The Big Band Swing Era

The double echo wave EraIt is said by historians, that they believe the liberal knell put down date of reference dates back as early as the twenties in early routes of jazz. It wasnt until the 1930s ranging into the 1950s, when the Big stripes era became to a greater ex decenniumt known. Although it is c eached Big Band, its name idler often be mis conduct. A Big Band consists of an orchestra with anywhere from six to as many as 25 medica workforcetians. Each tintinnabulation varies with the amount of euphonyians. The Big Band Swing era got its name based off of the smooth jazz beat and trip the light fantastic that is incorporated with it. The terms jazz set, jazz ensemble, stage halo, jazz orchestra, ca close offet band and trip the light fantastic band can be used to give away a specific type of a high-risk band. (Wikipedia Big Band )In 1932, a dancing orientated band, Duke Ellington composed and recorded a stock c bothed It Dont mean a thing if it aint got t hat wave (The World playscript Encyclopedia J,K). The name of this song says a lot about how public and important the Swing Era was too many wad. This type of practice of medicine was especially important during the time of World War II and leading America out of the Great Depression, by lifting morale. Today, The Big Band Swing Era is known for its unique components and style, which still holds a special ordinate in fall uponts of millions of Americans.There are 2 famous Big Bands that stand out among several other Big Bands. They are the bands of Glenn moth miller and Tommy Dorsey, who also vie with his brother Jimmy. Glenn millers band, also known as orchestra, was typical in a way that he combined the sounds of the clarinet with four saxophones. Glenn Miller said, A band ought to sp balance a penny a sound all of its own. It ought to have a personality. (The World Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra) Glenn miller was an excellent trombonist and believed actually strongl y in the music he performed. During the time of 1926-1938, he compete the trombone in several bands including the band of Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey. In 1935, he recorded for the first time under his own name. Some of his puff up known hits were Sunrise Serenade, Moonlight Serenade and Wishing (Will Make It So). On April 13, 1940, he played at Sunnybrook Ballroom fixed here in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. It wasnt until the year of 1942, when he entered the U.S Army. While in the Army, he disappeared during an air travel leaving his music behind.The band of Tommy Dorsey was also known as the Dorsey brothers. The Dorsey brothers played in bands together as early as in the 1920s. Tommy Dorsey played both the trumpet and trombone. Throughout the Swing era, Tommy Dorsey was ranked among the top two or three big bands. His orchestra had about fifteen top ten hits in the late 1930s. The Dorsey Brothers broke the charts with their recording of Coquette. Also, with their recording with Bing Cro sby called Lets Do It (lets go across in love), broke into the top ten. By this time, they had one of the hottest bands in the country. In 1935, Jimmy left Tommy to go on and play music on his own. The Dorsey brothers both passed away in the late 50s. As well as Glenn Miller, the Dorsey Brothers also played at the Sunnybrook Ballroom.Instruments put up in big bands were trumpets, saxophones, trombones, drums, pianos, acoustical bass, and guitars. Instruments varied dep peculiaritying on the bands instrumentateation of choice. Composers, arrangers and band leaders would fuddle things up and use more(prenominal) or a few(prenominal)er players in each section. The sections consisted of brass, string, pleximetry and vocal. Music of the big band was written in strophic form with the analogous phrase and chord structure repeated several times. In big band music, we also see a chorus that follows the twelve bar blues form, or thirty-two-bar following a (AABA) song format. Solos wer e also a part of most big bands.Swing dancing itself was one of the important components of the agitate era. The music was represented in the dance, as dance partners (male) would crook their partners about. Swing dancing is a stomachly dance which takes up a lot of energy. During this time period, reel dancing released tensions of the depression and the world in war times. This dance is intended for all ages. Some types of dances incorporated with the get about era are thrust trot, Jitterbug and the Charleston.Big Band Swing still exists today. In fact it is becoming popular again, much worry it was in the 30s throughout into the 50s. Swing Kat Entertainment located at the Ballroom on High in Pottstown, offers littleons on dances that strived during the send away era. On occasion, they have live Big Bands that perform mostly bands that replay much(prenominal) music, handle that of the Dorsey Brothers and Glenn Miller along with several other composers and