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Pages:
4 pages/β‰ˆ1100 words
Sources:
6 Sources
Style:
APA
Subject:
Visual & Performing Arts
Type:
Essay
Language:
English (U.S.)
Document:
MS Word
Date:
Total cost:
$ 14.4
Topic:

Louis Armstrong's 1929 "What Did I Do To Be So" Black and Blue

Essay Instructions:

REVISION ONLY NEEDED
REVISION INSTRUCTIONS
There is 42% from another student's work, so I think some sentences needs to be paraphrased or referenced.
ORIGINAL INSTRUCTIONS
DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT CONTENTS:
1. Begin your essay by describing how Armstrong's 1929 interpretation of the"(What Did I Do To Be So) Black and Blue" illustrates the characteristics of Jazz in the 1920s. (1 of 3 pages)
2. Compare the original version of the song (i.e., as performed within "Hot Chocolates") with Armstrong's rendition. This will involve both considering the alterations Armstrong made to the form and text, as well as its removal from the original dramatic situation. (1 of 3 pages)
3. Place Armstrong's 1929 recording within the larger framework of his position on racism in the US (and elsewhere). In your opinion, was/is Armstrong an effective advocate for racial tolerance and equality? Why or why not? (1 of 3 pages)
PROJECT FORMAT:
3-5 pages, typed, double spaced, and submitted in Canvas by uploading your work as a .doc, .docx, .rtf, or .pdf document. If your file does not open properly, you will not receive a grade on the assignment. The instructor(s) will not accept hard copies or emailed versions.
CITATIONS:
1. All papers must include a bibliography. (The syllabus gives full bibliographic information for the textbook (as does the book itself), and scans placed in Canvas or in Marriott eReserve have the relevant details on their first pages.) You may use Chicago, MLA, or APA style.
2. If you refer to any readings—including your textbook—or web pages, you need to cite your sources, even if your references do not involve direct quotation. Please include either footnotes or parenthetical citations (including author's name and page number) immediately after any quotation or other reference. Again, Chicago, MLA, and APA styles all provide acceptable formats for citations.
PROJECT RESEARCH:
You will find recordings of both the original (i.e., as performed in "Hot Chocolates") and Armstrong's 1929 versions of the work in both the "Pages" and "Files" areas of Canvas. If you decide to access the song elsewhere, please make sure that you listen to Armstrong's 1929 interpretation; he made multiple recordings of the piece, but only this one dates from the '20s (and thus illustrate aspects of Jazz from this decade).
You may locate several relevant readings through the library's reserve pages. These include excerpts from Satchmo Blows Up the World (pp. 58-65 and 250-251), Satchmo, Pops, and Black and Blue; the link to Marriott E-Reserve in "Pages" area will take you directly to these sources.
If you want to fully cover the topic (and therefore receive high marks on the assignment), you must consult the reserve sources, though you may also do additional research if you wish. Wikipedia and other free online encyclopedias do not constitute appropriate materials (neither do personal blogs, pages intended for K-12 education, and many other online sites): Because their content does not prove reliable—and does not derive from primary sources—these databases do not suffice for for college-level research. Similarly, newspaper and magazine articles on this topic do not constitute primary sources, and you should avoid them as well. Use of Wikipedia or other inappropriate materials will therefore consequently in a grade no higher than a C. Dr. Basinger and her assistant(s) have the ultimate say on the appropriateness of sources.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Louis Armstrong’s 1929 Recording Of” (What did I Do To Be So) Black And Blue
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Question 1
Louis Armstrong is one of the most popular persons in jazz music. More so, his unmatched talent, unique techniques, and lively performance enabled him to draw a large following. Louis Armstrong carries the most weight regarding the innovation and development of jazz music. His contributions consist of several different elements of jazz, including solos, improvisation, and swing style. The understanding of the song “(What Did I Do To Be So) Black And Blue” varies significantly from the original, although it represents the features of the jazz genre of the 1920s. Rhythmic repetition, stress, swing or blue, and polyrhythm technique are the major components of jazz composition in the 1920s. Armstrong shows several of these features in his version of (What Did I Do To Be So) Black And Blue. The listener can note the different intermittences of his trumpet at the beginning moment of the song, which reveals his prowess in improvisation of the original song.
Later on, his croaky vocals are enhanced by notable jazz musical apparatus, such as trumpets, piano, trombone, and tenor saxophone to develop a moderate bluesy rhythm. At this juncture, he incorporated solo enhancement with New Orleans-style jazz to evolve his sound further. In the mid-1920s, jazz composers were calmer, and the most revolutionized cohort. Armstrong’s improvisation motivated songwriters to create such modern music than the ragtime and blues that had previously existed. His innovation in repertory, singing, improvisation, and rhythm aided in driving his fame in the 1920s and stiffened his part as one of the significant figures in the evolution of jazz.
Question 2
After listening to the original song and recognizing its importance, he developed his unique version by heavily modifying the fundamental meaning and the song’s lyrics. By leaving out many satirical elements of the original song, he created a piece that owned a more realistic and sincere tone. A good example is the beginning of his lyrics, “cold empty bed/springs hard as lead/ feel like old Ned/wished I was dead/ what did I do/ to be so black and blue” (Armstrong, 1929). The first line of the novel song and Armstrong’s version demonstrate the association of poverty with African American experiences. Nevertheless, the author’s rendition brings up an extra hopeless and a little darker image of African optimism in the 1920s. For instance, Armstrong replaces the original song’s lyrics “pains in my head” with “wished I was dead.” Louis consequently eliminated so many pieces of the novel song. However, he maintained its primary message with verses such as “my only sin is in my skin/ what did I do to be so black and blue?” (Armstrong, 1929). Another alteration is the lines “I am white inside, but that don’t help my case/cause I can’t hide what’s in my face” (Armstrong, 1929). It shows how exploitation was conveyed through the script while it was still concealed to prevent any problems from the subjec...
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