3.2.1 Early Jazz Influenced Works

In this chapter, Clark explores two early Jazz-influenced works La Création du Monde (Darius Milhaud) and An American in Paris (George Gershwin) whilst also discussing the influence of ragtime.

Excerpts explored in the above video:

Figure 1: Milhaud – La Création du Monde (Saxophone Excerpt)

Figure 2: Milhaud – La Création du Monde (Clarinet Excerpt)

Figure 3: Gershwin – An American in Paris (Saxophone Excerpt)

Excerpts explored in the above video:

Figure 4: Milhaud – La Création du Monde (Violin Excerpt)

Figure 5: Gershwin – An American in Paris (Violin Excerpt)

Key Points

• Understanding how to deal with music that is pre-swing
• The articulations and note length associated with the style
• Think about this music as a dialect or a speaking accent