Jazz

[s.ashwin.rao]

The immigration of Europeans and the importation of West African slaves to America resulted in a convergence of cultures, traditions, and art forms, including music. Jazz, first played in New Orleans in the early 1900s, borrowed heavily from the European musical scale and harmonic system. Jazz ensembles were built predominantly on European instruments, manifested primarily in its performance. Scatting, a technique used by jazz vocalists to mimic the sounds of instruments, had its origin in West African vocal traditions. The emphasis on improvisation in jazz music, in addition to group participation, also came from West African music.
Some musicologists argue that jazz is a purely American form of music. Others, however, contend that jazz is rooted in a history similar to that of such as the trumpet, trombone, saxophone, and piano. The West African influence on jazz was America itself, a history of confluence. Proponents of the argument that jazz is purely American often point to its genesis in New Orleans as evidence for this perspective. The irony, however, is that the essence of America lies in the plurality of its roots. To deny the rich and complex history of jazz, and the true origins of the art form, is to deny the very aspects of the art form that make it undeniably American.


1) It can be inferred from the passage that the author would be less inclined to label jazz an American art form if which of the following were true?

a) New Orleans was not the place where jazz music was first played.

b) Jazz music was first created in New York when four avant-garde musicians from different cultural backgrounds came together to experiment with unprecedented musical concepts.

c) With the influx of West Africans to the Americas came a very specific West African musical style which eventually came to be called "jazz" in New Orleans

d) Jazz music actually draws more of its character from South American and Native American traditions than from those of Europe or West Africa.

e) The instruments used by jazz musicians were predominately of West African origin, not European origin.


2) Which of the following statements concerning jazz is most directly suggested in the passage?

a) The plurality of jazz’s roots has led multiple cultures to claim jazz as their own.

b) If jazz musicians had not borrowed from the European musical scale, they would have used the West African musical scale instead.

c) Only European and African cultures had an influence on the development of jazz

d) Jazz was played in West Africa prior to its introduction in New Orleans in the early 1900s.

e) Instrumentation was not a primary component of the West African influence on jazz.


Which of the following elements of jazz most likely has its origin in West African musical traditions?

a) the emphasis on a tonal harmonic structure

b) the use of an instrument to mimic a vocalist’s sound

c) the use of traditional African instruments

d) the use of many instruments in a jazz ensemble

e) an impromptu call-and-response between two instruments in the ensemble

OA is C, E, E. I am not at happy with Questions 1 and 3.
Question 1: How can the OA be C? If west africans did something which came to be known as Jazz in America then obviously such art would be american! I think OA should be B

Question 2: Why not A, this is clearly mentioned in the passage.

Question 3: How can the OA be E? E is not even talked of in the passage.

[tim]

1) i read a New York Times article last month about American style football being played in Switzerland. if they change the name of the sport to Farvegnugen, would that make it a "Swiss sport"?

2) the passage says NOTHING of the sort. no one else is claiming jazz as their own..

3) what do you think the correct answer is? the other options are pretty effectively ruled out by the passage..

[s.ashwin.rao]

Hi Tim,
1) I do not get what you have said or asked. As I understand the author is trying to say that Jazz is American because of the rich culture from which this popular artform is dervied. So any artform that has originated without such a mix should be an ideal answer. And according to me only B satisfies, C does not because if West Africans came to America and developed Jazz then obiviously such an artform should be labelled American.

2) Please refer to this sentence in the passage The irony, however, is that the essence of America lies in the plurality of its roots.

3) I think the answer should be clearly B since this is also mentioned in the passage here Scatting, a technique used by jazz vocalists to mimic the sounds of instruments, had its origin in West African vocal traditions.

Thanks

[tim]

Okay hopefully this will help:

1) Putting a name on something does not make it your own. This is the essence of this problem and what you should focus on..

2) The quote you provided refers only to America, not to "multiple cultures" as mentioned in your preferred answer choice..

3) Look closely; you've got this one backwards. The passage talks about using vocals to mimic instruments, whereas the answer choice talks about using instruments to mimic vocals..

[wwjdat2000]

I know I'm 2 yrs late. But, for late comers. ;)

The answer to the 3rd question is 'E' based on this passage:

"The emphasis on improvisation in jazz music, in addition to group participation, also came from West African music. "

The question asks 'most likely'.

Hope this helps!

[jlucero]

I know I'm 2 yrs late. But, for late comers. ;)

The answer to the 3rd question is 'E' based on this passage:

"The emphasis on improvisation in jazz music, in addition to group participation, also came from West African music. "

The question asks 'most likely'.

Hope this helps!

That's the sentence to look at. Let us know if there are other questions on this.