Introduction to Rock Music

Introduction & Chapter 1:

Understanding Popular Taste and the Tin Pan Alley Era

Group ActivityGroup Activity

�� You will be put into several groups.You will be put into several groups.

�� Share your favorite Rock song with Share your favorite Rock song with the group and why you like it.the group and why you like it.

�� Why do you like the song? What Why do you like the song? What �� Why do you like the song? What Why do you like the song? What makes it so great?makes it so great?

�� Do you notice any trends in the Do you notice any trends in the reasoning of your group although reasoning of your group although your songs are different? Be ready your songs are different? Be ready to share your thoughts.to share your thoughts.

Introduction & BackgroundTwo great eras of mainstream popular music in the United States:

� Tin Pan Alley Era (1900-the end of WWII)

� Sound recording, radio broadcasting, film and television

� Blues, jazz, country,

� Rock ‘n’ Roll: 1950’s to present

� Result of social and cultural shifts in US society

� Heavy & urban� Blues, jazz, country, rhythm & blues

� Light hearted

� Appealed to the middle-class

� Did not target a particular age group

� Sheet music

� Euro-American paradigm

� Heavy & urban

� Working class orientation

� Targeted youth

� Records rather than sheet music

� African-American influences

Popular Music & Mass Popular Music & Mass

CultureCulture�� Tin Pan Alley music based on Tin Pan Alley music based on

folk music/culture and folk music/culture and classical/art music and high classical/art music and high culture.culture.�� Folk Culture: poor/lower Folk Culture: poor/lower

class, oral traditionclass, oral tradition

�� Mass CultureMass Culture�� Developed out of the Developed out of the

technological advances of technological advances of the early 20the early 20thth century.century.

�� Culture for the massesCulture for the masses

�� High culture: upper High culture: upper class/elite, written downclass/elite, written down

�� Popular culture: between Popular culture: between folk and high culturefolk and high culture�� Tin Pan Alley sought to Tin Pan Alley sought to

find an alternative to find an alternative to the high culture of the the high culture of the European elite that European elite that would appeal to both would appeal to both the working and upper the working and upper classesclasses

�� Culture of the peopleCulture of the people

�� Where does Rock ‘n’ Roll fit in Where does Rock ‘n’ Roll fit in these???these???

Listening and comparingListening and comparing

►►How is the music of the Tin Pan Alley era How is the music of the Tin Pan Alley era and early rock the same or different? What and early rock the same or different? What do you hear? Write down your ideas.do you hear? Write down your ideas.

Birth of RockBirth of Rock

�� What makes Rock Different?What makes Rock Different?–– Urban orientation, focus on youth, appeal to workingUrban orientation, focus on youth, appeal to working--class, relationship to technology, African American class, relationship to technology, African American influences and performance stylesinfluences and performance styles

–– Connection to technology (film, radio, television, Connection to technology (film, radio, television, records, cd’s, videos, mp3’s, file sharing, electronic records, cd’s, videos, mp3’s, file sharing, electronic records, cd’s, videos, mp3’s, file sharing, electronic records, cd’s, videos, mp3’s, file sharing, electronic instrumentsinstruments——technology as part of the creative technology as part of the creative process)process)

–– Teenagers are the new consumer group in post WWII Teenagers are the new consumer group in post WWII US societyUS society�� However, the baby boomers (the original rockers) continued However, the baby boomers (the original rockers) continued to buy records creating fragmentation and disagreement in to buy records creating fragmentation and disagreement in later development of rock and popular styles (rap, heavy later development of rock and popular styles (rap, heavy metal, etc.)metal, etc.)

Race and MusicRace and Music

�� “The way in which music actually unfolds as a social “The way in which music actually unfolds as a social

practice does not necessarily determine the way in practice does not necessarily determine the way in

which it reaches the ears of its audience.”which it reaches the ears of its audience.”

Race Race

(Rhythm & Blues)(Rhythm & Blues)

HillHill--billy billy

(folk, country, western)(folk, country, western)

PopularPopular

AfricanAfrican--American American

popular musicpopular music

WhiteWhite--working classworking class

(Rural southern white)(Rural southern white)

Mainstream (northern, Mainstream (northern,

urban, middleurban, middle--upper upper

class, white)class, white)

←←CrossoverCrossover→→

Result of post WWIIResult of post WWII

IntegrationIntegration

Language & GenderLanguage & Gender

Discrimination in music was not simply related to race, but also in Discrimination in music was not simply related to race, but also in language and gender.language and gender.

�� Language: Latin music had a great influence on early and current Language: Latin music had a great influence on early and current Rock music…but the language barrier created problems. Harder Rock music…but the language barrier created problems. Harder for nonfor non--English music to become hits in the US. (LaBamba)English music to become hits in the US. (LaBamba)

�� Gender: Women’s emergence into Rock ‘n’ roll was difficult based Gender: Women’s emergence into Rock ‘n’ roll was difficult based in part to their image in Rock music:in part to their image in Rock music:

Angel, baby, earth mother, sex goddess, bitch and “ho”Angel, baby, earth mother, sex goddess, bitch and “ho”�� Ideas of intimacy and sexual practices in the USIdeas of intimacy and sexual practices in the US�� How many songs are truly about degradation, sex, incest, How many songs are truly about degradation, sex, incest,

etc.?etc.?Degradation, belittling, offensive, double standardsDegradation, belittling, offensive, double standardsFemale artists feel pressure to adhere to stereotypesFemale artists feel pressure to adhere to stereotypesSingers more than instrumentalistsSingers more than instrumentalists

Rock from Its Roots

The Tin Pan Alley Tale

Tin Pan Alley EraTin Pan Alley Era�� Late 1800’s to late 1940’sLate 1800’s to late 1940’s

�� Tin Pan Alley: Literally the area of Broadway and 28Tin Pan Alley: Literally the area of Broadway and 28thth Street in NY, Street in NY, NY.NY.�� Broadway, Vaudeville, Hollywood were focus areasBroadway, Vaudeville, Hollywood were focus areas�� Identified more with the “literate” side of musicIdentified more with the “literate” side of music

�� Dominated mainstream popular music until WWII.Dominated mainstream popular music until WWII.�� Dominated mainstream popular music until WWII.Dominated mainstream popular music until WWII.

