The musical style of boogie-woogie (boggie-woogie) appeared in the early twentieth century and immediately attracted the attention of a multimillion-dollar audience. Boogie-woogie dances have that unique incendiary rhythm that is ideal for any dancer, regardless of age, with the only difference being that a young couple will dance without a break for half an hour, and fans of fast dances, who are over sixty, will be able to limit themselves to a few minutes. The attitude to the dance, the emotional sensations of both of them are the same; he leaves no one indifferent.
Blues and its directions
Song, boogie-woogie dance, is one of the blues trends, their musical nature is identical to rhythm and blues and swing. Since the blues itself represents an extensive layer of musical culture, it is quite natural that he formed several branches:
- Spirituals - songs of "cotton plantations", they were sung by black slaves from Africa, when they had to cultivate cotton and maize from morning till night.
- Gospel - church chants, which were performed in chorus by parishioners gathered on Sunday under the vaults of the church. The flock consisted mainly of people who worked all week in the field.
- Soul is the most difficult blues direction in terms of musical pattern and rhythmic foundation. It is performed only professionally, since soul music is always a finished composition. Mostly female singers sing soul, the most famous performers are Anna King and Aretha Franklin. Of the men, Wilson Pickett and James Brown.
- And finally, boogie-woogie, a type of blues, swing-based music, which is characterized by an eight-beat rhythm, the broadest possible improvisation and repetition of musical phrases. Some performers claim that boogie-woogie is a state of mind.
Boogie Woogie and Piano
The style is different in that it does not require many tools. An orchestra, in principle, can also play a play in the style of boogie-woogie, but in this case the music will sound academic and even boring. Therefore, guitar, drums and piano are commonly used. In the thirties of the twentieth century there were musicians who played boogie-woogie dancing on the banjo. However, the most grandiose compositions are possible, of course, only on the piano. This instrument is the best suited for rhythmic syncopated music, which is boogie-woogie. The pianist's left hand leads the bass part that accompanies the melody, and the right hand plays the theme, improvising on the go.
The first to understand the advantage of “one tool” were the owners of small drinking establishments of the Honky Tonk type, open day and night. The owners began to hire black blues musicians who were very inexpensive and were ready to play all night long for drinks and food. So boogie-woogie became the most popular music in cafes and small restaurants. However, winning in one, the owners of zucchini lost in the other. It’s impossible to listen to boogie-woogie music while sitting still, of course, visitors went to dance. Dance floors were needed, and the more visitors came, the wider the dance floor became.
Competition
The musical form of boogie-woogie consists of four phrases that any pianist could master, so there was no shortage of performers. But gradually from the total mass of musicians playing boogie-woogie dances, the most talented began to stand out, competition arose. The owners of the night cafes began to lure pianists from each other, and when this was possible, they added a guitarist and drummer to the piano, thus creating an ensemble from which it was already impossible to leave.
At the end of the 1920s, a rampant, widespread fascination with boogie-woogie music began. The popular style went far beyond honky-tonk, boogie-woogie already played big bands, there were even solo stars who agreed to sit at the piano only for a big fee.
Boogie Woogie and Rock and Roll
In the early 50s, with the advent of rock and roll, boogie-woogie dances changed, acrobatics were added to the structure, as well as a certain scenario, the sequence of movements and pa, which more and more resembled tricks. The rhythm and dynamics of the dance disposed to circus pirouettes. At some point, rock and roll was supplanted by boogie-woogie dancing, it happened with the advent of rock and roll king Elvis Presley, and in addition, rockabilly style came into fashion at that time . However, boogie-woogie turned out to be a musical style over which time has no power, and it remained unshakable, popular and in demand.
Competitions
Then boogie-woogie dances became competitive, competitions were organized in which couples showed everything they were capable of. After some time, the competition took on a regular character, and couples dancing boogie-woogie began to compete for victory, for first, second and third place. Since the competition provided for the participation of young talents, a boogie-woogie dance was created for children, and small dancers took part along with adults. Children's program was simpler and easier. Boys and girls usually performed the famous popular dance “I love boogie-woogie”.
Boogie Woogie today
As in ballroom dancing, the boogie-woogie was judged by a competent jury, prizes and prizes, main and incentive, were played, and someone remained just a participant or a laureate of the competition. Competitions were held everywhere, in all countries of the world. Only in the Soviet Union it was believed that boogie-woogie, dudes, a dance of an alien culture - all this was not necessary for the Soviet person. Currently, Soviet ideology is no longer working, and the boogie-woogie dance is considered one of the most popular in the world.