Jazz in America • The National Jazz Curriculum
Test Bank 3 - Jazz’s Beginnings
Select the BEST answer
1. In the 1600’s, African music was predominantly
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Christian music
taught in African music conservatories
artistic music
functional music
performed by professional musicians
2. One of the traits in jazz that is primarily of African origin is
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
the number of musicians performing
unexpressive musical content
the use of polyrhythms
the type of instruments used
the chord progressions utilized
3. One of the traits in jazz that is primarily of European origin is
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
the use of polyrhythms
the type of instruments used
the time of day the music was performed
the number of musicians performing
its utilization as purely functional music
4. The basic difference between the concept of African music versus European music is
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
African music was Christian music
European music was functional
the basic concepts are the same
European music was more art music whereas African music was more functional music
African music was a written tradition whereas European music was an aural tradition
5. The blues evolved from
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
the types of instruments being played together
slave field hollers and African American folk songs
European art music
the blending of particular chords and rhythms
dance music
6. The blues are usually characterized by
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
fast march-like tempos
the sweet blending of harmonies
a plaintive and melancholy melodic line
an unemotional quality when played
the use of parade bands
7. The primary function of the pre jazz dance bands of the late 19th and early 20th centuries was
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
to entertain the upper class at formal events only
to play strictly for their own enjoyment
to play at various functions, i.e., parties, funerals, parades, and dances
to pass the time
to teach musicians how to read music
8. A portion of the typical instrumentation of pre jazz dance bands consisted of
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
piano, flute, and guitar
drums, piano, and French horn
flute, tuba, and drums
trumpet, clarinet, and trombone
violin, French horn, and saxophone
9. The 19th and early 20th century pre jazz dance bands played
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
strictly funeral music
music that provides a sense of discipline and structure
only tunes that were composed on the spot
strictly parade music
popular dances of the day, i.e., music with a steady beat
10. Ragtime is
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
primarily a solo piano style
dance band music
known for its somber musical quality
music with no syncopation
music primarily played by parade bands
11. The rhythmic quality of ragtime music
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
is simple and easy to play
has no European influence
incorporates a steady beat in the left hand and a syncopated melody in the right
has no African influence
incorporates a steady beat in the right hand and a syncopated melody in the left
12. Ragtime reflected the European tradition in the following way:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
right hand march-like beat
melodies that were passed down in the aural tradition
standard European chord progressions
the number of instruments used in performance
the vocal quality of the singers
13. The use of the piano in ragtime is
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
African in origin
infrequent in performance
used to give the other performers time to rest
European in origin
used to accompany singers
14. The predominant African influence heard in ragtime is its
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
right hand march-like beat
left hand syncopated melody
complex right hand syncopation derived from polyrhythms
written musical notation
use of the saxophone
15. Cultural implications of ragtime include
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
its reflection of a slower paced American life
its appreciation by upper class Americans alone
its reflection of stricter standards of social behavior
its representation of both conservative and liberal attitudes in America
its performance by predominantly European Americans
16. The birthplace of jazz was
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
New York
Chicago
Plymouth
Salt Lake
New Orleans
17. Jazz was born in an atmosphere which included
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
restrictions in the musical traditions of the city
a different attitude towards African Americans than that of the rest of the country in general
little entertainment
more conservative, less liberal attitudes
a mostly homogeneous population
18. The effect of the reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
had no direct influence on jazz
caused musical ideas to come to a halt
brought the Creoles greater status
helped bring the conservatory trained and aurally trained musicians together
helped to separate the conservatory trained and aurally trained musicians
19. Early jazz (Dixieland) gave each instrument an assigned role:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Trumpet-melody
Clarinet-rhythmic accompaniment
Bass-embellish the melody
Piano-melody
Drums-used only when necessary
20. Early jazz(Dixieland) derived many of its tunes from
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
popular tunes of the day
European classical music
military marches exclusively
rock ’n roll
religious melodies exclusively
21. The characteristics and performance practices of early jazz (Dixieland) include
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
few dramatic effects
playing written music only
complex harmonies with solo performances
very little collective improvisation
simple harmonies and improvisation based on embellishing the melody
22. One of the reasons that the Dixieland style lost its popularity was because
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
it was stylistically static with very little room for the development of new ideas
there were no dramatic effects
there were no outstanding soloists
there was no emphasis put on individual improvisation
the chordal progressions were too complex
23. One of the most important musicians of the Dixieland style was
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Scott Joplin
Louis Armstrong
Frank Sinatra
Beethoven
Charlie Parker
24. The first jazz recording was
A. Livery Stable Blues, played by an all white group
B. Dippermouth Blues, played by Louis Armstrong and King Oliver
C. The Entertainer, played by Jop Scotland
D. Maple Leaf Rag, played by Scott Joplin
E. Livery Stable Blues, played by an all black group
25. The U.S. Supreme Court declared that Congress had no authority to restrict private individuals from discriminating in which
of the following Court cases:
A.
