Swing Essays

“Swing” as a rhythmic phenomenon refers to the groove that is central to jazz. This groove is formed by a four-beat rhythm with a contrasting backbeat. According to J. Bradford Robinson of Oxford Music Online, swing comes from the abilities of the jazz musicians to manipulate the backbeat to contrast with the main four-beat pulse, though it has to be done just right, because simple rhythmic conflicts don’t always cause the music to swing. These can be made of changes in timbre and intonation, all

mind when thinking of swing dancing. Or, perhaps one thinks of a soldier and his sweetheart reconnecting after the war on the dance floor. No matter what one pictures, it is very likely that everyone is familiar with swing dancing in some sense. This idea speaks to just how popular swing is and how it has survived the test of time. Swing dancing has a very unique history and way of development that has allowed it to still be danced often today. Some view the beginning of the swing era as when Louis

Swing is a genre that was born in the early 1920’s, it developed from the early styles of Jazz, within the African American Culture. At this moment in time society was changing, women had gained the right to vote, it was the end of World War 1 and there were significant advances in technology. Swing not only had an impact on the music industry as a genre of music, but it was making its impact on society as a culture, making it popular for many different reasons. Jazz started to become an important

“During the 1930s and early 1940s the predominant jazz style was swing. Swing, a dance-oriented style, typically was played in ballrooms by big bands of fourteen or more musicians.” (Thomas, pg.4) The role played by African Americans within the system during this era was revolutionary. The American public had become familiar and happy with big-band swing. Swing rhythm sections delivered a solid, basic accompaniment, built largely of long quarter-note strings exaggerated by the high-hat pattern. Often

Cootie Williams was an iconic trumpet player during the swing era as he was part of Duke Ellington’s Orchestra and then later branched off. He has conducted a terrific form of rhythm and beat when it comes to the swing format. When looking further into his style you can notice the pattern of consistent swing like tone. For example, when listening to Juice Head Baby (1945), you can notice how sets off the song with the swing like tone and continues with melody, and during the vocals section you can

documentary, Swing Pure Pleasure. In the late 1930’s Swing became the new Jazz among the young teenage Americans. With its popularity came fame for band leaders and bands. Bands started touring, band leaders were seen as rock stars, and swing became the obsession of many young Americans. This new fame wasn’t all flashing lights many bands and band leaders faced hardships in their career. Benny Goodman was a Jewish clarinet player who immigrated to America and became known as the King of Swing. Benny Goodman

diametrically opposed styles of jazz, however, than swing and bebop. Author Piero Scaruffi notes, “The only reason to consider swing and bebop as branches of the same musical genre is that they shared the same instrumentation and the passion for improvisation (and, mostly, the color of the skin)” CITATION Sca05 \l 1033 (Scaruffi). Swing Swing rose to popularity in the 1930’s- a time of deep economic depression and political tension in the years before WWII. Swing provided an escape from social and political

The song that I have chosen for my music critique is “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If it Ain’t Got That Swing)” by Duke Ellington. This song was composed and arranged by Duke Ellington himself in 1931 and was recorded/released in 1932. The creation of this piece also included the following people: Irving Mills who wrote the lyrics, Ivie Anderson who sang the vocals, Joe Nanton who was the trombonist and Johnny Hodges the saxophonist. Now digging into the recording of the song, I’d like to focus on the

Benny Goodman was a central figure in American swing music as a clarinetist and bandleader. Swing music is a style of jazz music that was prevalent from the 1920s into the 1940s. This music was known for its vast popularity and danceable quality. Besides being a phenomenal bandleader, Goodman also promoted racial equality at a time where Black people were facing serious adversity. Born into a poor Jewish immigrant background, Goodman used music to escape from the harshness of the world. His father

Swing was a very popular kind of music in the United States during the 1930s and throughout the war. Hundreds of swing bands traveled the country, performing for millions of fans looking for a good time with good music. One band that was unique and took the hearts of many, was the International Sweethearts of Rhythm. The most important factors that contributed to the success of the band were that they were racially integrated women, very committed, and it was during world war II. One

‘Swing Low Sweet Chariot’ was a Negro Spiritual that was sung by African-Americans during the period of slavery. Although the spiritual is very short, sweet, and straight to the point; there are many key factors inside that can help one analyze and break it down. ‘Swing Low, Sweet Chariot’ is thought to be a code melody or coded tune, and is one of many spirituals that connect specifically to the Underground Railroad. The Underground Railroad was neither a railroad nor underground, however was rather

came across this tire swing that was above an eight foot

the years many styles of dance has formed with the variations of different techniques. It allows a dancer to express themselves in a variety of different ways. Frankie Manning was a huge role model when it came to swing dancing during the jazz age. In the 1980s, renewal interests in swing dance brought Manning out again to choreography and teach. Today he continues to teach dance still continuing to keep jazz alive. He choreographed many well-known pieces that are

1920s fashion The 1920’s also famously known as “The Roaring 20’s” was filled with many positive and negative things that have had a strong impact on the society in that time period. From the “Great Gatsby” like parties, with the swing dancing, and the big rise in the stock market, to the abolishment of distributing alcohol, the 20’s were glamorous times. There were new innovated and some might say “scandalous” styles in the fashion. One of the biggest events that impacted society and the fashion

near to our culture has been swing. Whether it be it's beginning stages in the 1920's, its peak in the 1940's, or the numerous revivals, big band is making a big story in the United States. One of the most influential swing band leaders was Glenn miller. With multiple hits, awards, and even a movie about him his life and music embraces and even forms American culture in a pivotal in our history. His music is one of the greatest stories to show the expansion of swing culture and where it goes from

house my family would spend weekends at. Situated at the top of a steep hill, the house was surrounded by old, stately trees. In one of the trees there was a rope swing that was positioned to be pushed out over the hill. When I swung out, with the ground growing further away, I almost felt like I was flying. Life is a bit like that swing. There is no danger until the rope breaks. I landed on my wrist and had to be rushed to the hospital to make sure there weren’t any internal injuries. 2012 was the

Curley Character Analysis Of Mice of Men was written by John Steinbeck and was an interpretation of the Great Depression and its effects on the people. The Great Depression is the economic recession and it began on 1929 and lasted till 1939. It was the deepest and longest-lasting economic downturn in the history of the Western industrialized world. Each character represented the person that was affected by the Depression. Lennie represented the mentally disabled, Curley’s Wife represented the women

Cakewalk The dance called the Cakewalk is known as the most popular black social dance to influence the social dancing of the ragtime era (NADINE GEORGE-GRAVES56). The dance was made up of both African American women and men that were slaves of this time period. This dance was a sense of peace of mind. It offered a way out of the normal lives of slaves. While doing this dance, everyone could get together and let loose. This also allowed everyone to get together and gossip about anything going

the class for recess, I ran for the swings to meet my friend where we swing every afternoon recess. Whenever she got on the swing, she would hold onto the swing, run up, and jump on the swing and start swinging. I could never and still can’t do that, however, I still tried it. I ran, jumped up, and over jumped the swing. You would think that I would just fall on my back and get up and try again, but of course that did not happen. My pants caught onto the swing and and I fell back. I did not hit

the United States (Fletcher Henderson 99). The dance craze started due to a shift in Jazz music to Big Bands. Swing was the main way these new type of bands were described due to the fact that these bands played like no other bands before, and gained the ability to make the music move unlike jazz had in the past. In the article “Fletcher Henderson” it explains “someone once described swing as the quality which not only makes people want to dance but would also cause them to fall over in a heap if