1st+American+music+of+the+1930’s

American music of the 1930's

Music in the 1930's was particularly influence among all people, cultures and places. The number one most popular song in the 1930's according to Digital Dream Door was "In The Mood" by Glenn Miller. This song has a combined mixture of jazz and blues, thus making it one of the most popular songs of the time. The Great Depression was exactly what it sounds like. People were struggling to make ends meet with money and they needed an escape, like people in the present day they find an escape through music. The music of this era was all very up beat and made the people want to move and groove, it was key to helping them stay positive and get out of the house to go dancing. media type="youtube" key="_CI-0E_jses" width="560" height="315" In the novel Of Mice and Men, The character hat most represents classical music would be Slim. Classical music was the popular tunes that got people back on ground level, just like slim gets George back on track in the end of the book (102-103) Slim was a very calm character, he played his cool but still knew what was going on. Classical music was in the time era, but it made the people feel happier in the great depression. When it was over in 1940's the music was still very up beat and made people want to celebrate their lives.
 * Classical Music (Shelbey) **

= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =** Blues (Madi) **= === Blues music originated in the "Deep South" by African Americans communities. It started from the feelings blacks had about being treated unfairly, blues started as just spiritual, work songs , field hollers , shouts and chants .===

===Blues music in the 1930s was very popular among African Americans, but not whites. This was because whites wouldn't even listen to what a person of color produced. This was a way for blacks to express their feelings of mistreatment and be able to relate to each other without whites putting a stop to it, in fact, many of the earliest blues musicians are undocumented because of the fear of discrimination. Blues music generally has a sound and lyrics that are sad and depressing===

Blues went soaring in the 1930s, one of the most famous artist was Robert Johnson, he was #1 many times in his music career which was astonishing for an African-American to be recognized by so many.
===Even though he was just as successful if not more successful than white artist, his fame was not as good as a white mans He along with other successful black artist were not looked at as talented. The sucess and wealth that came form being a famous musician was not as rewarding for a black man as it would br for a white.===



=== This ties into the novel Of Mice and Men because of the character Crooks. Crooks is forced to live alone in a barn by himself because he is black and not in the bunk house with the other white men. This is hard on Crooks because he gets very lonely and jealous when he is not allowed to do things with the other workers like play cards. Blues music shows the human condition of blacks in the 1930s and also represents the condition of the character Crooks and the discrimination and loneliness he feels. ===

===Another character blues music represents in Curley's wife for some of the same reasons. Even though Curley's wife is not black she is still very lonely and feels isolated from affection from her husband. She searches for attention and acceptance from everyone on the ranch, but is rejected much like the idea of blacks making music was not accepted.===

= = = Jazz(Pearl) = Jazz appeared soon after the Civil war ended. Ragtime players of the 1890's and early 1900's were slowly creating the very aspects that Jazz is today. Then through time, Jazz soon became very popular in the USA, especially during the great depression.

The Great Depression was a hard time for the United States. The people didn't have money and couldn't find jobs to make any either. It was a time of desperation and sadness. The music industry also took a major hit. The record companies of the 1920's were selling about 100 million records a year but during the beginning of the 1930's they were only selling a small six million. Musicians, especially blacks, were having a hard time making a living if they weren't already rich and famous. A handful of white musicians could get some work on radios but blacks couldn't get into the studios at all. Jazz wasn't being as produced as it used and only a few artists like Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington were getting work done. Jazz soon reappeared though as the Great Depression lifted in the mid 1930's but in a new genre, Swing.

Swing slowly became a hit in the nation after originating in Harlem. Benny Goodman's hit Sing, Sing, Sing, could be accredited for the start of swing. Soon after, both black and whites enjoyed going to ballrooms and theaters to listen to swing and throwing out some crazy dance moves. Swing wasn't just taking the hearts of the nation by storm, the louder jazz music was also saving the recording industry. During 1932, only 10 million records had been sold, but by the time 1939 came 50 million records sold. Swing was offering entertainment during a time of hardship and it was an open welcome for people to escape from their own depressions. While other countries were experiencing a hard time, the Americans were dancing to Swing.

While Duke Ellington was one of the most popular jazz musicians during the 1930's there were others contributing to Jazz compositions. Billie Holiday was a black women that contributed greatly to the era and with her song 'Strange Fruit' later becoming an early civil right movement anthem. Others like Fletcher Henderson and Jimmy Lunceford were adding to the great genre of Swing along with Duke Ellington.



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During Of Mice & Men, Lennie is the Jazz for George. George is constantly dragged down by Lennie but is still devoted to him. The Great Depression was a hard time to live in but Jazz provided an escape to Americans to feel more alive despite the hardships. Lennie keeps reminding George that there is a definitely better world out there. Lennie provides an escape to George’s always racing mind. Lennie is a character that is quiet but when he is called upon, he is loud and he is big, a lot like the affect the Swing had on America. Lennie is a constant reminder to George that there is a better place out there than what they are stuck in now.

"Jazz History in Standard Time (1930)." Jazz Standard. Jazz Standard.com. Web. .

"JAZZ: The Great Depression." PBS. PBS. Web. .

YouTube video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDQpZT3GhDg

** Broadway (Taylor) **
After the stock market crashed in 1929, and with the great depression overwhelming American politics and economics, Broadway went down as well. The depression profoundly affected Broadway theater, causing the number of productions to decline dramatically, and putting many theater people out of work. however, this was actually a creative period, because the depression had a dramatic feeling, inspiring creative musicals. Established writers such as Eugine O'Neill and George Kaufman and more organized themselves into the play writes company, and continued to write interesting played stthat we re often more concerned with the state of affairs in America than before. -Taylor

Of Thee I Sing- 1931 A musical with a score by George Gershwin and a book by George Kaufman. The musical lampoons American politics; the story concerns john p wintergreen who runs for President of the United States on the "love" platform. When he falls in love with the sensible Mary Turner, instead of Diana Deverneaux, a beautiful pageant winner selected for him, he gets into political hot water. It was the first musical to win the Pulitzer Prize for drama. -Taylor media type="custom" key="25204486" In the story "Of Mice and Men" one of the characters in the story is called Curly's Wife. Curly's Wife is a very beautiful women that causes no good for Lennie and George, but has a very bright and fun personality. I think her personality connects to the Broadway music in the 1930's. In Broadway everything is very loud, fun, and interesting to watch, similar to Curly's wife, she is also very loud and fun with her appearance and interests all the men. Curly's wife doesn't mean any harm, but she loves attention for anyone she can get, in Broadway the attention is all on stage, drawing the audience in. Even though Curly's Wife was killed by Lennie, she was a huge impact on the story as well as Broadway was a huge impact in the 1930's. -Taylor