Smith continued on to become very successful with hits like St. View all Google Scholar citations I see myself as an activist Chinese American poet, and I want to show the multiple sides of my literary inheritance. Writer (s): Smith Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com. Bemoaning the fate of losing a home to flood waters after five days and nights of rain, Smith laments: 'Thousands of people ain't got no place to go.'. "When it rains five days, and the skies turn dark as night (x2). Second, the first published blues composition is accredited to W.C. Handys Memphis Blues in 1912. In this recording of \"Backwater Blues,\" we can hear these techniques at work, and they stand in contrast to the very structured twelve-bar blues form of the song. 'Cause my house fell down. I believe the blues represents a range of human experience that can speak on and to that thing that nearly ended someone but the very fact of them living to sing about it encapsulates the blues. I chose these works for how they built upon classic blues (blues that follows the standard AAB lyrical structure and common themes of love, longing, suffering, and travel) by addressing an ecological concern, as in Backwater Blues, or innovating the classical structure, as in Too Blue, and Duplex., I want to encourage reading and listening to early blues poetry and classic blues as a method toward mastering blues aesthetics. What are the introductory chords that illustrate this? The consonant chords allow for a smooth harmony to flow continuously during the song. This suggests to me that aspects of contemporary US poetry could be in lineage of African diasporic culture. Backwater Blues is written in the key of E Major. Backwater Blues gefllt bisher niemandem. The rhythm remains constant throughout the song, allowing the melody to flow peacefully during the piece. The poem moves to personal depression. He studied under Seamus Heaney and Lucie Brock-Broido at Harvard University and, while a student there, became a member of the Dark Room African diasporic culture and the aesthetics of the blues. Back-Water Blues' was one of the best known works of the Empress of the Blues, Bessie Smith, recorded for Columbia Records in 1927 with James P. Johnson on piano. Today, I hear phrases such as the winter blues and Blue Monday and know that they are not considering this history. The a rhyme glues the three-line stanza together. Harmonically, what is the piece based on? Log dich ein um diese Funktion zu nutzen. I love writing blues poems. Of course, I learn so much from the Bessie Smiths blues poems. Bessie Smith recorded Backwater Blues in 1927, and it became an anthem for one of the most devastating national disasters in US history. The first line sets the scene, the second line repeats the first for emphasis. Since tab form can't express time interval, I hope you will figure Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like backwater blues, libretto, step interval and more. Her ability to use \"blue notes\" and other vocal embellishments, along with a loose melodic phrasing, became hallmarks of jazz and blues inflection that other musicians (singers and instrumentalists) emulated. In order to interrogate said materials, six recordings by different musicians were chosen and meticulously transcribed. There were reports that officials behaved in a discriminatory fashion. However, the blues utility in our everyday language signifies to me that the blues are ingrained into US culture. Her powerful voice stands out so much in this song that the instrumental background may not even be needed as supplementation. Backwater Blues by Bessie Smith - Digital Sheet Music, View our Accessibility Statement or contact us with accessibility-related questions, Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out. Bessie Smith- Back Water Blues. Youtube, uploaded by TravelerIntoTheBlue, 9 Oct 2013, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4gXShOJVwaM. Discover an intuitive and deep understanding of how music works. Another way of reading classic blues lyric structure is as weighted-sonic couplets. Bessie Smith, commonly referred to as the Empress of the Blues, was born in 1894 in Chattanooga, Tennessee. The Cumberland River, which flows through the city, rose 56 feet (17m) above its normal level, still a record as of 2014[update].[4]. It was originally composed by Joe "King" Oliver and is largely performed as an instrumental, although lyrics were . Published online by Cambridge University Press: Bessie actually wrote "Backwater Blues" for the Cumberland River flood that hit Nashville on Christmas morning 1926. The scene is set with the terrific storm by the female speaker, so depressed that she cant even get out of the door. Has data issue: false Play the music you love without limits for just $9.99 $3.33/month. For examples of innovative uses of these devices in poetry, visit Jericho Browns Duplex, Evie Shockleys Fukushima Blues, and Kevin Youngs Langston Hughes.. Create beats, songs, and musical snippets with built-in music theory, melody guides, and intelligent chord suggestions. Great cover of blues classic Backwater blues on The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band 2011. album How I Go 04 January 2007. