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Lesson

Hear Me Howl! Introduction to the Blues

Listen What I Gotta Say: Women in the Blues (6th–8th) / Hear Me Howl! Introduction to the Blues

At its core, the blues is an American music genre derived from feelings–often feelings related to personal relationships, suffering, or social issues. However, blues compositions can also be joyous–maybe about a new love, a new car, a new job, or even your favorite band! In this introductory lesson, students will explore their preconceived notions of "blues music” and learn about its foundational characteristics (lyrics, form, instrumentation, scales) through the contributions of two important blueswomen: Big Mama Thornton and Elizabeth Cotten. After listening to, analyzing, interpreting, and comparing two distinct examples of blues music, students will have a chance to sing along with Big Mama!

Lesson Paths & Learning Objectives

  1. What Is the Blues?

    • Explain (in general terms) how and when blues music became a prominent musical form in the United States.
    • Identify common song topics and general stylistic characteristics of the blues.
    • 20+ minutes

  2. The Blues Isn't Always Blue

    • Identify similarities and differences between the ways in which music elements and expressive qualities are used in two blues compositions (harmonic structure, lyrical structure, timbre, style, instrumentation, etc.).
    • 30+ minutes

  3. Singing with Big Mama Thornton!

    • Expressively sing a song in the blues style and describe how blues music is usually learned (and how it differs from traditional choral singing).
    • 20+ minutes

More +
Less -

Bibliography

Text

Evans, David, ed. 2008. Ramblin’ on My Mind: New Perspectives in the Blues. Urbana: University of Illinois Press.

Goodkin, Doug. 2004. Now’s the Time: Teaching Jazz to All Ages. Pentatonic Press.

Hayes, Eileen M., and Linda F. Williams, eds. 2007. Black Women and Music: More than the Blues. Chicago: University of Illinois Press.

Jones, Bessie, and Bess Lomax Hawes. 1972. Step it Down: Games, Plays, Songs & Stories from the Afro-American Heritage. Athens: University of Georgia Press.

Seeger, Mike. 2016 [1968]. "A ‘Freight Train’ Picker: Elizabeth Cotten.” Folklife Magazine. A version of this article originally appeared in the 1968 Newport Folk Festival program book, and then in the 1970 Folklife Festival book.

Strachwitz, Chris. 1989. Liner Notes for Ball N’ Chain, by Big Mama Thornton. Arhoolie Records ARH00305.

Strachwitz, Chris. 2005. Liner Notes for In Europe, by Big Mama Thornton. Arhoolie Records ARH09056.

Titon, Jeff T. 1977. Early Downhome Blues: A Musical and Cultural Analysis. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.

Audio*

Big Mama Thornton. "Session Blues." On In Europe, recorded 1965. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, ARH09056_108, 2005, streaming audio.

Cotten, Elizabeth. "Freight Train." Mike Seeger, recorder. On Folksongs and Instrumentals with Guitar. New York City, NY: Folkways Records, SFW40009_102, 1958, streaming audio.

Video*

Pete and Toshi Seeger, videographers. Freight Train, Featuring Elizabeth Cotten. Recorded 1957. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 2012. Video.

Images*

Marshall, Jim. "Big Mama Thornton," 1966, photograph. In Big Mama Thornton with the Muddy Waters Blues Band. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 2004, cover image.

Bearden, Romare. Empress of the Blues, 1974, acrylic and pencil on paper. Washington, DC: Smithsonian American Art Museum. Museum purchase in part through the Luisita L. and Franz H. Denghausen Endowment.

Arhoolie Records. Big Mama Thornton with the Muddy Waters Blues Band. Jim Marshall, photographer. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 2004, album cover.

Strachwitz, Chris. "Big Mama Thornton with Band," photograph. In In Europe, Morgan Dodge, designer. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 2005, cover image.

Marshall, Jim. "Big Mama Thornton at Coast Recorders, San Francisco, CA," 1966, photograph. In Big Mama Thornton with the Muddy Waters Blues Band, Chris Strachwitz, producer. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 2004, back cover.

Libby, Junior. "King of Blues, Photo of a Guitar," n.d., photograph. PublicDomainPictures.net.

Taylor, Ty-Juana. "Blues Word Cloud," 2021, digital graphic. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Folkways Recordings.

Strachwitz, Chris. "Big Mama Thornton Singing," 1965, photograph. In In Europe. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 2005, p. 13.

Hart, Kelly. "Big Mama Thornton, Berkeley Folk Festival," 1970, photograph. Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Libraries. Courtesy of Berkeley Folk Music Festival Archive, Charles Deering McCormick Library of Special Collections.

Strachwitz, Chris. "Big Mama Thornton with Purse," 1965, photograph. In In Europe. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 2005, p. 14.

Marshall, Jim. "Big Mama Thornton, Arms Crossed," 1966, photograph. In Big Mama Thornton with the Muddy Waters Blues Band. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 2004, p. 6.

Lanker, Brian. Elizabeth Cotten, gelatin silver print. Washington, DC: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution, 1987, 71.4 × 71.4 cm (28 1/8 × 28 1/8"). Partial gift of Lynda Lanker and a museum purchase made possible with generous support from Robert E. Meyerhoff and Rheda Becker, Agnes Gund, Kate Kelly and George Schweitzer, Lyndon J. Barrois Sr. and Janine Sherman Barrois, and Mark and Cindy Aron.

Cohen, John. "Elizabeth Cotten with Guitar," photograph. In Folksongs and Instrumentals with Guitar, Ronald Clyne, cover design. New York City, NY: Folkways Records, 1958, cover image. By permission of the John Cohen Trust.

Polk, P.H. "Two Unidentified Men Picking Cotton, Macon County, AL," ca. 1930–1940, photograph. In P.H. Polk Family Collection. Tuskegee, AL: Tuskegee University Archives, 2021.

Davies, Diana Jo. "Elizabeth Cotten, 1968 Newport Folk Festival," photograph. Washington, DC: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Smithsonian Institution.

Davies, Diana Jo. "Elizabeth Cotten at the 1969 Folklife Festival," 1969, photograph. In A “Freight Train” Picker: Elizabeth Cotten, by Mike Seeger. Washington, DC: Folklife Magazine, 2016. From the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, Smithsonian Institution.

Marshall, Jim. "Big Mama Thornton with Muddy Waters and Band," 1966, photograph. In Big Mama Thornton with the Muddy Waters Blues Band. El Cerrito, CA: Arhoolie Records, 2004, p. 2.

* Audio, video, and images listed in order of slideshow sequence.