Music In The 1920s Essay

In 1915, the Great Migration began growing. Many black people were moving North, leaving their slave status in the dust. As more of them move North, music became their way of connecting to one another and relieving the stresses of everyday life. Blues music was the music of the decade. The mournful tones of the genre struck the African American population in a unique way. With the influence of the Blues and the African American background, a new music era was born. Music blossomed in the 1920s because radios were invented, the jazz age, which was the theme of the time, and musical theater.

Radio, during the 1920s, was an invention that brought the means of transporting messages and music, quickly, throughout the country. The first radios were made of crystal and were complex (“Radio Technology”).

Complicated was and still is not something people are good with. So, around the time of World War 1, a vacuum tube-like invention made receiving signals much easier and precise (“Radio Technology”). Though the construction and mechanics of the radio were easier, they still were not operable by everyone. Edwin Armstrong changed that. He made a broadcasting breakthrough when he invented the superheterodyne receiver which, basically, made signals clearer and easier to understand (“Radio Technology”). By 1922 more than sixty thousand standard radios had them and the number only grew (“Radio Technology”). Almost every home in America had a radio, that meant everyone would hear anything broadcasted. In 1922 the New York station took advantage of that and aired the first radio commercial which was ten minutes long (“Radio”). Radios allowed information to spread and aided in the spread of jazz music.
Jazz was the main new music of the decade; it spread quickly and though it was driven by the blacks, it was enjoyed by the white population. The African American population was inspired by blues music and their heritage. Jazz was the result- a soulful, deep music. Later, the accomplishments of well-known blacks from the jazz era was the first time the achievements of the black talent and smarts were shown to the white public- which was a huge deal (Baughman). Before jazz, whites had basically disregarded the blacks altogether; after jazz, the whites had more respect and acknowledgement for the blacks. Jazz was so popular that black musicians would travel the world and exotic places to perform, and when they did, it stuck (“African American Music”). So, jazz was so influential that is eased some of the racial tension in the country. Though jazz music was he heritage and joy of black people, the first time is was recorded for money was by white people (Berg and Gianoulis). Jazz was largely accepted by the white population and many of them became famous artisans of it. With the assistance of some white jazz musicians, the white population began to more openly accept black musicians, welcoming them and offering recording contracts with a few companies (Ber and Gianoulis). Jazz was the new style of music and with it, and the open minds of American, musical theater made is debut.
Before the 1920s, musical theater was not very popular but after, it was well known and well sought after, blossoming the music flower further.

Broadway, or musical theater, had a strong presence in the 1920s caused by hit shows which is why Broadway stuck around (“Musical Theater”). Music brought out a whole new side of the shows, and more acceptance from the audience. Musical theater expanded and the subjects portrayed became bolder and often brought up things like abuse or alcoholism while using music to numb the crowd a bit (“Show Boat”). Obviously, not every show was a hit but there were a few exceptions. Things like Show Boat and Lady, Be Good! Helped secure Broadway’s future (“Musical Theater”). Music not only impacted the theater, but the population of adoring fans sitting in their seats, anticipating the thrill of the show to come. Musical theater did, however, move the theater in three significant ways: it used music to intensify the plot, it allowed American qualities bleed through, and the music helped accentuate the themes and lessons of the stories (“Show Boat”). The impact that the 1920s had on musical theater, and other music types, is

lasting.
The expanding of music during the 1920s was immense and pushed by radios, jazz, and musical theater. Radios, though having progressed much further, were a sizable progression of music in the 1920s. With new inventions pushing them further, they soon found themselves in every home and broadcasting the first commercial and, later on, music. Radios assisted in the spread of jazz as did the white musicians who adopted the music though it stemmed from the heritage of blacks people. Musical theater played a rather large part in the progression of music during the 1920s. When music was introduced to shows, it took over and emphasized themes of the them and often brought up subjects that had previously been taboo. The overall progression of music during the 1920s was vast and its impacts can still be seen today.