Jazz musicians have transcribed classical music into Jazz. Such Jazz musicians' music possesses unique charm that delivers deep emotion for the audience's pleasure.
As an earnest fan of this genre, my personal curiosity brought me into the main the...
Jazz musicians have transcribed classical music into Jazz. Such Jazz musicians' music possesses unique charm that delivers deep emotion for the audience's pleasure.
As an earnest fan of this genre, my personal curiosity brought me into the main theme of this paper; how Jazz musicians have merged classical music into Jazz music as well as how musicians have overcome the difference in time period and transformed classical music into contemporary fusion. Among the classical music, I will focus on Baroque Music, in particularly Johann Sebastian Bach's music.
To identify the interrelationship between Bach's music and newly created Jazz, I will analyze the Jazz song <Fugue No. 9 in E Major in Book I> and <Italian Concerto> and compare them with the original versions of these songs. I believe these two pieces of Jazz music are based upon a good understanding of the original creations of Bach's music as well these two songs are creating new Jazz structures.
Before I go on to discuss the case study, I want to clarify the reason why I narrow down my study into Johann Sebastian Bach's music and its transcriptions into Jazz. First, the Baroque period music is fairly generous in improvisatory practice, melody and harmony, which are all one of the main characteristics of modern Jazz. Besides the musical similarity, Johann Sebastian Bach's music has been arranged by numerous artists and especially Jazz musicians. They have transcribed Bach into Jazz and have integrated his music into their work, creating a new musical style: Bach Jazz. Since Bach takes a great part of musical history and modern Jazz time as well, it is worthy to take a closer look at the comparison between the Bach's music and its transcriptions into Jazz to pursue my study.
The biggest difference between the original version of classical music and transcriptions into Jazz is the rhythmic construction. <Fugue No. 9 in E Major in Book I> and <Italian Concerto> use 4/4 beats, which is an important rhythmic element in 'Swing Jazz'. Also, syncopated rhythms create swing beats and the beats of Jazz. Syncopation is rarely used in Bach's original music. Syncopation is a distinguishing feature which gives swing beats and make the music more like Jazz and vary from the original two beats.
Also, the new Jazz style <Italian Concerto> has an intro at the beginning of the song, which is not in the original Bach version. In addition to the new intro, adding a solo part for the piano, this new jazzy <Italian Concerto> has the main element of Jazz: improvisation. While listening to <Fugue>, you will notice 32 bars that are not in the original version of <Fugue>. By adding 32 bars, jazz style <Fugue> gets more improvisatory and plays the main theme of the original as well.
In terms of harmony, using tensions (b9, #9, #11, b13), harmonic progression II->V->I, diminished chords, and substitute dominant chords make the music not only richer but also more jazz-like. In addition, a unique form of composition, using modulation helps to build music toward the climax with ease. We have narrowed our points to find the differences, however, with the broader view, there are important similarities. Sequences and pedal points, Bach's favorite musical techniques are still in Jazz style <Fugue No. 9 in E Major in Book I> and <Italian Concerto>. Also, the basic chords are sophisticated in the Jazzy version, yet the overall movement is almost identical. Again, Bach's transcriptions into Jazz have followed Bach's original harmony structures and articulation.
Since the advent of Jazz, Jazz musicians actively adopt and change classical music. In the time of Jazz, classical music is recreated by the hand of Jazz musician and interpreted with more "swings".
Passion for new arts, open-mindedness toward the essence, expression of music is some of the main elements that bridge the contemporary Jazz musicians over such a long period of time. Through these, Bach in 18th century dwells in the Modern Jazz Music.