Louis Armstrong: Alligator Crawl

Background, players and a breakdown of the piece. I have done similar for all the other ocr set works, jazz and classical :)

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  • Created by: Helen66
  • Created on: 23-05-11 08:40

Background

  • Armstrong learned to play the cornet at school in New Orleans
  • New Orleans = trade centre. very influential in jazz.
  • Played in jazz bands and clubs, moved to New York to form his Hot Seven.
  • Recorded in Chicago - 10th May 1927
  • Example of Paraphrase improvisation
  • Middle section based on 'Alligator Crawl' by Fats Waller
  • 12 Bar Blues in Fmajor
  • 3 four bar phrases (Chord I at 1st phrase, Chord IV at 2nd phrase)
  • Stylistic Techniques (Of Louis Armstrong): **** singing, flexible with rubato, very heavily swung rhythms
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Players

  • Trumpet - Louis Armstrong
  • Trombone - John Thomas
  • Clarinet - Johnny Dodds
  • Piano - Lil Hardin
  • Guitar/Banjo - Johnny St Cyr
  • Bass (played by tuba) - Pete Briggs
  • Drums - Warren 'baby' Dodds
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Breakdown of the Piece

F Major

  • Intro - Trumpet - C major
  • Chorus 1 - Clarinet - Smears, Fall offs, scoops
  • Chorus 2 - Ensemble - Clarinet takes counter melody, trombone and trumpet interweave with melody
  • Link - 4 bars - Pedal G (V of C major-ready for modulation) and octave leaps

C Major

  • Solo A - Trumpet - Syncopation - C major --> G major
  • Solo B - Trumpet - Terminal Vibrato - E minor --> G major
  • Solo A - Trumpet - Octave Leaps - C major --> G major

F Major

  • Chorus 3 - Guitar-takes own rhythm + speeds up- solo guitar, v. unusual.
  • Chorus 4 - Ensemble - Double time!
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Comments

Meg

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this was so helpful! thank you! 

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