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{{B}}An Early Form of Jazz Music{{/B}} Music comes in many forms; most countries have a style of their own. At the turn of the last century, {{U}}(51) {{/U}}jazz was born, America had no prominent. {{U}}(52) {{/U}}of its own. No one knows exactly when it was invented or by whom. But it began to be{{U}} (53) {{/U}}in the early 1890s. Jazz is America's contribution to{{U}} (54) {{/U}}music. In contrast to classical music, which{{U}} (55) {{/U}}formal European traditions, jazz is spontaneous and free in form. It bubbles with energy, {{U}}(56) {{/U}}the moods, interests, and emotions of the people. In the 1920s jazz{{U}} (57) {{/U}}like America. And so it does today. The{{U}} (58) {{/U}}of the music are as interesting as the music itself. American Negroes, or blacks, as they are called today, were the jazz pioneers. They were brought to the Southern states{{U}} (59) {{/U}}slaves. They were sold to plantation owners and forced to work long hours. When a Negro died his friends and relatives{{U}} (60) {{/U}}a procession to carry the body to the cemetery. In New Orleans, a band often accompanied the{{U}} (61) {{/U}}. On the way to the cemetery the band played slow, solemn music suited to the occasion. {{U}}(62) {{/U}}on the way home the mood changed. Spirits lifted. Death had removed one of their number, but the living were glad to be{{U}} (63) {{/U}}. The band played{{U}} (64) {{/U}}music, improvising on both the harmony and the melody of the tunes{{U}} (65) {{/U}}at the funeral. This music made everyone want to dance. It was an early form of jazz. |