Popular+Music+of+the+1930s

= =

**:** How did it reflect on contemporary social conditions.
By: Kristina Krusiy

//"They used to tell me I was building a dream, and so I followed the mob,// //When there was earth to plow, or guns to bear, I was always there right on the job.// //They used to tell me I was building a dream, with peace and glory ahead,// //Why should I be standing in line, just waiting for bread?" by:[|Yip harburg], [|Jay Gonrney](1931)// During the years of 1930's the country was under the [|Great Depression]. It was an economic crash which caused all industries to face huge loses and people their jobs (with out a job no money was coming in to provide food on the table). [|Music] in general was inspiration for many Americans; it helped the generation to live through the hard periods of time by taking their minds off of the negatives and giving them hope for better life. //"Life is just a bowl of cherries.// //Don't take it serious; it's too mysterious.// //You work, you save, you worry so,// //But you can't take your dough when you go, go, go"// The era provided new innovations in promoting music which included: radio and recordings, jazz, musical movies, bands and more. Popular music of 1930's did reflect [|contemporary] social conditions, because music was [|therapeutic] -it helped people to get by, live through tough days, and most importantly was available to most Americans. [|Jazz] was one of the most popular types of music during the 1930's. Jazz considers to be a "Happy" type of music. Jazz consists of a lot of different instruments some of which are Piano, clarinet, saxophone, and trumpet. A lot of new performers rose up during that time period. [|Ella Fitzgerald] was one of the best jazz singers of all time. Ella was born in 1918 in New Port, Virginia. She was known for her ability to improvise, for flawless phrasing, pure and personal tone. "She could sing ballads, sweet jazz and imitate every instrument in an orchestra". Ella Fitzgerald joined her first band "The Chick Webbs Band" in 1935. Her first big hit was "A ticket-A-Tasket" in 1938 from the Album: [|"Ella: The legendary Decca Recordings"]. Through out her life time Ella won 13 Grammy awards and sold more than 40 million albums. Ella Fitzgerald worked with a lot of talented individuals such as [|Duke Ellington], [|Count Basie], Frank Sinatra, Benny Goodman and more. No matter what race, nationality, religion, age, or how wealthy you were- everyone loved her! One of her famous quotes was - "Don't give up trying to do what you really want to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don't think you can go wrong." One compliment that Jimmy Rowles had to say about Ella was "Music comes out of her. When she walks down the street, she leaves notes." - which proves once again that music really is inspirational, and thanks to people like Ella Fitzgerald who was able to spread it all over the world while bringing people hope, joy and happiness. Along with jazz music came a jazzy type of dancing. Large bands, dance halls, acrobatic dancers called jitterbugs, lindy-hoppers named after Charles Lindbergh and swingers were all attracted to jazz dancing. [|"Swing dancing"] became very popular and as well as the "[|Jitter Bug]" which was a bouncy six beat variant to which couple's danced while throwing each other over the head and through the legs. Swing dancing continued to expand and adopt different unique styles of different geographic locations. Dancer's names reflected it's evolution of swing for example: [|"Lindy Hop"] dance formed in mid 1930's was performed to fast swing music example of which can be found in the movie "A Day at the races"(1937). Push dancers like blues and classic disco music, Bop- rhythm and blues, Shag was being danced to the "Beach" type of music, and more such as Jive dancing, Whip, [|West] and [|East coast swings], Imperial, Jamaican, etc. People of different nationalities also reflected on the way that dancing was diverse. At that period of time United States consisted of "tri- ethnic" community which was: Hispanic, Anglo, and African Americans. In 1930's composers started writing scripts for movies and Broadway musicals that are still famous until this day. Just like music, movies provided a lift from the hard times. The need of entertainment during the depression resulted in The Golden Age of Hollywood. "Talkies" was a name for movies with sound, and because of sound the number of audience increased dramatically than previously. Musicals of that era showed spirit and cooperation intended to fight the economic depression for example: "Gold diggers of 1933", "Public Enemy 0f 1931" directed by William Wellman, and "Scarface" 1932 by Howard Hawks. After the depression began industrial income increased greatly but during the mid and late 1930's everything turned out to be the other way. Horror movies became very popular at that time. The very first one was "Dracula" (1931) directed by Tod Browning, and "Frankenstein" directed by James Whale. [|Harold Arlem] (February 15, 1905 - April 23, 1986) was a very popular song writer. You are most likely to know some of his songs; you might have even hummed a Harold Arlem song and didn't even know it was his. The song "Over the rainbow" from the all time popular "Wizard of Oz" was written by Harold Arlem and it has been recently nominated number 1 song of the century. Jazz bands were formed and became popular during the era. Bands were as big as 15-20 players. The bands played a lot of combo jazz which include different instruments and melody players. There are lot of legendary band leaders of that time. Some of which were Count Basie, Tommy Dorsy, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, Woode Herman, Harry James and more. As listed above Benny Goodman was a band leader. He led a very influential combo band that was racially mixed country and western music. //"In the mills, in the shops, mines below, what's wise now,// //we'll organize now into one big union... to win our strike// //and our demands come and picket on the picket line,// //in one strong union we'll join hands."// These are some of the words from the union songs that workers would sing during those difficults years of 1930's. The songs were purposely written to show horrible working conditions that labourers had to deal with, and their feelings towards it, also what their relationship with the factory owners were like and what they had done to change the way they had been treated. From Ella Fitzgerald, to Duke Ellingon, Count Bessy, to Benny Goodman, to bands and dances, music was a huge success during the 1930's. The Depression brought everyone's hopes down and music did everything to recover it. By letting people take their mind off the negatives, and focus on the positives, music brought joy and happiness to the soul and that was the most important thing they needed at the time. Music of 1930's did reflect on the contemporary social conditions.


