YEAR 8 MUSIC
BLUES RESEARCH TASK
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eRESOURCES – BRITANNICA SCHOOL
Encyclopædia Britannica. (n.d.). Blues. Britannica School.
This encyclopedia article provides an overview of the the form and it’s history, as well as information about notable blues musicians.
Note: The school version, is ad free and don’t forget to click on the Images & Videos, and Related tabs for more. The “Related” tab provides a list of blues musicians.
eBOOKS – EBSCO ebooks
Perone, J. E. (2019). Listen to the blues! : exploring a musical genre. Greenwood.
This book provides an overview of this distinctly American musical genre, including the compositions, recordings, and musical legacies of blues musicians from the early 20th century to the present, as well as the musical structure, harmony, and form of the blues.
Sullivan, D. (2011). Keep on pushing : Black power music from blues to hip-hop. Lawrence Hill Books.
A bittersweet narrative covering more than 50 years of fighting oppression through song
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PRINT BOOKS
Discover these books upstairs in the WSRC at the Dewey numbers detailed below:
780.9 MUS
Smithsonian Institution. (2022). Music : the definitive visual history. Dorling Kindersley.
And how did blues influence rock? Find out how music has shaped the world from prehistory to the present day.
909.822 BIN
Bingham, J. (2013). Popular culture : 1920-1939. Raintree.
973.915
Howes, K.K. (2006). The roaring twenties almanac and primary sources. UXL.
This book contains a short section on Singing and playing the blues.
Click HERE to view pages 132-133.
WEBSITES
BBC. (n.d.) Blues and jazz. Bitesize. https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/guides/zjhtng8/revision/1
This Bitesize resource outlines:
Dunnett, B. (n.d.). 12 Bar Blues. https://www.musictheoryacademy.com/understanding-music/12-bar-blues/
On this website learn about the standard blues progression, listen to some famous examples of 12 bar blues songs and learn to play some blues on the piano.
Library of Congress. (n.d.). Blues. https://www.loc.gov/collections/songs-of-america/articles-and-essays/musical-styles/popular-songs-of-the-day/blues/?loclr=blogflt#
“The blues” is a secular African-American musical genre that has had broad influence in popular music. Blues songs deal with a variety of topics and emotions, though it is often mistakenly thought that they deal almost exclusively with sorrow and protest.
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VIDEO – CLICKVIEW
A journey through American music: Blues Beginnings
Morgan Freeman charts the history and influence of American music from rhythm and blues to rap through interviews, archive footage and live performances.
Ravenscroft, A. (Director), & Kempin, G. (Producer). (2007). A journey through American music: Blues Beginnings [Video]. Eagle Rock Entertainment.
VIDEO – YOUTUBE
Introduction to the blues – an easy and accessible explanation of the classic 12-bar blues format
World Heart Beat (2022, July 17). Introduction to the blues – an easy and accessible explanation of the classic 12-bar blues format [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC-fQLxEoZk
VIDEO – YOUTUBE
Jazz Fundamentals: What Are the Blues?
Jazz at Lincoln Center’s Jazz Academy. (2015 ,February 26). Jazz Fundamentals: What Are the Blues? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBg_gQxAShM
VIDEO – YOUTUBE
Is Blues the Mother of All Modern Music?
Explore where the blues came from and how it went on to influence many modern genres of music. From Delta Blues pioneers like Robert Johnson and Son House to Chicago Blues icons like Muddy Waters and B.B. King. We breakdown how this genre can be heard in everything from heavy metal to country music. Later Nahre and LA take the elements of the blues to create their own unique track.
Sound Field. (2019 ,November 8). Is Blues the Mother of All Modern Music? [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HYy-6ltraVQ&t=627s
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INFLUENTIAL ARTISTS
Here are just a few that are noted in the Britannica Encyclopedia article:
See the article for more.