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Overview
This lesson addresses several types of popular music from the first part of the twentieth century, all of which can be considered predecessors of rock. Popular songs from Tin Pan Alley, vaudeville shows, and Broadway musicals flooded the market in print, while early sound recordings and live performances of jazz drew a significant listenership. As we will see, audiences became increasingly receptive to listening and appreciating African American popular music forms, especially the genres of ragtime and jazz. In addition to these popular forms of African American music, Tin Pan Alley and Broadway songs were also popular with audiences in the forms of sheet music, early recordings, and live performances.
Objectives
- Examine the important features of African American music, such as syncopation, swing, and tone color
- Examine the aspects that made Tin Pan Alley and Broadway songs successful, such as specific forms, sentimental lyrics, and inexpensive sheet music
- Examine the early part of the twentieth century that represented a time when listeners transitioned from consuming sheet music and playing music at home to purchasing recorded music to listen to at home.
- Examine how Tin Pan Alley rose in popularity at the turn of the 20th century
- Identify Tin Pan Alley composers
- Define vaudeville
- Define ragtime
- Discuss the features of ragtime music
- Identify various Dixieland jazz combos
Conclusion
During the first part of the twentieth century, several types of popular music dominated the market. One thread unites ragtime, Tin Pan Alley songs, Broadway songs, Dixieland jazz, and swing, however, and that is the use of specific forms. White audiences voraciously consumed African American music, although their consumption often reflected existing racial power dynamics. As we will see, troubled relationships between white and black musicians and culture are a critical part of rock’s history and origins.
“One thing that sticks in my mind is that jazz means freedom and openness. It's a music that, although it developed out of the African American experience, speaks more about the human experience than the experience of a particular people.”
-Herbie Hancock
“Jazz is a very accurate, curiously accurate accompaniment to 20th century America.”
-Ken Burns
In 1935, Louis Armstrong suffered from a severe lip rupture due to his aggressive style of playing and was forced to stop playing for one year.
