Drugs impacts on Music
Effect of Drugs on Music
By
Tate Wade
Music Appreciation
Saint Pauls School
May 6th, 2013 Jazz is considered by numerous the best contribution the United States has made to the art of music. In the 1920s, Jazz evolved from a New Orleans styled music, now called Dixieland, to a more successful music labeled Swing. Instead of mimicking traditional music, jazz is an improvisational music style. As a result, jazz became the most dominant form of dance music in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s made it an easy target for hate. Jazz created its own rules which were viewed from a critic’s viewpoint as corrupting musical values. In addition, black musicians were not allowed in many buildings, so they were forced to play in brothels and speakeasies. Society in the 1920s saw jazz as young people drinking, doing drugs, and dancing to the “Devil’s music”, an unholy trinity that had to be stopped. Due to this, Jazz was considered by some to be immoral because of its association with organized crime.
During the 1930s, jazz was propelled with both a male and female vocalist in a style that became known as swing. Swing was built around very rhythmic riffs with strong soloists providing improvisation with a backdrop. Swing made it necessary for Jazz musicians to learn how to read score, but it was still criticized by the media. Radio Stars Magazine has said “Musicians' use of marijuana is confined almost wholly to swing players.” (Radio Stars Magazine). This caused society to view jazz to be associated with a wild and morally wrong lifestyle. For example, Jazz was associated with interracial sex and with illegal drugs, in the early days, marijuana, and later on, with heroin and opium. Jazz was a cultural revolution, it influenced the way people dressed, their language, and political beliefs. Jazz was also a model for both rock and roll and hip hop because it was hated by the bourgeoisie.
Harry Anslinger, former Assistant
By
Tate Wade
Music Appreciation
Saint Pauls School
May 6th, 2013 Jazz is considered by numerous the best contribution the United States has made to the art of music. In the 1920s, Jazz evolved from a New Orleans styled music, now called Dixieland, to a more successful music labeled Swing. Instead of mimicking traditional music, jazz is an improvisational music style. As a result, jazz became the most dominant form of dance music in the United States during the 1920s and 1930s made it an easy target for hate. Jazz created its own rules which were viewed from a critic’s viewpoint as corrupting musical values. In addition, black musicians were not allowed in many buildings, so they were forced to play in brothels and speakeasies. Society in the 1920s saw jazz as young people drinking, doing drugs, and dancing to the “Devil’s music”, an unholy trinity that had to be stopped. Due to this, Jazz was considered by some to be immoral because of its association with organized crime.
During the 1930s, jazz was propelled with both a male and female vocalist in a style that became known as swing. Swing was built around very rhythmic riffs with strong soloists providing improvisation with a backdrop. Swing made it necessary for Jazz musicians to learn how to read score, but it was still criticized by the media. Radio Stars Magazine has said “Musicians' use of marijuana is confined almost wholly to swing players.” (Radio Stars Magazine). This caused society to view jazz to be associated with a wild and morally wrong lifestyle. For example, Jazz was associated with interracial sex and with illegal drugs, in the early days, marijuana, and later on, with heroin and opium. Jazz was a cultural revolution, it influenced the way people dressed, their language, and political beliefs. Jazz was also a model for both rock and roll and hip hop because it was hated by the bourgeoisie.
Harry Anslinger, former Assistant