Contextualizing

"Although the term jazz became current in 1917, the music itself was probably heard as early as 1900. We do not know exactly when early jazz started or how it sounded, because the music existed only in performance, not musical notation." (Kamien 514)

Although Jazz and Baroque music were at the height of their popularity in completely different eras, the similarities are striking. Yes, of course the differences far outweigh the similarities, but there is still a good amount that one can link between these two very different genres.

            It’s difficult to set a definite year that signifies the beginning of the Jazz period, but many people appoint the year 1917 to be the start of the Jazz era. Early Jazz, originated from New Orleans in the early 20th Century. Developed from Blues and ragtime, Jazz's was primarily used to provide energy and entertainment in bars and clubs.

 After the 1920's, Jazz began to incorporate many baroque characteristics into its diverse and rhythmic compositions with the rise to popularity of Louis Armstrong. Despite such differences in contrasting instruments, addition of voice and contrasting level of formality; these two benchmark compositions highlight the many parallels in melody, harmonic language, accompaniment and form.      

            Yes, the Jazz era can be described by these features but Jazz as a whole is very nebulous. As described by Mr. Armstrong himself, "’If you have to ask what it is,’ Louis Armstrong supposedly said, ‘you'll never know.’" (Porter 1)

            Far before the Jazz period, the Baroque period, from the 1650’s to 1750, was very much alive and flourishing. The word Baroque itself describes the musical period’s extravagance and vibrance.

"The word baroque has at various times meant bizarre, flamboyant, and elaborately ornamented. [...] An oversimplified but useful characterization of baroque style is that it fills space - canvas, stone, or sound - with action and movement." (Kamien 123)

            Differences between the two styles are easily distinguished. Where Baroque had its basis firmly in strings, Jazz drew upon mainly brass and woodwind instruments. In fact, many of these Jazz instruments such as the saxophone, the clarinet and the trombone were not even developed until many years after the Baroque era. Also, the ornamental and formal nature of Baroque music is vastly different from the laid back and more simplistic style of Jazz. This contrast is partially due to the large difference in ensemble size: a Baroque orchestra being significantly larger than a Jazz band.