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ScotlandMusic TechnologyQuick questions
Developing Understanding of 20th and 21st Century Music
Quick questions on Early 20th century genres: ragtime, blues, jazz, swing, big band - SQA Higher Music Technology
6short Q&A pairs drawn directly from our worked dot-point answer. For full context and worked exam questions, read the parent dot-point page.
What is ragtime?Show answer
Ragtime (around 1900, associated with Scott Joplin) is mainly solo piano. Its signature is the contrast between a steady, march-like left hand (a regular "oom-pah" bass and chords) and a syncopated right-hand melody that lands off the beat. It is lively, in a moderate two-feel, and was hugely popular before jazz. Hear it by the off-beat melody over a strict bass on piano.
What are blues?Show answer
The blues is the emotional and harmonic root of much popular music. Its features are the 12-bar blues chord pattern (12 bars using chords I, IV and V in a set order, repeated), blue notes (flattened 3rd, 5th and 7th) that bend the melody expressively, and call and response between voice and instrument. It often uses a shuffle or triplet feel and a small combo (vocal, guitar or piano, bass, drums), with a melancholy, soulful mood.
What is jazz?Show answer
Jazz grew from ragtime and blues in the early 20th century. Its defining features are improvisation (players inventing melodies over the chords in real time), syncopation and a swing feel, and call and response between players. It is played by combos (a few players: trumpet, saxophone, piano, bass, drums) and ranges widely in style. Hear it by the improvised solos over a chord sequence and the swung, syncopated rhythm.
What is q1?Show answer
What is the signature texture of ragtime piano? [2 marks]
What is q2?Show answer
Which feature most clearly distinguishes jazz from a through-composed style? [2 marks]
What is q3?Show answer
Name two instruments you would expect in the sections of a swing big band. [2 marks]
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