 * Annotated Bibliography.**


 * [Source A]**

"American Cultural History." kclibrary.lonestar.edu. June 30, 2005. Kingwood College Library. 10 May 2008<[|http://kclibrary.lonestar.edu/decade30.html>.]

---This site contains all the events and activities during the years of 1930 through 1939. Also there are a lot of facts listed about the decade. The page is written and maintained by Bettye Sutton and designed by Peggy Whitley. The web site also contains that information about art and architecture, books and literature, music, fashion and fads, education, people and personalities, and radio.

Young, William, and Nancy K. Young. American Popular Culture Through History. Greenwood Press, 2002 ---The book consists of all the information about the facts, events, influencial people, and innovations that occurred throughout history.
 * [Source B]**

Carnicelli. 5th grade. Course home page. elementary school. 11 May 2008 <[|http://library.thinkquest.org/5255/1930s/1930introduction.html>.]
 * [Source C]**

---Think quest is an online resource which is visited by many. The web site allows you to create your own library source for others to use. It can be easily accessed. Any time of information can be found with the help of the source.

Foresman, Scott. scottforesman.com. 2005. Pearson Education. 11 May 2008 <[|http://www.sbgmusic.com/html/teacher/historical/1930s.html>.]
 * [Source D]**

---An access to the learning pages. By choosing the subject you can find the information based on class, or what you are learning.

"What is Swing?"syrswingdance.org.1996-2008. Syracuse Swing Dance Society. 10 May 2008< http://syrswingdance.org/swing.html> ---Syracuse Swing Dance Society is an all-volunteer dancing organization dedicated to promoting swing dancing in central NY area. The web site contains the information about the popular dances, their names and inventors and meanings throughout the 1930's.
 * [Source E]**

"About Fitzgerald." Ellafitzgerald.com. Official Website of Ella Fitzgerald. 10 May 2008 ---The website contains all the information about Ella Fitzgerald and her life, such as fast facts, overview, biography, news, quotes, discography, achievements, awards, photos, foundations etc. **[SOURCE G]** "Movies in the 1930's." Moscowschools.us. 12 May 2008 .
 * [Source F]**

---This source provides you with the information about the popular movies of 1930's, famous directors, the impact of the Great Depression, broadways, introduction of the sound in movies. **[SOURCE H]** "MUSIC of THE 1930's from Swing to Swoon." Bobby Carey. Nowandthen Productions. 12 May 2008 <[|http://www.bobbicarrey.com/productions/thirties.html>.] ---The web site is specifically on Bobby Carey. It provides you with all the information you need to know about him, -his achievements, biography, and way to success. As well the site has the list of his famous songs, how people feel about them, and what kind of memories it brings back.

"Harold Arlem." Haroldarlem.com. 2003. S.A. Music Co. 12 May 2008 <[|http://www.haroldarlen.com/home.html>.] ---The source above contains the information about Harold Arlem and his life time story. On Haroldarlem.com you can find his biography, music, photos, buy media. The web site is created by Samuel Arlem, son of Harold Arlem, in honor of his father.
 * [[image:http://turnitin.com/images/spacer30.gif]] [SOURCE I]**

Lavender, Catherine. "Songs of the Great Depression." Library.csi.cuny.edu. 12 May 2008 <[|http://www.library.csi.cuny.edu/dept/history/lavender/cherries.html>.]
 * [SOURCE J]**

-- The website contains all the popular songs during the period of Great Depression, some of which are written by Yip Hamburg, Lew Brown, Al Dubin.