Week 2

I have to say, one of the biggest things I noticed while listening this week is how much recording quality changed over a very short amount of time. While listening to “Castle House Rag” recorded in 1914, I was looking along at the form guide with descriptions and had a hard time picking out the violin sound. The drums were very clear and very military/marching band sounding, which is common for the time. Due to the lack of microphones and good recording technology at the time of this recording, it makes sense that the sounds are not very clear. The violin and piano were lost for me when I first listened, I had to really focus on the sound I was searching to hear all the instruments.

With the invention and creation of radio, sound films and microphones in the 1920’s, it is amazing how much the sound changes. The recordings from “My Blue Heaven,” April Showers,” and “I Got Rhythm” are much clearer than what was heard in “Castle House Rag.” Though it is nice to hear the almost cracking, record like sound of the music, which makes you feel like you are in a different place.

It was fun looking up videos of the pieces in this weeks listening. Watching people like Al Jolson and Ethel Merman perform is absolutely amazing. Having students watch these performances and compare what they saw would be a great listening activity. Much can be learned by watching and taking notes on what makes these performances engaging to the audience. Students rarely get the opportunity to see and witness this level of musicianship with today’s music. It would be interesting to see if students would notice the lack of microphones and flashy lights and sounds that they are accustomed to.

I feel my chorus would gain knowledge about how the performers personality assists in keeping the audience engaged in the music. My students have a difficult time understanding that they control the mood and overall feel with their voices. Having students observe some of the greats would be a wonderful exercise for students.

There is a quote from Starr and Waterman (pp. 117) that stuck with me, “If popular songs endure at all, they endure most commonly as touchstones for nostalgia. Precisely because they capture the flavor of their time so tellingly.” The songs we have listened to this week does make me think of another time and a different world of music. “I Got Rhythm” is 85 years old, but is still a song that many people can sing a bit of without thinking. I wonder if the composers and artists of the 1920’s knew their songs would stand the test of times? It will be interesting what current music will stand the test of times and what will be forgotten.  

References

Starr, L. & Waterman, C. (2013). American popular music: From

minstrelsy to MP3 (4th ed.). New York: Oxford University Press

(ISBN:978-0-19-985911-5).