Critical examination of thelonius monk

Jazz Music, Track

To say composer Thelonius Monk was a gifted jazz artist is an understatement to talk about the very least. The main focus of this essay is a important analysis of one of the leading jazz music artists ever, Thelonius Monk. He could be said to be one of many originators of modern jazz, as well as bebop. Monk was born inside the early 1900s in Rocky Mount, New york. Although he was born below, he was moved to New York City at a very early age and this is where he spent the majority of his life. His first move at a piano just visited the young age of 5 years old. A child prodigy of sorts. During his young years, he dropped away of high university and acquired a job touring as a great accompanist to gospel singer. Toward early 1940s, he joined the house band of Minton’s Doll house, where he definitely searched for his own exclusive sound and style. There this individual ended up producing the style of jazz music known as bebop and eventually ended up creating the appear referred to as contemporary jazz. His first recorded record was made in 1944, but under a different term and this wasn’t right up until 1947 that he started that will put his name to his personal records. Through the next decade or so, Monk wasn’t in the limelight and didn’t knowledge much direct exposure. He was criticized heavily because of his type of play. Monk utilized a unique technique and folks often though of him to be a lesser pianist. Likewise due to his unique term and the method he attired and his overall look, it achieved it easier to label him in a negative way. During this time length of his lifestyle, he found marry his longtime partner and had children with her also. Items started to submit his benefit during the early 1950s as well, as his records did start to gain reputation and people started to realize his potential and more appreciate his style. That’s exactly what signed with Prestige Information and his profession started to explode. His 1956 album, “Brilliant Corners” was seen as his first big hit and what jump-started his rise to success. Monk eventually began to tour all across the United States and Europe together with the Thelonius Monk Quartet in the 1960s. He continued to tour across the globe, but 1973, he abruptly retired from the limelight. Towards the end of his life, he suffered from mental illness and lived his life away from the world and stayed to himself. He passed away in February of 1982 (Yanow).

The first record I’m going to evaluate is the 32-bar track, “‘Round Midnight”, which in turn came out in 1958. This track is in fact recognized by various as one of his greatest performs. What’s crazy is that this individual recorded this song if he was only eighteen, but wasn’t capable to record that due to no person being interested. It’s also considered to be one of the major recorded and performed punk songs. The opening term of the track is easily distinguishable for a song such as this. The chord progress is also remarkable for this observe. In his music, Monk usually utilized divide notes, the pretty common jazz approach where the artist strikes the key key having a second important at the same time and quickly publishing it simultaneously. After Monk’s passing, many artists would renditions of some of his most famous and known tunes, and this one out of particular utilized the most.

The next trail I chose was Thelonius Monk’s “Epistrophy”. Interesting enough, epistrophy actually is not a word, but the alteration with the word epistrophe, which explained by Merriam-Webster dictionary, is the “repetition of your word or expression by the end of successive phrases, condition, sentences, or perhaps verses especially for rhetorical or poetic effect” (Merriam-Webster). This kind of track also stands out that beats all others. Some consider this factory-like modern brighten track. It seems to have elevated dissonance to it compared to other paths. The main section of the song is based on a 4-bar term, with every separate club having two chords which might be dominant having a semi-tone between them. There’s sort of an along motion together with the song too, kind of like a rollercoaster.

Another track I chosen was “Well You Needn’t”. This track is another one among his the majority of popular visitors. It was authored by Monk in 1944 and happened to be crafted for one of his after that students who he prepared for naming the song after, but the pupil replied simply by saying “Well you needn’t” and the snooze was history (Learn Punk Standards). Dominant chords are located in this trail, chromatically. This kind of song can be relatable to “Epistrophy” from the point of view that Monk utilized a chord series where the basic note goes by semi-tones. I personally get pleasure from this song as well. It has a nice sound to this.

The next track My spouse and i selected by renowned brighten musician, Thelonius Monk, is “Straight, Not any Chaser”. We also liked this track in particular too. It made me think of a night out for a fancy restaurant where you and a significant other or a group of friends proceeded to go dressed up great. Suits with ties and dresses with heels. This song can be described as “twelve-bar blues”, which is one of the most noticeable blend progressions in music. The melody as well utilizes chromatics.

To summarize, Thelonius Monk was a super talented jazz music musician, one that was certainly ahead of his time. By “Round Midnight” to “Blue Monk” to “52nd Avenue Theme” the versatility of Monk was evident. Having been a revolutionary pertaining to his as well as the inventor of modern brighten, as well as bebop. His one of a kind style and talent established the way to get him being one of the leaders in the advancement of punk. His skill set is one which few individuals before and after him held. Despite the controversy of how he was perceived during his life span, he is now know permanently as a story of jazz music.