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. The song has long been associated with the great flood of the lower Mississippi River in 1927. Lets look at the blues poem as a form. Following her death, Smith received numerous awards and honors for her achievements, including: Bessie Smith- American Singer. Encyclopedia Britannica, written by The Editors of Encyclopedia Britannica, 22 Feb 2019, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bessie-Smith. This is historically problematical because that flood began two months after Smith . I mean, first, it sets up a terrible storm when it rained five days and the skies turned dark as night, when it rained five days and the skies turned dark as night. :)---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Title: Backwater BluesLevel: BeginnerCom. Through an examination of Smith's touring itinerary, the testimony of fellow entertainers who toured . Although Smith is very pleasing to the ears, she seems to be slightly monotone in this piece. Smith is believed to be one of the highest paid black performers of her time. The lyrics are in the often-used AAB blues format. Leadbelly - Backwater BluesTaken from: 16 Greatest Songs (As Pictured)Track no. Of course, we Americans have historical amnesia. Hooktheory requires WebAudio and this browser doesn't support it. "it rained five days and the sky turned dark as night". She is the author of three collections of poems, most recently Rhapsody in Plain Yellow (2002). The repetition of her lyrics depict just how saddening her situation is- she is in the middle of losing everything. The song "Backwater Blues" is a blues and jazz standard written by Bessie Smith. Photo credit: Carl Van Vechten, Celebrating Contemporary Books & Writers at the Library, From the Catbird Seat: The official Poetry and Literature podcast, Receive notifications about events, activities, and online resources, Marilyn Chin reads and discusses Bessie Smith's "Backwater Blues", Rhapsody in plain yellow, by Marilyn Chin, Archive of Recorded Poetry and Literature. I cant do justice to this poem, to Backwater Blues, by just reciting it myself. hear how the piano embodies the texture of what is being sung, as if the piano witnesses and takes on the storm and flood alongside Bessie Smith. Print and download Backwater Blues sheet music by Bessie Smith. Cause my house fell down and I can't live there no more. Smith . Includes 1 print + interactive copy with lifetime access in our free apps. Almost half a million homes were destroyed. Smith performed for nearly a decade until Columbia Records signed her in 1923. 7 available keys. Backwater blues done called me to pack my things and go. Backwater blues done called me to pack my things and go. [1] Its musical composition entered the public domain on January 1, 2023. The third line either comments or reverses the first two lines. Though theres no singular definition of the blues that fully encompasses the history and culture of the people from whom the blues are derived, I do think there are some notes to consider. The blues artists who wrote and sang in this era there are famous names in this era such as Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Howling Wolf, and of course, Bessie Smith, who is one of my favorites. Backwater blues done caused me to pack up my things and go, / Backwater blues done caused me to pack up my things and go, / 'Cause my house fell down and I can't live there no more. This is a song poem. There were reports that officials behaved in a discriminatory fashion. View Official Scores licensed from. Study with Quizlet and memorize flashcards containing terms like backwater blues, libretto, step interval and more. Writer(s): Smith The three most important chords, built off the 1st, 4th and 5th scale degrees are all major . Backwater Blues is written in the key of E Major. The best song poems, I believe, can live on the pages as well as in the ear. Study of Smith's touring itinerary, of testimony of fellow entertainers who toured with her, and of contemporary reports indicates that the song was written in response to the flood that struck Nashville, Tennessee on Christmas Day 1926. Major keys, along with minor keys, are a common choice for popular songs. Backwater Blues does not sound as much like the blues as Down Hearted Blues to me, but it is still distinguishable as the blues due to the sad content of the song. When it rains five days and the skies turn dark as night, when it rains five days and the skies turn dark as night, then trouble's takin' place in the lowlands at night. What is the structure of the lyrics? She made almost 200 recordings, including duets with Louis Armstrong and Joe Smith. And I can't live there no more. Feature Flags: { We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. As a poet who writes in English I know that every time I write a sonnet I pay homage to the high European tradition and to master poets like Shakespeare, Dunn, Keats, Petrarch. Her voice is subversive, defiant despite all odds against her. When it thunders and lightnin' and the wind begin to blow. About a thousand people lost their lives. Perhaps the build-up of rain made her anticipate the flood; it was released just as the flood came, and as a result, it became a big hit., Charter Member Directory (Password Protected). Total loading time: 0 This is historically problematical because that flood began two months after Smith recorded her song. Theres this rich toughness in her voice that tells us this girl and her people are going to get through this calamity. This piece draws its material from the song "Backwater Blues" by Bessie Smith and from the historically articulated performance practice that has accrued to it. Once more, listen for the turnaround (the melody at the final two bars of each 12-bar progression or last line of each stanza) and hear it transform the melody of one progression/stanza into the next. Marilyn