how much do you know about the musical style "The Blues?"

• I know a lot!

• I know a little bit.

• I don't know very much.

• I've never heard of it.