Learn Through English
|
Learn Through English |
|
 |
Music |
The Blues |
This is a treasure hunt about one of the most important styles of popular music in the XXth century, particularly in the USA. Find the information you need to answer the following questions. Read them carefully and follow the instructions. If you do, you will have learnt a lot about the BLUES when you finish. Click here for help if you can't answer the questions.
These websites can also be very interesting:
Warm-up activity:
First of all, think about the word BLUES, what does it suggest you? What do you know about it? Have you ever heard a BLUES? Where?
A. THE ORIGINS.
All music styles have a background, that is to say, they are born from other music styles and are set in a historical context. Where does the Blues come from? What were its music sources and its social and cultural background?
Music sources |
Social and cultural background |
What is the basic blues band formation as regards instruments?
| INSTRUMENT | Yes |
No |
INSTRUMENT | Yes |
No |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trumpet | Drums | ||||
| Electric guitar | Bass guitar | ||||
| Spanish guitar | Synthesizers | ||||
| Piano | Harp | ||||
| Acoustic guitar | Banjo | ||||
| Harmonica | Viola | ||||
| Clarinet | Accordion | ||||
| Violin | Trombone | ||||
| Flute | Organ | ||||
| Lute | Mandolin | ||||
| Pipes | Cello |
Get some information about these English words closely related to the Blues style:
DOBRO/RESONATOR |
|
SLIDE |
|
GUT BUCKET |
|
BOTTLENECK |
C. THE SONGS
Let’s have a look at the lyrics now. Which of these topics are usual in BLUES?
DISCOS, SEX, DRUGS, LOVE, SOCIAL INJUSTICE, HUMAN RIGHTS, SCHOOL, HAPPINESS, POLITICS, WOMEN’S RIGHTS, LONELINESS, POLITICS, COUNTRY LIFE, CITY LIFE, RACISM,
Most Blues have got a very clear and typical structure. Listen to this song (I’m a Man by Muddy Waters). Can you describe its structure?
|
D. THE GEOGRAPHY
Look at this map of the USA and tick the places where these bluesmen were born, lived and worked. What are your conclusions?
John Lee Hooker, Muddy Waters, Robert Johnson, Leadbelly, B.B. King, Howlin' Wolf, Sonny Boy Williamson, Professor Longhair, Memphi Meannie, Freddie King.
Map from EnchantedLearning.com.
E. THE MUSICIANS
The following names were very popular blues musicians, but they had very different origins and lived in different times. Could you fill in the chart with the correct data?
Nationality |
Race |
Time span |
Instrument |
|
John Mayall |
||||
B.B. King |
||||
Johnny Winter |
||||
Leadbelly |
||||
Robert Johnson |
||||
Gary Moore |
||||
Howlin’ Wolf |
||||
Dr. John |
||||
Sonny Boy Williamson |
||||
John Lee Hooker |
||||
Paul Butterfield |
||||
Freddie King |
||||
Eric Clapton |
||||
Mike Bloomfield |
||||
S.R. Vaughan |
||||
Ronnie Hawkins |
||||
Memphis Meannie |
||||
Ray Charles |
||||
Peter Green |
The world of Blues was mostly a male world, but there were also some brave women who played a very important role in its history. Could you mention at least one for each period?
Pre-war blues 1920’s-1930’s |
|
Post-war blues 1940’s-1950’s |
|
1960’s |
|
1970’s |
|
1980’s |
|
1990’s |
|
2000’s |
A lot of Blues players used ‘beautiful’ nicknames. What are the real names behind these pseudonyms? Try this game if you need help. Think about the meaning of their ‘artistic’ names. Any relationship with the Blues spirit?
MUDDY WATERS |
|
HOWLIN’ WOLF |
|
LEADBELLY |
|
MEMPHIS MEANNIE |
|
MEMPHIS SLIM |
|
PROFESSOR LONGHAIR |
If you want to learn more about blues nicknames click here.
F. Finally, these are a few questions to make you think:
When you read the lives of bluesmen and women you realise that most of them did not even go to school. How do you think they learn to play music? What was their “school”?
What points do Blues and Flamenco have in common?