BART 97A85 - Societies of Jazz: An anthropological perspective on african-american music

How can we describe the connection between an artist's work and the society they live in? This course aims at exploring and examining a selection of stylistic currents in jazz music from an anthropological point of view. Instead of focusing on an exhaustive presentation of the history of this music, we will discuss how human behavior, historical and social contexts and other contingencies have shaped different styles of jazz and have influenced musicians to follow specific artistic paths. Our goal will be to highlight the unicity of each artist's choices and understand both their contribution to the evolution of jazz music and their relation to the history of the discipline. An artist's trajectory cannot be completely separated from their environment, from the historical and geographical context and from the general trend of music at the moment and place where the innovation occurs. The course will include a workshop in which students will be guided through the creation and execution of a jazz performance. The workshop will be an important part of the course and the students will be expected to create and perform, hence experiencing the dynamics of artistic creation discussed during the theoretical part. Academic expectations At the end of the cycle of lessons students are expected to be capable of : Understanding basic forms and structures of jazz pieces ; Reading a work of art through the prism of its production context ; Collectively facing the challenges of artistic creation and exchanging about related issues ; Developing an analytical discourse (written and oral) on the experience of listening to music and crating/performing.

Tommaso MONTAGNANI

Atelier

English

This course doesn't require any formal musical training: however, any music skill and/or knowledge possessed by the students will be used during the ‘workshop' part of the course both for musical performance and intellectual exchange between musicians and non-musicians. The variety of profiles in the group will represent an opportunity to discuss the composition of a jazz audience and its relation to performers. Students possessing any artistic background other than music (visual arts, theatre, dance, etc.) will be encouraged to use their knowledge and experience during the workshop.

Spring 2024-2025

Students evaluation will be determined by quality of: A written essay (2 pages) on a book chapter or article chosen in a list given at the beginning of the course (30%). An oral presentation (group assignment) about a Jazz album chosen in a list given at the beginning of the course. The students will be given the title of the album and the name of the artist(s) only : their assignment will consist in listening attentively to the work, researching every possible information about the historical and social context of production and underlining what they believe to be the most significant aspects of the performance as recorded (30%). Contribution to the workshop. Students will NOT be evaluated on the basis of their musical level, but rather in their participation in creating and sharing meaning based on the collective practice of improvised music. Students who cannot take part in the performances as musicians or singers will be asked to write lyrics or to contribute to the performance by means of any other art form (e.g., visual arts, drama etc…) (30%). Participation in class (10%). Late work policy Works and assignments are expected to be completed and sent within the deadlines announced at the beginning of the course. Late arrival policy Late arrivals of 15 minutes or more will be considered as absences.

Cours / Course 1 : Titre / Title : Introduction (Parti I): Historical overview Lectures / Readings : see list of prerequisite readings Travaux / Assignments : Listening of a selection of works Cours / Course 2 : Titre / Title : Introduction (Part II): From the Be-Bop era to contemporary Jazz Lectures / Readings : see list of prerequisite readings Travaux / Assignments : Listening of a selection of works Cours / Course 3 : Titre / Title : Artistic workshop Lectures / Readings : see list of prerequisite readings Travaux / Assignments : Listening of a selection of works and working on ideas to be developed collectively Cours / Course 4 : Titre / Title : Jazz and visual arts Lectures / Readings : see list of prerequisite readings Travaux / Assignments : Listening of a selection of works, watching excerpts of movies Cours / Course 5 Titre / Title : Artistic workshop Lectures / Readings : see list of prerequisite readings Travaux / Assignments : Listening of a selection of works Cours / Course 6 Titre / Title : Vestiges of ritual music in jazz and Blues. Lectures / Readings : see list of prerequisite readings Travaux / Assignments : written essay and oral presentation Cours / Course 7 Titre / Title : Oral presentations, discussions. Collective writing of an outline for the workshop. Creative roles assignment. Lectures / Readings Travaux / Assignments Cours / Course 8 to 12 Titre / Title : Workshop Lectures / Readings Travaux / Assignments ; text and music composition, illustration, learning of songs and themes.