[Dixielandjazz] The word 'jazz'

D and R Hardie darnhard at ozemail.com.au
Wed Dec 31 14:01:54 PST 2008


Thanks Anton
That is one of the best definitions I have seen.
One to put in your archives.
regards
Dan Hardie
http://tinyurl.com/nqaup

On Tuesday, December 30, 2008, at 12:48  PM, Anton Crouch wrote:

> Hello all
>
> At last! The on-line Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has published its
> Draft Revision (December 2008) for the word 'jazz'. The result is an
> article of great interest and value.
>
> The OED 1976 Supplement and the 1989 Second Edition had become 
> notorious
> because of a simple, but understandable, discographical error with
> regard to Cal Stewart's recording of "Uncle Josh in society". The OED
> people did not know that, in the early years of Victor's recording
> operations, re-recordings were given the same catalogue numbers as
> earlier recordings. Thus, the OED confused Stewart's 1909 recording
> (which does not use the word 'jazz') with the 1919 recording (which
> does). The 1909 date caused a lot of discussion among jazz historians!
>
> The OED Draft Revision sorts-out the non-musical and musical uses of 
> the
> word and will provide plenty of material for continuing argument on 
> this
> issue. For example, the first use in print comes from Los Angeles in
> 1912 and refers to a difficult and fast throw in baseball; the first
> musical usage comes from Chicago in 1915. The OED also notes 'While the
> origins of jazz music .. are popularly associated with New Orleans,
> evidence for early use of the word there is inconclusive; RAGTIME n.
> appears to have been the preferred term (compare earlier RAGTIME n.,
> SWING n.2 10b, and slightly earlier BLUES n.'
>
> I know, I know - you're all impatient - does the OED give a new
> definition of jazz? Of course. It is:
>
> 'A type of popular music originating (esp. in ragtime and blues) among
> African Americans in the southern United States, typically performed by
> ensembles and broadly characterized by regular forceful rhythms,
> syncopated phrasing, modifications to traditional instrumental tone and
> pitch (such as the use of blue notes), and improvisatory soloing.'
>
> The on-line OED is available to individuals by subscription but many
> libraries have it. I do urge all DJMLers to seek it out. You won't be
> disappointed.
>
> All the best,
> Anton
>
>
>
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