songs. Sunnyb rook Ballroom, also located in Pottstown has pillowcases that get the community together to re- shape and make todays extension aware, as well as to be a part of the swinging era. An organization called The Philadelphia Swing Dance Society holds swing dancing events at the Commodore Barry Club located in Philadelphia. Sometimes big band can be heard compete on the radio on wxpns military post 88.5. Many people enjoy this type of music and swing dance thats involved. The younger population also participates in events and enjoy getting their swing on.Many people enjoy reliving the swing era and serve forward to community gatherings. Much like during the swing era, many people would come from all over the nation to attend dances and live performances. On April 15th at the Sunnybrook Ballroom there was a swing dance event that marked the 66th anniversary of World War II. During this event the eighteen piece Swing Fever Dance Band performed its annual USO mobile canteen Show, featu ring music of Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller and the Dorsey Brothers (Staff).On Saturday April 16, 2011, I attended a live performance of a Big Band called the fuddled up Nines and swing dance at Swing Kat Entertainment in Pottstown. This band consisted of nine musicians all being men. Each band member was playing a different instrument. I thought this was an awesome experience to hear the instrumentation and witness people swing dancing for the first time. I myself was sucked into the rhythm of the music and felt the dance floor come alive.Instruments that the Slicked up Nines played were the following drums, saxophone, bass, trumpet, baritone, guitar, finger tambourines and a wood block. The musicians were very involved with the music as well as the crowd. Two musicians, who were playing the saxophone, would swing their instrument from side to side. The two instruments that I feel that read the big band alive are the saxophone and bass. The saxophone gives the music its jazz rout es and the base sets the pace and rhythm for swing dancing. I was long- old(prenominal) with all the instruments I saw, other than the finger tambourines and wood block. These instruments were not include in the research in which I performed.Along with hearing music from the swing era, I was also fortunate to experience a few songs based off of west coast swing. The only new instrument I saw with this type of swing was the electric guitar. This gave the music a nice touch. Some songs that the Slicked up Nines performed were slower songs that used less percussion and more bass. One song that stuck out to me the most had lyrics that were catchy. This song had the words chew tobacco as a chorus. Not all of the songs that were played had vocal sounds in them.This was a friendly environment which had all kinds of age groups present. Many people dressed up in tog which was worn during the swing era, as well as girls/ladies wearing dresses and men wearing dress shirts and cackies. The d ance floor came alive as the band and swing dancers got fully involved in the music. The dance floor was built, so that it would bounce as people would dance on it. I found this to be a really cool feature and felt like I was back in the time period of the big band swing era.At times the music would get really dissolute as the men would swirl their partners around. Here, everyone danced with everyone and it didnt matter who, or where you were from. At the end of each song, the gentlemen would dip their partner. I thought that this was an interesting feature to swing dancing. Another component that I found to be interesting was that the songs would end real suddenly. This is much different than most of the songs we find today. Types of dances that I saw were the Fox trot, Jitterbug and the Charleston. Out of these three dances, I found that the Fox trot seemed a little more relaxed then swinging around the dance floor. Overall this was a free rein clean event for everyone. I especi ally enjoyed the live band performance.During intermission, while the band took a shit there was another event that took place. This was called the birthday circle. The person running the event called anyone to the center of the dance floor with a birthday in April. subsequently this, the people remaining in the room gathered around in a circle. Those who were in the center would pick a partner and would switch dance partners. Everyone who wanted to dance with those who shared a birthday in April had a chance too. This was really cool and fun to watch.Here I saw for myself that the big band swing still exists to a midget extent, due to many age groups that find interest in it. For anyone looking for a different taste of music, I would recommend it for anyone. For me this was a fun experience and I feel that the more that people come familiar with the swing era, the more popular it will continue to be today. The swing era is something that will remain in peoples hearts for many m ore years to come.