Assignment: “Different Perspectives of Bebop” Situation: Two musicians are friends and perform in Manhattan together in various swing bands in the 30s. As World War II begins, one musician joins the US Army Band and performs swing/big band music for troops during the war. The other musician stayed in NYC, performed nightly in staple big bands and more importantly, took part in the late-night jam sessions at clubs like Minton’s Playhouse where Bebop was first emerging. Your task: Write two letters, one from the perspective of each musician. One letter is from a musician who stays in the USA, writing to their friend who goes abroad, the other is from the musician who goes abroad, writing to their friend who stayed in the USA. Both should be 2 pages (4 pages total). The first, is a letter from the musician who stayed home, around the time when they first began playing in the late-night jam sessions and is excited to explain this new style of jazz that is emerging. The second, is a letter from the musician who left to join the Army Band, just after they return home from the war. They were not able to respond to the initial letter and had just heard Charlie Parker and Dizzy Gillespie perform Bebop for the first time and decided to respond to the letter their friend sent when they were still abroad. Suggestions of what the letters should contain: 1) References to popular songs, musicians, and bands in both the swing/big band era and early bebop era 2) References to historical events, news and/or interesting things that were of concern during this specific period (WWII, End of WWII, Start of Bebop) 3) Try to capture the emotion and values of each musician, i.e., was the musician who played in the Army band more attached to ‘Swing/Big band’ music? Was the musician who stayed behind more inclined to jump on the new style of Bebop? What were the musical elements of swing/big band/bebop that each musician valued dearly, and why? Put yourself in their shoes and be as creative as possible.
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