MUSIC 331 JAZZ: HISTORY AND ANALYSIS
Professor Marc Seales/ Music Building #14 phone:
543 -1231/no emails
Office hours: Friday @ 9:30-10:30
Teaching Assistant: Mr. Rich Pellegrin
Office
Hours and location: TBA
Monday-Friday 8:30 am to 9:20 am are in
Brechemin Auditorium (Room 124)
Textbook (required; sold in the University
Bookstore) Jazz:
From Its Origins to the Present Lewis Porter, Michael Ullman, Ed Hazell
Fall 2008
My
objective is to give you an appreciation of jazz styles and the culture
associated with jazz through a historical survey of jazz. Jazz is not only a
"style" or "kind" of music; it is a “culture” or
“subculture” whose place in American culture has evolved. Knowledge of music
and music terminology is not required in this class. You will be learning some
basic musical terms just to help understand the things we are listening for.
One thing everyone should be prepared to spend plenty of time listening to the
musical examples. If you can't make a lecture, you are responsible for getting
the information from your classmates. *
LISTENING EXAMPLES: Online/ Details later.
GRADING and EXAMS: 3 exams, (2 midterms and a final) worth 75
points each and 4 quizzes on the readings worth 10 points each. The exams are
not cumulative. You will need a mark-sense form (“scantron”) for the exams and
quizzes. 2 jazz concert reviews worth 25 each (one jazz review due at the
midterm 1 date, the 2nd due on the last day of class.). Each exam
will have “ extra credit points”. To get a 4.0, you must get 315 points or
more.
CONCERT REVIEWS: All of the reviews should be presented in neat
organized fashion. Typed or computer generated, it should be no longer than 2
pages single-spaced. Each review must have proof of attendance, like a ticket stub
from a concert or a signature from one of the participants of the performance. A
list of concerts/performances will be presented in class that will be
acceptable for review. In writing your paper, please be as observant and
detailed as possible about the musical performance. Late papers are not
accepted. * Plagiarized papers will be given ''0'' credit and possible disqualification
from class.
TOPICS SCHEDULE:
1. Defining “jazz.” Chapter1, Appendix 1,2
and glossary. Discuss the elements of jazz, the jazz musician and defining key
musical terms.
2. Roots of Jazz, Early New Orleans Jazz.
: Listening 1 Chapters 2 -7, We
will primarily be looking at the early blues and jazz performers such as Louis
Armstrong, Jelly Roll Morton, Sidney Bechet, James P. Johnson, etc. and talking
about their contributions to the music.
3. Swing Era. Listening 2 and 3: Chapters 8-11, At this time we will be looking at the
rise of the saxophone, big bands and the main architects of this time period;
Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Art Tatum, etc.
4. Midterm Exam 1: Oct. 23 or 28
5. Bebop and Its Relatives. Listening 4,5,6: Chapter 12,13 Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and
the rise of "modern jazz".
Cool. Chapter 14, Lennie
Tristano, Gerry Mulligan, Chet Baker, Miles Davis and the evolution of
"cool".
Hard Bop and Funky. Chapter 15, Art Blakey, Horace Silver and the Detroit- Philadelphia connection?
6.
Midterm Exam 2 : Nov. 13 or 18
7. Miles Davis and Post-Bop. Listening 7 and10: Chapter 16, 19 and
20, The Evolution of Miles' music and the significant impact he has had on
jazz. Bill Evans.
8. John Coltrane: Listening 8: Chapter 17
9. Free Music; the Avant-Garde. Listening
9: Chapter 18 and 22, Ornette
Coleman, Cecil Taylor, Mingus, etc.
10. Contemporary. (Fusion, jazz-rock) Listening 10 and 11: Chapter 21
Weather Report, Herbie Hancock, Chick Corea, etc.
11. Review for the Final Exam December
4 and 5.
12. Final Exam: 8:30-10:20 am
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Thank You.
Prof. Marc Seales
* Some changes may be made to
this syllabus later. All dates are subject to change and are just guides to the
time frame for the class with the exception of the final exam date.