Of African-American Music - Research Paper Example

The Harlem had significant influences over music and dance and introduced the genres of blues, jazz, hip – hop and rap music in America. Two of the types of music are blues and rap which are totally opposite to each other. They have different features and characteristics but are originated from the same race of people; the African Americans. Both the blues and the rap are important types of African American music. The blues was introduced in the hard times of slavery of the Africans in the 19th century, and therefore has a variety of musical expressions and individual styles.

This form of music was originated by the spirituals, work songs and rhyming narratives. The blues form is present everywhere in jazz, rock and roll which is characterized through the possession of chords. The blues musical notes are usually for the purpose of throwing expressions and thus they are played on a flattened pitch which is important for the sound. The other characteristics of the blues music genre are the lyrics, bass lines and the instruments. The form can be subdivided in genres like country blues to the urban blues.

These became more and more popular in the 20th century when these forms of music became popular in the American culture. Out of all these, Delta, Chicago Blues and jump are the most sung forms. The term blues often refers to sadness or depression. And so it can be analyzed that the form of music represented the period of sadness of the African Americans during the time of slavery and oppression. The lyrics of blues music are most popular for reflecting sorrow and loneliness, although, they do sometimes represent humorous reactions to the common troubles of life (Hamilton, 12).

Ever since the blues music has been formed, the singers were known to use expressive lyrics to make some loose narrations. The singer often used a low voice where he tended to convey his