Chin (1955- ) was born in Hong Kong, grew up in Oregon, and received her MFA from the University of Iowa. The first two lines are of almost equal length. Louis Blues featuring Louis Armstrong, Backwater Blues, and Nobody Knows You When Youre Down and Out. As the Swing era was emerging, Bessie Smith was tragically killed in an automobile accident in 1937 in Clarksdale, Mississippi. It was covered by Brother John Sellers, Toni Lynn Washington, Meschiya Lake and The Little Big Horns, The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band and other artists. Considering these notes about the blues inception, the blues endured and scoredif not directly then through derived musical formsthe majority of the United States early nation-building and cultural formation. Notice, however, that although the form remains the same throughout, pianist James P. Johnson's accompaniment style frequently changes during different verses of the song, as he interacts musically with Smith and attempts to depict the meaning of her lyrics through his playing.\r\rBessie Smith (vocal); James P. Johnson (piano)\r\rRecorded in New York, February 17, 1927 It was covered by Brother John Sellers, Toni Lynn Washington, Meschiya Lake and The Little Big Horns, The Kenny Wayne Shepherd Band and other artists. Lyrics powered by www.musixmatch.com. I have her strong voice in my ear at all times. While many latter-day . Pro Credit Pack (3 Pro Credits) Included with first year, Your high-resolution PDF file will be ready to download in Thematically, write about whatever you feel must be sung. hasContentIssue false. Mchtest du Inhalte von aktivieren? The song is called "West End Blues" and was recorded by Louis Armstrong and His Hot Five in 1928. Bessie Smith. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, courtesy of the Rock Hall Library and Archive, https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/bessie-smith. They relocated the white folks in an expedient manner but corralled the black folks into abysmal camps. Big Bill Broonzy released it on the album Folk Blues in 1954. She uses her voice in this particular form to symbolize that she has given up and that she knows she will never find true love. Updated September 9, 2020. My name is Lex and I am a rising senior at the University of Georgia. The words vary from one performer to another; this opening verse is representative: When it rains five days, and the skies turn dark as night (2) Adds to the blues feel as the music is seen to reflect the realities of her situation. for this article. This personal depression by extension is about the depression of an entire people, marginalized in the back waters, stricken with poverty, homelessness, suffering social injustice, discrimination, and now hit with this catastrophic natural disaster. She is considered by many as one of the most successful African-American females of all time. She earned her title by displaying her powerful voice to the public for everyone to hear. ). Known as the\"Empress of the Blues,\" Bessie Smith's first recording, \"Down-Hearted Blues,\" from 1923, was very successful, and helped her to become the leading African-American performer of the time. According to the Theorytab database, it is the 5th most popular key among Major keys and the 5th most popular among all keys. Nose To Tail - Dragon Ball Z Raging Blast 2, Mushihimesama Futari - Sea of Frozen Crystals. Third, Mamie Smith became the first Black blues singer to record a blues record in 1920. How does the music reflect the lyrical content of the piece? Through an examination of Smith's touring itinerary, the testimony of fellow entertainers who toured with her, newspaper reports, and other documents, it can be shown that the song was composed about a flood of the Cumberland River that struck Nashville, Tennessee, on Christmas morning, 1926. The melody is conjunct, making it easy to follow the lyrics of the song and the instrumental portions at the same time. But the second strophe, the second stanza, we turn inward, and its about personal disaster: I woke up this morning cant even get out of my door, I woke up this morning cant even get out of my door. Sheet music arranged for Piano/Vocal/Guitar in C Major (transposable). *Als Songtexte.com PUR User kannst du entscheiden, welche Inhalte von externen Anbietern wie Youtube, Bessie Smith's Back-Water Blues: the story behind https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261143007001158, Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. Chris Fisher-Lochhead. Death. AAB e.g. When it thunders and lightnin' and the wind begins to blow. The flood was a devastating ordeal. Kevin Young was born in Lincoln, Nebraska. She began recording regularly in the 1920s, distinguishing herself as the most successful African American artist of her time with her recording Down Hearted Blues in 1923. [Verse 5] And I went . Entire black neighborhoods were wiped out. Learn to hear chords by ear. Please download this song, preferably the original 1927 recording by Bessie Smith, and listen to her amazing singing. I make it a point to learn the African American poetic tradition. The call and response between vocals and piano does what? Almost a million people became homeless for a time. Though, after repeated listening and reading of blues standards like Backwater Blues, call and response became more than an AAB tercet on page/to my ear. Alle Informationen dazu findest du in unseren 15Label: Route 16Year: 1990This CD is from my own collection. The rhythm and beat remain constant throughout the song. And the rain begin to