Jazz music was born in New Orleans out of a combination of marching band music, spirituals, blues, and ragtime.
Jazz is by its nature improvisational, more a style of performance than of composition. You can’t learn it from sheet music. It might have remained an obscure regional music if not for the invention of the phonograph.
- Listen now:
Playlist:
Fanfare
Opening Theme
“There’ll Be a Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight”
Composed in 1896 by Theodore August Metz and Joe Hayden. Public domain.
“The Washington Post”
Composed in 1889 by John Philip Sousa. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Marine Band. Public domain recording. Source.
“The Stars and Stripes Forever”
Composed in 1896 by John Philip Sousa. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Marine Band. Public domain recording. Source.
“The Liberty Bell”
Composed in 1893 by John Philip Sousa. Public domain.
Performed by the United States Marine Band. Public domain recording. Source.
“Maple Leaf Rag”
Composed in 1899 by Scott Joplin. Public domain.
Performed by William J. Leslie and used pursuant to a Creative Commons CC-BY-SA-2.5 license. Source.
“Magnetic Rag”
Composed in 1899 by Scott Joplin. Public domain.
Public domain recording. Source.
“The Entertainer”
Composed in 1902 by Scott Joplin. Public domain.
“Alexander’s Ragtime Band”
Composed in 1910 by Irving Berlin. Public domain.
“Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”
Traditional. Public domain.
“The Memphis Blues”
Composed in 1912 by W.C. Handy. Public domain.
Performed by the Victor Military Band in 1914. Public domain recording. Source.
“The St. Louis Blues”
Composed in 1914 by W.C. Handy. Public domain.
“When the Saints Go Marching In”
Traditional. Public domain.
“The Memphis Blues”
Composed in 1912 by W.C. Handy. Public domain.
Closing Theme
Except when otherwise indicated, the contents of this podcast are © and ℗ 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 by Mark Painter, all rights reserved. Some music and sound effects used by arrangement with Pond 5.
I’m finally catching up and feel compelled to say brilliant! I loved this episode and the Jazz Age. Thanks! I’m listing to W.C. Handy right now.