�� Less impressed with Edison’s “talking machine” (1877), focused on Less impressed with Edison’s “talking machine” (1877), focused on sheet music (main source of income) versus sound recording.sheet music (main source of income) versus sound recording.�� Music publishers would “push” (not always ethically) the Music publishers would “push” (not always ethically) the

dissemination of songs (Vaudeville, etc).dissemination of songs (Vaudeville, etc).

�� The piano was the main focus in musical output.The piano was the main focus in musical output.

�� Eventually would move to recording but in no way were the “music Eventually would move to recording but in no way were the “music industry” and “recording industry” synonymous with each other industry” and “recording industry” synonymous with each other much like they are today.much like they are today.

Advances in Sound Recording

Sound Recording

Edison

“Talking Machine”

Tin foil cylinder

Alexander Graham Bell“Graphophone”

Wax coated cardboardHill & Dale Grooves

Phonograph

Jesse Lippincott

& Louis Glass

Eventually, the flat recording disc (wax coated zinc discs designed by Emile Berliner) would become the industry standard. First demonstrated on the Gramophone in 1888 and patented in 1896. The Zinc discs would be used as masters to make “stamped” copies, or records. Eventually consolidated into what is now known as Victor/RCA The industry standard would soon move to 78rpm pressings until the late 1940’s.

The Music of Tin Pan AlleyThe Music of Tin Pan Alley

�� Centralized US Popular music while competing Centralized US Popular music while competing with the more European, high culture tastes.with the more European, high culture tastes.�� “Did not draw on traditional music, but created “Did not draw on traditional music, but created traditional music.”traditional music.”More Homogenous US SoundMore Homogenous US Sound�� More Homogenous US SoundMore Homogenous US Sound

�� Irving Berlin: Born Israel Baline in Russia, 1888Irving Berlin: Born Israel Baline in Russia, 1888�� Could only play piano in one key!Could only play piano in one key!�� Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1911)Alexander’s Ragtime Band (1911)

�� Father of RagtimeFather of Ragtime�� Puttin’ on the Ritz (1929)Puttin’ on the Ritz (1929)�� Most successful songwriter until Paul McCartney.Most successful songwriter until Paul McCartney.

�� Incorporates African American influences.Incorporates African American influences.

Incorporating African American Incorporating African American

InfluencesInfluences�� Compare and contrast two recordings of Irving Compare and contrast two recordings of Irving Berlin’s music. What do you/do you not hear?Berlin’s music. What do you/do you not hear?

�� Tin Pan Alley era was also the emergence of Tin Pan Alley era was also the emergence of Ragtime. Borrowing between black and white Ragtime. Borrowing between black and white Ragtime. Borrowing between black and white Ragtime. Borrowing between black and white artists was common.artists was common.�� Ragtime: syncopated (off beat), AfricanRagtime: syncopated (off beat), African--American piano American piano music. (Scott Joplinmusic. (Scott Joplin——Maple Leaf Rag)Maple Leaf Rag)

�� Alexander’s Ragtime BandAlexander’s Ragtime Band——Bessie SmithBessie Smith�� Use of Blues and Jazz influencesUse of Blues and Jazz influences

�� Jazz: syncopation and improvisationJazz: syncopation and improvisation

�� Blues characterized by “blue” notesBlues characterized by “blue” notes

Major Jazz & Blues Influences on Tin Pan Alley

� W.C. Handy: Father of the Blues

– Memphis Blues

� George Gershwin: Greatest Tin Pan Alley

composer with most association with Jazz:

– Rhapsody in Blue

– Summertime (from “Porgy & Bess)

� Bridge the gap between art music and popular music

Power & Technology

� Copyright Act of 1909: royalties to be paid included mechanical reproduction. “Mechanical’s” are still required today be it to sell, play, or create a recording.

� Advent of Commercial Broadcasting and Network radio saw a decline in record sales and sheet music. (1920’s)� Radio was first used to promote patriotism and was

dominated by RCA as a holding company for the major radio patent holders (AT&T, GE, Westinghouse). RCA would also form NBC.

Radio Advertising & HollywoodRadio Advertising & Hollywood

•• Advertising:Advertising:–– Effected by prohibitionEffected by prohibition–– Good TasteGood Taste

•• News, literature, News, literature, drama, concert musicdrama, concert music

–– Product AdvertisingProduct Advertising

•• Hollywood first used the Hollywood first used the silent film with musical silent film with musical background. With the background. With the advent of Tin Pan Alley, it advent of Tin Pan Alley, it was clear that both would was clear that both would work together with the work together with the –– Product AdvertisingProduct Advertising

•• During business hours During business hours onlyonly

•• Eventually led to more Eventually led to more commercialized commercialized industryindustry–– More popular More popular

programming and programming and advertisingadvertising

work together with the work together with the development of the development of the “talkie.”“talkie.”–– Jazz Singer (1927) by Jazz Singer (1927) by Warner Brothers (truly a Warner Brothers (truly a silent film with songs, silent film with songs, but given the title of the but given the title of the first “talkie.”first “talkie.”

For Next Week…

• Chapters 2 & 3

• No Class on the 8th• No Class on the 8th

Have a great weekend!