pour. El disco e. Bessie Smith is the best-known of the female "classic blues" (or "city blues") singers from the 1910s and 1920s (others include Ma Rainey, Ethel Waters, Clar. Billed annually at $39.99. There's thousands of people ain't got no place to go. Designed and built by Hooktheory in California. The blues poems remind us that the American poetic tradition can be traced to African American oral tradition; that great art, great poems come from deep suffering that is personal, historical, and political and could be read on the page as well as sung out loud. Not only did she sing, she was also an actress and comedian. The third-sixth verses have the traditional AAB blues pattern, which helps emphasize what she is saying during each verse. Major keys, along with minor keys, are a common choice for popular songs. I am majoring in biology and love helping my community! The beat is easy to tap along to, making it easier to focus on her lyrics. She lets the chords of the instruments dangle off of her words, resulting in a beautiful piece that focuses primarily on the lyrics. Datenschutzbestimmungen. I think in the best identity poems that the self represents something much larger than the self. The conjunct melody made me want to sing along with her! In our workshop, In the Voice and in the Deep, Blues Poetry, participants and I studied blues music, history, aesthetics, and ultimately blues poetry. Smith did not cut any corners in her songs- she told everyone how the world really was and how she felt about it. LISTENING part 1 SEIGFRIED CHAP 5. richard wagner germany Try listening to Backwater Blues while reading the lyrics; hear how the piano embodies the texture of what is being sung, as if the piano witnesses and takes on the storm and flood alongside Bessie Smith. The despair is deep, is deeply personal, but it is also metaphorical and speaks to the despair of an entire community. } The song "Backwater Blues" is a blues and jazz standard written by Bessie Smith. Create beats, songs, and musical ideas with built-in music theory and AI from over 30k songs. Bessie Smith tabs, chords, guitar, bass, ukulele chords, power tabs and guitar pro tabs including backwater blues, careless love, nobody knows you when youre down and out, taint nobodys business . Each verse in the song follows an AAB pattern from beginning to end. The vocalization stands out far more than the sound of the instruments, primarily due to Smiths incredible voice. She believed that her truth needed to be told, so she told it. Bessie Smith had a powerful impact on future blues and Rock and Roll singers, like Billie Holiday, Aretha Franklin, and Janis Joplin. Mmm, I cant move no more. Back-Water Blues. As an attempt to escape poverty as a teenager, she joined the Moss Stokes Company with her brother and Gertrude Ma Rainey, the Mother of the Blues. Ma Rainey served as the most influential person during Smiths pre-professional career. Smith, Bessie. Carl Van Vechten Estate/Library of Congress, Washington D.C., photograph by Carl Van Vechten, 1936, https://www.britannica.com/biography/Bessie-Smith. Over her ten year career, she created one hundred and sixty recordings. The three most important chords, built off the 1st, 4th and 5th scale degrees are all major chords (E Major, A Major, and B Major). The lyrics of the song are interpreted with respect to the events of that flood. homophonic texture. Smith describes how down she is about her life and how she knows there is nothing she can do about it. According to the Theorytab database, it is the 5th most popular key among Major keys and the 5th most popular among all keys. To pack my things and go. "Backwater Blues" (1927) . Dazu brauchen wir deine Einwillung*. The song has a homophonic texture due to the use of instruments and vocalization in unison. Discuss Bessie Smith's performance of "Back Water Blues" as an example of both. In terms of chords and melody, Backwater Blues is more complex than the typical song, having above average scores in Chord Complexity, Melodic Complexity, Chord-Melody Tension and Chord Progression Novelty. Most of us dont remember the great Mississippi River Flood of 1927, but when I read this poem a few years ago during a gathering on the behalf of Hurricane Katrina in August 2005, the same issues resoundedneighborhoods destroyed, slow government response, the African American neighborhoods were hit the hardest. Her lyrics aid the audience in understanding why she is down. We could define and reproduce several devices of blues lyric, such as call and response, and blues turnaround, and surely, we can write sad poems. The piano's bass part keeps the rhythm of the piece steady but when doing the 'response', the right hand can complicate this and create interest. Bessie Smith (Down Hearted Blues, 1923) Jazz Legend. Youtube, uploaded by RagtimeDorianHenry, 3 Jun 2009, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go6TiLIeVZA. She teaches in the MFA program at San Diego State University. Its musical composition entered the public domain on January 1, 2023. La Bouche) [2023 Mix] [Extended Mix] Songtext. When it's . She manages to escape her flooding home, only to look back and see that she will never be able to go back to it. There's trouble taking place in the lowland that night, Learn how and when to remove this template message, "Bessie Smith's 'Back-Water Blues': the story behind the song", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Backwater_Blues&oldid=1150358087, This page was last edited on 17 April 2023, at 18:17.
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