rich history of Jazz music
Jazz music has a long, fascinating history in the classical music industry[1]. Its history takes back to the early 19th century, although others claim that the genre of music started in the late 18th.gaining its popularity through the civil wars. Other writers, however, argue that this genre of music was popular in the 20th century. It is thus arguably right that the history of Jazz music has not been accurately captured. However, working with the little-known facts about this genre of music, it is no doubt that it is among the earliest genres of music with an extensive history with most its themes forming part of the historical events and humanitarian activities. This essay paper delves into the rich history of Jazz music although precisely looking at Ella Fitzgerald and some of her contributions to the jazz industry, some of her great albums and the musical movements her music was associated. Above all, this essay will critically discuss how his music and most of his songs relate to the social life of the people and the historical events at the time the songs were created.
Jazz music for the longest time in history is has had a great combination of musical instruments with the piano being the most used instrument in the composition. However, other instruments include the Saxophone, Guitar, Trombone, bass drums and Trumpet among many others. The instruments and the rich wording and themes of the music harmoniously bring a significant impact to its audiences, thus explaining the reason behind its appeal to most people both in the 19th century and up to date. Jazz music was perhaps named so due to the energy and liveliness and spirit with which it is composed. The musical instruments like the saxophone, the flute and even the trumpet need energy and enthusiasm to learn and to perfect one’s skills. The exceptional use of base drums, intonations and syllables are also a great feature of this genre of music and perhaps setting the harmony in the music[2]. The melodious aspect of the genre is as a result of the strong combinations of the various musical instruments that undoubtedly contribute to is harmonic rhythm.
Although the Jazz music industry has been developed and enhanced by many musicians both in the ancient days even up to date, Ella Fitzgerald shares significantly in the rich history of the music genre. Most composers of songs in Ella Fitzgerald time composed songs that recorded various historical events of the times they existed especially issues to do with the leadership of the times. Jazz music in America particularly is said to have started in the early 19th century extending to the 20th century has for the longest time formed part of the American music history[3]. It is important to note that Jazz music in America was in the 19th and 20th centuries was mostly associated with the African Americans and for the longest time it has been recognized as the best musical expression covering the various themes and historical events through music. Like most of the artists and composers of Jazz music, Ellington was a talented and experienced singer and played a variety of the musical instruments with a lot of ease thus enhancing his career throughout his career life.
Ella Fitzgerald, as a jazz musician contributes critically to the development and the history of the Jazz music genre in many aspects. For the lovers of Jazz music, it is easy to follow the historical events of most countries and especially America, where the music genre is said to have originated. Jazz music characterized the music industry of America in the 18th and 19th century even extending to the 20th century thus informing most of the types of music in the American music industry for the longest time no wonder its origin is traced back to America. The music genre has remained critical and influential through the various times of history, thus forming a part of the rich culture in the use of different musical instruments. Jazz music is, in fact, one of the rarest classical music characterized by the use of various musical instruments. As a part of the study of Jazz music and its history, Ella Fitzgerald remains an essential aspect of the research for various reasons most of them deriving from her life history that informed most of the themes covered in her songs, her origin as an African American and most importantly as the first African American woman Jazz artist who won a Grammy award. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
The history of Jazz music is intriguing and especially tracing its origin with some of the most famous Jazz artists of the early days like Ella Fitzgerald. The fact that she was an African American Jazz musician is an essential aspect of the study of the history of the genre owing to the fact that in the early 18 and 19th centuries, Jazz music was a creation of most African Americans who were also slaves in America in the 18th and part of the 19th centuries. It is most probable that most of the issues and themes covered in most of the Jazz music songs in America were informed by the historical injustices such as racism, gender discrimination, government injustices and violence. Some of the great pieces of work done by Ella Fitzgerald include; Summertime, Let’s do it, in a sentimental mood, every time we say goodbye and Blue skies among many others that enhanced her music career. It is doubtless that Ella Fitzgerald informed and impacted the history and the creations of the jazz music in many ways is one of the pioneers of the Jazz music industry and have dominated the industry for a reasonable period [4]. Covering the history of jazz music in the perspective of Ella Fitzgerald gives the study a rich history. It informs most of the developments made as far as the Jazz music industry is concerned and about both female and male artists of the early times and the various aspects and characteristics of the music genre.
Ella Fitzgerald ventured into the music industry at a very young age. She followed her passion till the time of her death in 1996 having composed and sang many songs that transformed and that had a significant impact in both the social lives of the people and particularly the Americans and the Jazz music industry.
Many factors still profile her as one of the most significant people in the jazz industry history and particularly in the American music industry. First is her leadership abilities. Ella Fitzgerald had a successful music career despite her troubled childhood and was able to compose thousands of songs for both stage and screenplay. She performed in many big clubs and won massive love from the audiences, thus creating an enormous following for herself. Although as would be expected of women artists, amidst high competition in an industry dominated by men, Ella Fitzgerald was able to conduct stunning performances and outdo most of the male artists some of whom found it difficult to eliminate her and instead chose to work with her.
