Blacks in Blues Music

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, as an aural music, the blues has few absolute features, intending to take on its shape and style during the performance, reflecting the personal response of its inventor to a specific occurrence or situation. The author points out that, like other black folksong, blues' lyrics are rich in imagery; the blues is distinctive for its three-line stanza, an apparent throwback to its African origins because the three-line stanza is uncommon in American and European folksong repertories. The paper relates that blues lyrics were filled with provocative and sexually pervasive imagery, openly addressing both male and female sexuality; the music was performed solo marking the advent of popular culture performances.

From the Paper:

"Although Handy was the first man to write a blues composition and the first to popularize the blues, two blues pieces actually appeared in print prior to his "Memphis Blues". The "Baby Seals Blues," written by the rag-pianist Artie Matthews, was published in August, 1912, and the "Dallas Blues' written by the white songwriter Hart A. Wand, was published the following month. Handy's blues piece came out three week later, followed by his "Jogo Blues" in 1913, "St. Louis Blues" in 1914, and "Joe Turner Blues" in 1915. In 1915, Matthew wrote another popular blues, "Weary Blues," and that same year, Ferdinand Joseph Morton published his "Original Jelly Roll Blues"."

More papers on Blacks in Blues Music:

• Essay # 23509 : "Double Conscience in Blues Music"
• Analytical Essay # 23464 : "Sonny's Blues" and Blues Music"
• Analytical Essay # 142359 : "Blues and Jazz and the Evolution of Blacks in American"

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