Cultural codes : makings of a Black music philosophy : an interpretive history from spirituals to hip hop

By providing a focused examination of the historical development of Black music artistry, William C. Banfield formulates a usable philosophy tied to how such music is made, shaped, and functions. He explores Black music culture from three angles: history, education, and the creative work of the musicians\_engaging the reader in a conversation about the aesthetics and meanings that inform the cultural codes of Black music. "No art can survive without an understanding of, and dedication to, the values envisioned by its creators. No culture over time has existed without a belief system to sustain its survival. Black music is no different. In Cultural Codes: Makings of a Black Music Philosophy, William C. Banfield engages the reader in a conversation about the aesthetics and meanings that inform this critical component of our social consciousness." "By providing a focused examination of the historical development of Black music artistry, Banfield formulates a useable philosophy tied to how such music is made, shaped, and functions. In so doing, he explores Black music culture from three angles: history, education, and the creative work of the musicians who have moved the art forward. In addition to tracing Black music from its African roots to its various contemporary expressions, including jazz, soul, R&B, funk, and hip hop, Banfield profiles some of the most important musicians over the last century: W.C. Handy, Scott Joplin, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Mary Lou Williams, John Coltrane, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Wonder, among others. Cultural Codes provides an educational and philosophical framework for students and scholars interested in the traditions, the development, the innovators, and the relevance of Black music."--BOOK JACKET. Annotation No art can survive without an understanding of, and dedication to, the values envisioned by its creators. No culture over time has existed without a belief system to sustain its survival. Black music is no different. In Cultural Codes: Makings of a Black Music Philosophy, William C. Banfield engages the reader in a conversation about the aesthetics and meanings that inform this critical component of our social consciousness. By providing a focused examination of the historical development of Black music artistry, Banfield formulates a useable philosophy tied to how such music is made, shaped, and functions. In so doing, he explores Black music culture from three angles: history, education, and the creative work of the musicians who have moved the art forward. In addition to tracing Black music from its African roots to its various contemporary expressions, including jazz, soul, R & B, funk, and hip hop, Banfield profiles some of the most important musicians over the last century: W.C. Handy, Scott Joplin, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Mary Lou Williams, John Coltrane, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Wonder, among others. Cultural Codes provides an educational and philosophical framework for students and scholars interested in the traditions, the development, the innovators, and the relevance of Black music No art can survive without an understanding of, and dedication to, the values envisioned by its creators. No culture over time has existed without a belief system to sustain its survival. Black music is no different. In this work the author engages the reader in a conversation about the aesthetics and meanings that inform this critical component of our social consciousness. By providing a focused examination of the historical development of Black music artistry, he formulates a usable philosophy tied to how such music is made, shaped, and functions. In so doing, he explores Black music culture from three angles: history, education, and the creative work of the musicians who have moved the art forward. In addition to tracing Black music from its African roots to its various contemporary expressions, including jazz, soul, R & B, funk, and hip hop, he also profiles some of the most important musicians over the last century: W.C. Handy, Scott Joplin, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Mary Lou Williams, John Coltrane, James Brown, Jimi Hendrix, and Stevie Wonder, among others. This work provides an educational and philosophical framework for studying the traditions, the development, the innovators, and the relevance of Black music Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Part I. A CULTURAL CHARGE......Page 14 Ch01. Black Notes and Cultural Codes:Makings of a Black Music Philosophy......Page 16 Ch02. A New Black Music Arts Aesthetic......Page 24 Ch03. A History of Aesthetic Definitions......Page 36 Ch04. Hip to the Hop......Page 50 Part II. BUILDING A BLACKMUSIC PHILOSOPHY......Page 60 Ch05. A Cultural Education......Page 62 Ch06. Black Music Studies......Page 88 Part III. MAPPING BLACK MUSIC,HISTORY, MEANING,CODES, AND ARTISTRY......Page 98 Ch07. African Roots toBlues, New Orleans, and Ragtime......Page 100 Photospread......Page 136 Ch08. Jazz: The NewModern Mode of Being......Page 158 Ch09. Race Records, Gospel,R&B, and Urban Blues......Page 184 Ch10. Urban Contemporary:Soul, Funk, and Global......Page 190 Ch11. Hip Hop: Connecting the Dots......Page 206 Part IV. CODA: CLOSING THEMES......Page 216 Ch12. Core Values and the Black Aesthetic Code......Page 218 Appendix: Recommended Music and Songs......Page 224 Notes......Page 230 Index......Page 234 About the Author......Page 254 Black notes and cultural codes : makings of a Black music philosophy A new Black music arts aesthetic A history of aesthetic definitions Hip to the hop A cultural education Black music studies African roots to blues, New Orleans, and ragtime Jazz : the new modern mode of being Race records, gospel, R & B, and urban blues Urban contemporary : soul, funk, and global Hip hop : connecting the dots Core values and the Black aesthetic code. Downbeat Aesthetic Defining periods Hop to the hip Philosophy Black music studies The history of the music Jazz Race music, gospel, R&B to urban blues Urban contemporary Hip hop Cadence.