Tin Pan Alley: The Start of a New Era

Question 1

Octave

Answer 1

Span of pitches in music. 8 whole tones.

Question 2

In ragtime music, melodies are ___.

Answer 2

Tonal

Question 3

There is often one ___ passing tone in ragtime music.

Answer 3

Chromatic.

Question 4

The vocal range in ragtime music is within an ___.

Answer 4

Octave.

Question 5

Ragtime music was primarily developed from ___ to ___.

Answer 5

1900 to 1920.

Question 6

Vanderville and theatrical producers began to consolidate their offices in an area known as…

Answer 6

Tin Pan Alley.

Question 7

Tin Pan Alley was located in…

Answer 7

NYC.

Question 8

Tin Pan Alley is both a ___ ___ and name of a ___.

Answer 8

Physical location, style.

Question 9

Ragtime was primarily developed by which ethnic group?

Answer 9

African Americans.

Question 10

What other styles were being developed at the same time as ragtime?

Answer 10

Victorian ballad and waltz.

Question 11

Who was the most preeminent figure in ragtime?

Answer 11

Irving Berlin.

Question 12

Irving Berlin was born as…

Answer 12

Israel Baline

Question 13

Irving Berlin was born in…

Answer 13

West Siberia.

Question 14

Irving Berlin grew up wealthy / impoverished and made a name for himself ___.

Answer 14

Impoverished, singing.

Question 15

Berlin began to collaborate with notable Tin Pan Alley figures, and managed to write music that reflected…

Answer 15

The unique complex community of Tin Pan Alley.

Question 16

According to Charles Hamm, Berlin’s work was characteristic as a result of:

Answer 16

Ethnic identities, authorship functions, and growing production of sheet music.

Question 17

Ethnic identities were important to Berlin’s work, because…

Answer 17

Berlin managed to retain characteristics of ethnic groups in his music, but also managed to gain acceptance from a broader audience.

Question 18

Authorship functions played an important role in Berlin’s work, because…

Answer 18

Different people would collaborate on one work.

Question 19

Growing production of sheet music played what role in Berlin’s work?

Answer 19

There was a standardization of songs, which allowed more flexibility in performance.

Question 20

Lead Sheet

Answer 20

Sheet music for Jazz.

Question 21

What is on a lead sheet?

Answer 21

Minimal music, just chord symbols.

Question 22

Jazz Parallel

Answer 22

Jazz was developed at about the same period of time as ragtime.

Question 23

Why was jazz accepted immediately?

Answer 23

It assimilated and accommodated enough of America’s older and more dominant culture.

Question 24

Describe the structure of Tin Pan Alley Songs:

Answer 24

1. Brief piano intro.
2. 2 or 4 bar vamp, with melodic and rhythmic material drawn from and leading into verse. Often repeated during solo.
3. 2 or more verses, typically 16-32 bars in length.
4. A chorus, usually equal in length to the verse, with first and second endings.

Question 25

Victorian music was very “___” and ___.

Answer 25

White, straight.

Question 26

Ragtime was considered “___” music.

Answer 26

Black.

Question 27

What do the lyrics of “Strange Fruit” describe?

Answer 27

Lynching of African Americans.

Question 28

Why is Billie Holliday’s rendition of “Strange Fruit” more subdued and restrained?

Answer 28

She could not bring out harsh lyrics, as the performance in itself was already risque for the 1930’s.

Question 29

Why is India Arie’s version of “Strange Fruit” so much more extravagant and emphasized?

Answer 29

Harsh lyrics have to be emphasized to differentiate and grab attention.

Question 30

Tori Amos’ version of “Strange Fruit” can be described as…

Answer 30

Sparse, as she uses piano as accompaniment, and uses her voice almost as an instrument.

Question 31

Who came up with the “Theory of Markedness”?

Answer 31

Robert Hatten.

Question 32

What theory is explored in the article “Markedness and a Theory of Musical Expressive Meaning”?

Answer 32

Theory of Markedness.

Question 33

What does the Theory of Markedness explore?

Answer 33

How individual lyrics and musical events can be emphasized or “marked” in a variety of ways.

Question 34

Obvious ___ ___ that are commonly used to “mark” words are explored in the Theory of Markedness.

Answer 34

Aural Gestures.