HISTORY

OF AMERICAN MUSIC

:

The USA is the homeland of

unique musical styles

The first American music was the music

of Indians.

Slaves were brought from Africa to work on plantations in the South of the US. They sang white religious songs

but they added African rhythms to the music. We call these songs

"spirituals".

Louis Armstrong and Bessy Smith

The blues was a new kind of music. In blues songs some notes were flattened. These notes were called "blue notes". They made the music sound sad and different.

Jazz

Popular music first played by Afro-American groups in the Southern

USA in the early 20th century characterized by improvisation and strong rhythms is called traditional

jazz.

Although jazz began in New

Orleans, it soon spread to all the big cities like St. Louis, Chicago, New York and Los Angeles.

The 1930s in America were the time of big bands and a new kind of jazz called swing. This new music had a

special rhythm.

Jazz styles are always changing. In recent years, jazz musicians have

put together jazz music and rock instruments like the electric guitar.

This new jazz style is called electric jazz or fusion.

The world of music is around us. Music can leave us indifferent or

it can provoke powerful and complex feelings. So music plays a very important role in people’s

lives. It reflects our mood and emotions. You can hardly find a person who doesn’t like or need

music, who never sings or dances.