Unlike most of the Jazz artists, Ella Fitzgerald won many awards throughout her career life. During the first Grammy Awards, Ella Fitzgerald won two awards as best female jazz performance and as the best vocal performance. Being a female Jazz artist was a great achievement in her music career and created room for more significant successes in the latter days of her career[5]. Even after winning the first Grammy awards, Ella Fitzgerald went on and won fourteen other Grammy awards and later on was honoured with another fantastic award in 1967. The first Grammy awards earned her the title, The First Lady of Song which brought great respect to her music career and her life as an African American woman.
Another significant achievement of Ella Fitzgerald was her ability to work with many Jazz stars like Duke Ellington, among many others. The unity with other artists enhanced her career considerably opening more avenues into her career life. She was able to perform on many occasions the most significant and historical one being the Super Bowl show. The Super Bowl, unlike most performances, is an excellent performance attended by great celebrities. Very few celebrities and particularly Jazz artists have had the privilege to perform during the Super Bowl shows. The performance gave her yet another title becoming the first African American female artist to perform at the Super Bowl.
Unlike most of her time, Ella Fitzgerald was a talented composer and leader of her band.
Her passion for music and the ability to sing sultry and imitate a variety of musical instruments enhanced most of her compositions. She would, for instance, create various musical sounds and creatively harmonize the performances and voices of her band members, thus being able to come up with sophisticated and supreme compositions that amused most of his colleagues. Most of the band leaders could not understand how Ella Fitzgerald could be able to maintain her talent and astonishing performances wondering at the mystery of the perfect blending of the musical instruments and the vocals of her crew that influenced the love of many Jazz music listeners thus, making her work stand out from the actions of other young and old artists of his time. The creativity and vibrant compositions brought great successes to her band. They enhanced its survival in an area that had not embraced Jazz music one of these fateful performances being the New port Jazz Festival.
Although the various historical events and livelihoods informed most of Ella Fitzgerald creations of the people, the songs formed a part of the great topics of debate. They influenced the perceptions and actions of most of its listeners[6]. As a female star and Grammy award winner, Ella Fitzgerald promoted and changed many people’s lives and perceptions. As an African woman, most people wouldn’t imagine she would have made it especially in an industry that was dominated by men. Besides her gender, America had a long history of discrimination and racism, which bore many injustices to the African Americans who were then mostly referred. Although the discrimination was done to the blacks, it had more impacts on the black women who despite being Africans, did not enjoy most rights enjoyed by the African men. For example, for many years, the whites claimed racial superiority through such mechanisms as changing the laws, outright intimidations, mob violence, and assault and murder were rampant on the blacks. Africans were denied rights, such as the right to public transportation and public social halls. Worse still was the discrimination from professional skills. To be precise, her band was at some point was arrested backstage affecting her interrupting her performances and threatening her career as an African woman. Although the times of her career proved to be tough, she still made it and outshined many male artists and even won several awards.
Ella Fitzgerald has done thousands of songs some of them, including; How high the moon, Basin street blues, among many others. Flying home was among the greatest of her hits a song she did in 1945. The song explores various themes concerning different human experiences and social lives. Ella Fitzgerald’s music restates the multiple challenges that faced most people, and that shaped their experiences[7]. She over the days of her music career, joined great hands with other great jazz Artists and bandleaders like Duke Ellington among many others who positively enhanced her career and proved supportive in growing her career in music. Most of her Jazz music belonged to the vocal jazz-blues which were enhanced by her strong vocals and Orchestra instrumental imitations.
It is no doubt that besides her achievements in the Jazz music industry, Ella Fitzgerald was a great source of inspiration owing to her ability to succeed and make it even with the many hurdles and challenges she faced right from childhood. Having been born in a broken family and lacking the best care, Ella Fitzgerald overcame all the hurdles. She went ahead to have a successful music career earning herself great titles and becoming the first African American female artists to win the various Grammy Awards. Studying the history of Jazz music can get very intriguing and especially when one looks at its history from the perspective of Ella Fitzgerald. Although the study of Jazz music in regard reveals some of the fascinating events in history that have been archived in the various music recordings done by various Jazz artists, Ella Fitzgerald as a female artist stands out as a great source of the history of Jazz music especially the American jazz.
[1] Anderson, Gene, and Thomas Hennessey. “From Jazz to Swing: African-American Jazz Musicians and Their Music, 1890-1935.” American Music 14, no. 1 (1996), 115.
[2] Mellers, Wilfrid. “Jazz polyphony and jazz harmony: Duke Ellington as composer.” Music in a New Found Land, (2017), 316-330.
[3]Owens, Thomas. “American Jazz Orchestra.” Oxford Music Online, (2003).
[4] Porter, Eric. “Incorporation and Distinction in Jazz History and Jazz Historiography.” Jazz/Not Jazz, (2012). 13-30.
[5] Robinson, J. B., and Barry Kernfeld. “Fitzgerald, Ella (jazz).” Oxford Music Online, 2003.
[6] Porter, Eric. “Incorporation and Distinction in Jazz History and Jazz Historiography.” Jazz/Not Jazz, (2012), 13-30.
[7] Robinson, J. B., and Barry Kernfeld. “Fitzgerald, Ella (jazz).” Oxford Music Online, 2003.