Churchill academy music department

Year 9 GCSE music - composition unit 4

Blues - Early blues history & context

Watch the video extract for Chapter One and answer these questions in your exercise book.
Answer in full sentences and take care with your grammar. Part of this task is to be able to
listen and recall information
1.

When did Blues evolve?

2.

What is a field holler?

3.

Name 3 things that early traditional blues songs were sung about.

4.

What is the AAB pattern?

5.

What was the first ever blues song to be titled and who was the performer/composer?

6.

What is Memphis Blues? What musical characteristics does it have?

7.

What is a jug band? You may need to investigate this further.

8.

When did Memphis Blues musicians move to Chicago? What were the reasons for this?
You may need to investigate this further

9.

What 2 musical elements did Urban blues mix?

10.

Why is urban blues considered to be more sophisticated?

11.

What are some of the characteristics of Mississippi Delta Blues?

12.

How is slide guitar played? You may need to investigate this further.

13.

Name 4 Robert Johnson recordings that have been covered by other people in more
modern day settings. You will need to look further than the film extract

14.

Write down Johnsons dates (born/died)

15.

In the extract that Joe plays (of Johnsons style) what is it about the performance that
makes it blues in style?

16.

Go online to find out the following information

17.

i)

What are the chords used in a blues?

ii)

How many bars are there generally in a blues?

iii)

Write out a typical blues chord progression

Using the information that you now have on blues, write a blues song consisting of 3
verses that tell a story. Think about the content of the lyrics and the patterns of blues
that you should now know - if in doubt research some typical blues lyrics further online

Gcse music year 9 composition techniques