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Questions and Answers
What is a verse-refrain structure in music?
What is a verse-refrain structure in music?
What does the term 'verse' refer to in music?
What does the term 'verse' refer to in music?
A group of lines of poetic text, often rhyming, that usually precede the main body of the song.
What is a bridge in a song structure?
What is a bridge in a song structure?
A passage consisting of new, contrasting material.
What is a 'tag' in music?
What is a 'tag' in music?
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What are torch songs?
What are torch songs?
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What is crooning?
What is crooning?
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What is a crooner?
What is a crooner?
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What does the term 'minor key' refer to?
What does the term 'minor key' refer to?
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What does the term 'major key' refer to?
What does the term 'major key' refer to?
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What are standards in music?
What are standards in music?
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Which of the following was not an influential Tin Pan Alley composer?
Which of the following was not an influential Tin Pan Alley composer?
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Who was born in Temun, Russia, in 1888 and was a Tin Pan Alley composer?
Who was born in Temun, Russia, in 1888 and was a Tin Pan Alley composer?
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What is the 'B' section of a song in AABA form also called?
What is the 'B' section of a song in AABA form also called?
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Tin Pan Alley songs dealt directly with the troubling issues of the 1920s and 1930s.
Tin Pan Alley songs dealt directly with the troubling issues of the 1920s and 1930s.
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Which singing style emerged soon after the invention of the electronic microphone?
Which singing style emerged soon after the invention of the electronic microphone?
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What was significant about Al Jolson's 1921 recording of 'April Showers'?
What was significant about Al Jolson's 1921 recording of 'April Showers'?
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In which city was Tin Pan Alley located?
In which city was Tin Pan Alley located?
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What is true of Bing Crosby's recording of 'How Deep Is the Ocean'?
What is true of Bing Crosby's recording of 'How Deep Is the Ocean'?
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Which crooner released the hit 'My Blue Heaven' in 1927?
Which crooner released the hit 'My Blue Heaven' in 1927?
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Al Jolson billed himself as 'The World's Greatest Entertainer'.
Al Jolson billed himself as 'The World's Greatest Entertainer'.
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Which 1927 film featured Al Jolson and demonstrated the possibilities of combining film with sound?
Which 1927 film featured Al Jolson and demonstrated the possibilities of combining film with sound?
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Who composed the music to 'I Got Rhythm'?
Who composed the music to 'I Got Rhythm'?
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Which opera composed by George Gershwin in 1935 represents his synthesis of various musical influences?
Which opera composed by George Gershwin in 1935 represents his synthesis of various musical influences?
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Which 1927 musical featured music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II?
Which 1927 musical featured music by Jerome Kern and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II?
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Which Tin Pan Alley composer was born Israel, or Isadore, Baline in 1888?
Which Tin Pan Alley composer was born Israel, or Isadore, Baline in 1888?
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What are arrangers responsible for in music?
What are arrangers responsible for in music?
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What are blue notes in music?
What are blue notes in music?
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What is the blues?
What is the blues?
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What is a riff?
What is a riff?
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Study Notes
Music Composition Elements
- Verse-refrain: Structure with an introductory verse leading to the main body (refrain/chorus) following an AABA format.
- Verse: A poetic text group with rhymes and recurrent patterns, serving as an introduction in verse-refrain songs.
- Bridge: Contrasting passage in a song, providing a 'release' from the preceding sections.
- Tag: Repeated phrase, often altered, found in AABA structures, specifically in the third A line.
Music Styles and Genres
- Torch songs: Emotional pieces expressing heartbreak from separation or failed romances.
- Crooning: Gentle singing style made possible by the microphone, with Bing Crosby as a pioneering figure.
- Crooner: A singer who effectively used the electric microphone post-1925.
Musical Keys
- Minor key: One of the two primary scales in Western music, characterized by a specific sequence of intervals; prevalent in blues music.
- Major key: The second primary scale in Western music with its own interval arrangement.
Music Standards
- Standard: Songs that have retained popularity and active performance for over seventy years.
Notable Figures in Tin Pan Alley
- Irving Berlin: Influential composer from Temun, Russia, who emigrated to the U.S. due to anti-Jewish persecution.
- John Philip Sousa: Identified as not being an influential Tin Pan Alley composer.
- Al Jolson: Known as "The World's Greatest Entertainer" and recognized for his 1921 recording of "April Showers" featuring elaborate orchestral accompaniment.
Musical Contributions and Influence
- Bing Crosby: Known for dynamically varied phrase deliveries, exemplified in his recording of "How Deep Is the Ocean."
- Gene Austin: Released the hit "My Blue Heaven" in 1927.
- George Gershwin: Composer of "I Got Rhythm," and noted for the opera "Porgy and Bess," merging various musical styles.
- Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II: Creators of "Show Boat," a groundbreaking musical in 1927 emphasizing seriousness in content.
Tin Pan Alley Context
- Location: New York City, the hub for many influential songwriters and composers of the era.
- Cultural Reflection: Tin Pan Alley songs typically did not address serious societal issues of the 1920s and 1930s, such as racism or economic struggle.
Musical Techniques and Elements
- Arrangers: Individuals tasked with creating suitable musical settings for singers by matching vocal strengths with song parameters.
- Blue notes: Unique tones reflecting African American musical traits, noted for their deviation from traditional scales.
- Blues: A significant genre rooted in African American tradition, influencing mainstream music since the 1920s.
- Riff: Repetitive musical pattern used to build rhythm, characteristic of much African American music.
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Description
Test your knowledge on the elements of music composition, including verse-refrain structures and various musical styles like torch songs and crooning. This quiz covers key concepts in musical keys and the techniques of famous singers.