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Think About It: Summary of the Elements of the African American and American European Culture That Are Part of a Blues Composition

Now that you have listened to Handy’s most famous work, “ St. Louis Blues♫ ,” review the following summary of the African, African American, and European American influences of the blues. Then test your knowledge by writing a few sentences about each of the elements mentioned in the following summary.

What Elements Do the Blues Take from the African American and American European Culture
African Tradition European Tradition
  • Griot
    • Blues music is a form of social commentary similar to the African griot.
  • Form
    • Strophic
    • AAAA—for example, four stanzas of three lines each.
  • Melodic Resources of Blues
    • Field holler, spirituals
      • Melodic, timbral, and forceful rhythmic delivery.
      • Blue notes
      • Blues scale
      • Call-and-response
  • Harmony
    • I-IV-V Chords
    • In the key of C major, the above chords translate to I—C major (Tonic); IV—F major, (Subdominant), and V—G major, (Dominant).
  • Adaptation of European Folk Ballads
    • European ballad told stories.
    • Black American blues singers used the three-line stanzaic form—AAB—to tell their stories.
  • Instrumentation
    • Guitar
    • Piano
    • Harmonica
    • Other homemade instruments

Sidney Bechet

The blues like spirituals were prayers. One was praying to God; the other was praying to man.

Sterling Brown

You can’t play the blues until you have paid your dues