This essay tries to give an overview of the development of the blues from the way African-Americans played it in the Mississippi delta to its changes in Chicago and to its final recognition in Europe and internationally as an important influence on almost all kinds of contemporary music. At the same time it tries to show the connection of black music with the economic and cultural situation of its artists.
On the background of this miserable life a wide variety of cultural activities developed. West-African musical traditions blended with Western European musical influences to become a distinctly African-American music in the form of work songs, spirituals to accompany black church services and finally the blues. Most sources agree that the blues as a distinct art form came into existence in the 1890s.
“Feeling blue” is the expression of the frustration and sadness of the black population about discrimination, injustice, violence and their complete exclusion from the American Dream. They knew they would always be dishwashers and never make it to be millionaires, with very few exceptions, and this was expressed in their songs.
Table of Contents
1. Fisk Field Research of 1941/42
2. Farms in the American South
3. Role of the blues
4. Formal Aspects of the Blues
5. Chicago Blues
6. Outlook
Objectives and Topics
This work examines the historical and cultural development of the blues as a significant African-American art form, analyzing its origins in the Mississippi Delta and its subsequent transformation within the urban landscape of Chicago. It further explores how this music served as both a cultural counterweight to the hardships of segregation and a foundational influence on contemporary popular music.
- The impact of the 1941/42 Fisk field research on preserving African-American culture.
- The socio-economic realities of sharecropping and life in the American South.
- The emergence of the blues as an expression of frustration and social identity.
- The structural and technical characteristics of the blues.
- The migration of blues artists to urban centers and the transition to the Chicago blues style.
- The cultural shift of blues music toward a global influence and its legacy in later genres.
Excerpt from the Book
Formal Aspects of the Blues
Most blues songs have four beats in a bar, are built on the 12-bar blues form, use three four-bar phrases. The most common chord structure uses three chords – the tonic (chord I), the subdominant (chord IV) and the dominant (chord V).
Compared with the major scale, some notes, known as “blue notes” may be flattened by a semitone or ‘bent’ by a smaller interval. Blue notes are usually found on the third, fifth or seventh degree of the scale. 10
Of course musicians often played variations of this structure and especially in the urban blues which was influenced by jazz, playing solos became more and more common.
Guitarists can also bend the notes by pushing or pulling the strings on their instrument. From the beginning blues guitarists used the “slide” technique, putting a bottleneck, a piece of metal or even a cleaned marrowbone or a knife to slide up and down on the strings, which produced a crying, wailing sound.
Blues lyrics are very emotional, they often deal with (lost) love, hardship and loneliness. Injustice and the oppression of black Americans, the hope for a better life in the future or in the afterlife play an essential role. Originally songs were also used to pass on messages among blacks, that the white boss or overseer could not understand.
Lyrics often have a three-line structure A A B, with the second line repeating the first and the third line bringing in a new idea or aspect, often conveying the real message of the song.
Chapter Summaries
Fisk Field Research of 1941/42: This chapter introduces the sociological study conducted by the Library of Congress and Fisk University, which documented African-American culture in the Mississippi Delta region during the early 1940s.
Farms in the American South: This section details the harsh realities of the sharecropping system, economic exploitation, and the life of African-Americans in the post-Civil War South.
Role of the blues: This chapter explains how the blues originated as an expression of frustration and as a cultural response to discrimination and systemic oppression.
Formal Aspects of the Blues: This part defines the technical foundations of the blues, including the 12-bar structure, the use of "blue notes," and the lyrical patterns that convey the genre's emotional depth.
Chicago Blues: This chapter examines the migration of musicians to Chicago, focusing on how the traditional Delta blues evolved into the electrified "Chicago blues" style amidst a new urban environment.
Outlook: This final chapter discusses the postwar transition of the blues into rhythm and blues, its subsequent influence on British and American rock music, and its enduring role in musical history.
Keywords
Blues, Mississippi Delta, Fisk University, Alan Lomax, Muddy Waters, Sharecropping, Segregation, Chicago Blues, 12-bar blues, Blue notes, Rhythm and Blues, African-American Culture, Migration, Jazz, Music History.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this work?
The work explores the development of the blues, tracing its roots from rural Mississippi sharecropping communities to its transformation into a major urban musical force in Chicago.
What are the central themes discussed?
The text focuses on African-American cultural history, the socioeconomic struggles under segregation, the evolution of musical forms, and the transition of the blues from a regional art to a global influence.
What is the core objective of the research presented?
The primary aim is to document the context in which the blues emerged and to illustrate how the social and economic environment influenced the structure and content of this musical genre.
Which scientific or analytical methods were employed?
The author utilizes a descriptive historical approach, relying on sociological field research, primary accounts from musicians, and established literature regarding the music industry and American history.
What topics are covered in the main body of the text?
The main body covers the 1941/42 field recordings, the living conditions of sharecroppers, the sociological role of blues music, formal technical aspects of the genre, and the impact of the great migration to northern cities.
Which keywords best characterize this document?
Essential terms include Blues, Mississippi Delta, Sharecropping, Segregation, Chicago Blues, and the cultural evolution of African-American music.
How did the invention of the cotton picking machine affect migration patterns?
The invention made many farm workers redundant, which accelerated the exodus of African-Americans from the rural South to large industrial cities like Memphis and Chicago.
What was the significance of the "juke joint" in the development of the blues?
Juke joints served as essential social spaces where African-Americans could gather to drink, gamble, and socialize, providing a platform for early blues musicians to entertain and develop their craft.
- Citar trabajo
- Bernd Müller-Knospe (Autor), 2017, The Blues. Black Culture in a White-Dominated Society, Múnich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/380374