B.
C.
D.
E.
Dred Scott v. Sanford
Civil Rights Cases
Plessy v. Ferguson
Brown v. Board of Education, Topeka, Kansas
None of the above
Fill in the blank with the correct answer
1. Jazz’s roots are both African and _____________________________________ in origin.
2. The use of polyrhythms in jazz is mostly from the _____________________________________ tradition.
3. The types of instruments used in jazz are mostly from the _____________________________________ tradition.
4. European music was considered art music whereas African music was considered more _________________________________.
5. The Blues are usually characterized by a _________________________________ and _________________________________.
6. The Blues evolved from _____________________________________ and _____________________________________.
7. The primary function of the prejazz dance bands of the 19th and early 20th century was to play at ________________________,
_____________________________________, and _____________________________________.
8. The typical instrumentation of the prejazz dance bands of the 19th and early 20th century consisted of trumpet, clarinet,
trombone, bass, guitar, violin, and _____________________________________.
9. The prejazz dance bands played the _____________________________________ of the day.
10. Ragtime is primarily a _____________________________________.
11. Ragtime incorporated a march like beat in the left hand and _____________________________________ melodies in the right.
12. Ragtime reflected both European and _____________________________________ musical traditions.
13. Ragtime’s European influence was visible in its written _____________________________________.
14. The most prominent Ragtime composer in history was _____________________________________.
15. Ragtime reflected the balance of the American attitude from _______________________ to _________________________.
16. One of Scott Joplin’s most famous Ragtime compositions was _____________________________________.
17. The birthplace of Early Jazz (Dixieland) was _____________________________________.
18. The reinterpretation of the 14th Amendment to justify segregation forced the African Americans and ______________________
together thus blending their musical traditions.
19. The typical instrumentation of the Dixieland bands included __________________________, __________________________,
__________________, ___________________, ___________________, ___________________, and ___________________.
20. Each instrument in the Dixieland tradition was giver an assigned role. The trumpet played the __________________________
whereas the tuba played the _____________________________________.
21. One characteristic and performance practice of Dixieland music was collective _____________________________________.
22. One of the reasons Dixieland lost its popularity was because it became stylistically ___________________________________.
23. The most important musician of the Dixieland style was _____________________________________.
24. The name of the first jazz recording was _____________________________________.
25. The first jazz recording was recorded in _____________________________________ (date).
Please answer true or false to the following questions
1. Jazz’s roots are strictly European in origin.
T
F
2. One of the traits in jazz that is primarily of African origin is the use of polyrhythms.
T
F
3. One of the traits in jazz that is primarily of European origin is the type of instrumentation used.
T
F
4. African music is considered art music whereas European music is considered functional.
T
F
5. The Blues evolved from slave field hollers and African American folk songs.
T
F
6. The Blues are usually characterized by lightheartedness and a fast tempo.
T
F
7. Prejazz dance bands of the late 19th and early 20th century played at parties, funerals, parades, and dances.
T
F
8. The typical instrumentation of the prejazz dance bands included trumpet and violin.
T
F
9. The prejazz dance bands played strictly parade music.
T
F
10. Ragtime is primarily a solo piano style.
T
F
11. Ragtime incorporated a march like beat in the right hand and syncopated melodies in the left.
T
F
12. Ragtime reflected European traditions in its written musical notation.
T
F
13. Ragtime chord progressions were from the African tradition.
T
F
14. Ragtime’s complex right hand syncopation derived from polyrhythms is of African origin.
T
F
15. The most prominent Ragtime composer was Louis Armstrong.
T
F
16. Ragtime reflected the "balance" of American attitudes (conservative and liberal) in the late 19th and early 20th century.
