The Music of the Silent Generation

Swing Music

    What is Swing Music?

• Swing started as early as the 1920's and enjoyed great popularity until roughly 1945.      

• Swing is an offshoot of Jazz music that is rooted in both African and European traditions.

• Swing is a music designed to dance to.

• Swing is based on the music's flow, not a hard beat.

    What is the Cultural Impact of Swing Music?

• Swing was an escape from the seriousness of World War II and more generally, the times.   

• Swing created a mini-subculture with its:

• distinct dance steps.
• call and response rhythms which created a "swing language."

    Who Were the "Kings of Swing"?

• Glenn Miller
• Benny Goodman
• Duke Ellington
• Count Bassie

Jazz Music                                                                           

    What is Jazz Music?                                                                                                  

• Jazz is known for its spontaneity and emotion.

• Jazz of the 1940's:  Bop

  • Bop was a revolt from the confining style of Swing music
  • Bop focused more on the harmony than the melody.

• Jazz of the 1950's:  Cool

  • Cool marked a return to a Swing style of music without the call and response rhythms.
  • Cool was a laid back style, using slowed beats and more silence.

    What is the Cultural Impact of Jazz (of the 1940's and 1950's)

• Bop signified a defiance of the escapist view of Swing 
• Cool showed a desire to forget the worries of the present and simply relax.

    Who was "Cool" in the '50's and "Bop-ing" in the '40's ?

• Miles Davis
• Billie Holliday
• Dizzy Gillespie

Beatnik Music

    What is Beatnik Music?

• First, what is a Beatnik?

  A Beatnik is one who does not allow society to slow him/herself down.  It is one who lets their mind wonder by eliminating the distractions caused by society.  This gives the Beatnik the necessary freedom for creativity and pure expression to come forth.
• Beatnik music is not a particular type of music; it has no set style or pattern.
• Beatnik music is any innovative style of music that can come from any genre.
• Beatnik music can take the form of poems set to a beat.

    What is the Cultural Impact of Beatnik Music?

• Beatnik music had a pacifistic mentality.
• Beatnik music was impartial to both race and sex.
• Beatnik music provided an escape and a protest to World War II and later the Red Scare of the 1950's.

    Who were the "Hep Cats" of Beatnik?

• Jack Kerouac and Allen Ginsburg (both writers)
• Buddy Holly (for his innovative sound)

Rock n' Roll

    What is Rock n' Roll?

• Rock n' Roll is a hybrid of many musical styles:  white country and western, black guitar blues and rhythm and blues, and both black and white gospel music.
• Rock n' Roll began in the early 1950's.
• Rock n' Roll is a dancing music.  It was not until the mid 1960's that Rock n' Roll was changed simply to Rock because it no longer stressed music to dance to. 

• Rock n' Roll is music specifically for teens.

    What is the Cultural Impact of Rock n' Roll?

• Rock n' Roll became the sounding board for teen emotions and problems, such as young love, school, cars, and parents.
• Rock n' Roll signified a teenage defiance of adult values and general authority.
• Rock n' Roll focused on the individual (in love, with/without a fast car, etc.) rather than an ambiguous group.

    Who "Rocked"?

• Bill Haley "Rock Around the Clock"
• Chuck Berry "Johnny B. Goode"
• Little Richard "Good Golly Miss Molly"

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