T
F
17. Ragtime reflected the new slower pace of American society in the early 1900s.
T
F
18. The birth place of jazz was New York City.
T
F
19. Leon "Bix" Beiderbecke had a dual career of teaching music composition at prestigious New York conservatories
and playing the cornet with popular jazz bands at the Cotton Club.
T
F
20. Louis Armstrong grew up in New Orleans and was introduced to music in a children’s home.
T
F
21. Louis Armstrong’s popularity faded when the Swing era began and he was unable to maintain his earlier
reputation as a leading trumpeter and singer.
T
F
22. The institution of slavery succeeded in destroying all aspects of African culture forcing African Americans to
adopt a white American culture.
T
F
23. The United States Constitution forbade the slave trade while permitting the practice of slavery in the Southern states.
T
F
24. At the time of the American Revolution, slavery had been abolished in all the northern states and western territories.
T
F
25. Laws enacted after Reconstruction that segregated the races were known as Jim Crow laws.
T
F
Match the words in the columns correctly
1. Jazz’s roots
A. Slow and melancholy
1. ________
2. African origin
B. New Orleans
2. ________
3. European origin
C. 14th Amendment
3. ________
4. African music
D. Livery Stable Blues
4. ________
5. European music
E. 1917
5. ________
6. Blues (its roots)
F. African and European in origin.
6. ________
7. Blues
G. Trumpet, clarinet, trombone, piano, tuba, banjo and drums
7. ________
8. prejazz dance bands
H. Dixieland trumpet player
8. ________
9. Ragtime
I. Functional
9. ________
10. Ragtime incorporated...
J. Melody
10. ________
11. Ragtime European influence
K. Collective improvisation
11. ________
12. Ragtime African influence
L. Polyrhythms
12. ________
13. Ragtime composer
M. Syncopated right hand rhythms
13. ________
14. birthplace of jazz
N. Embellishing the melody
14. ________
15. Creoles and African Americans
O. Slave field hollers
15. ________
16. Dixieland instrumentation
P. Primarily a piano solo
16. ________
17. trumpet (Dixieland)
Q. Stylistically static, little room for growth
17. ________
18. piano (Dixieland)
R. a march like beat in the left hand and syncopation in the right
18. ________
19. Dixieland
S. Type of instrumentation used
19. ________
20. Dixieland improvisation
T. Written musical notation
20. ________
21. Dixieland style trait
U. Trumpet, clarinet, trombone, bass, guitar, drums, and violin
21. ________
22. Dixieland trumpet player
V. Chordal harmony and rhythmic accompaniment
22. ________
23. Louis Armstrong
W. Art music
23. ________
24. First jazz recording
X. Scott Joplin
24. ________
25. Livery Stable Blues
Y. King Oliver
25. ________
Essay Questions
1. Describe how Jazz began. What preexisting cultures influenced jazz? In what way did these traits contribute to form jazz? Give
specific examples.
2. Categorize the beginnings of jazz (pre blues through and including Dixieland). What elements existed in each step of the
development of jazz?
3. Explain how the Black experience in America led to the development of a distinctive African American culture.
4. New Orleans was fertile ground for the birthplace of jazz at the turn of the century. What type of city was it and what elements
contributed to the flourishing of this new music?
5. How did Dixieland differ from the Blues? How did it differ from Ragtime? What made it popular? Include instrumentation and
the type of interaction between the various players. Why did the American public eventually lose interest in Dixieland?