Artsource - Vocalworks

Page 1

Artsource The Music Center’s Study Guide to the Performing Arts ENDURING VALUES

TRANSFORMATION

MUSIC ®

ARTISTIC PROCESSES

TRADITIONAL CLASSICAL

1. CREATING (Cr)

CONTEMPORARY

2. PERFORMING, PRESENTING, PRODUCING (Pr)

EXPERIMENTAL

3. RESPONDING (Re)

MULTI-MEDIA

4. CONNECTING (Cn)

FREEDOM & OPPRESSION

THE HUMAN FAMILY

THE POWER OF NATURE

Title of Work:

About the Artwork:

Vocalworks Radio Hour

The Golden Age of Radio lives again with the sounds of the Vocalworks Radio Hour. From the

Creators:

Boswell Sisters to the Mills Brothers, the swing

Bruce Cooper, Michael Geiger, Dave Eastly, Tim and Debbie Reeder

music of the 1930s and ’40s is reborn as Vocalworks recreates a live radio broadcast, taking

Background Information:

students back to an era before television, video,

Since 1983, Bruce Cooper, Michael Geiger, Tim and

cable, the internet and faxes when people gathered

Debbie Reeder and Dave Eastly, of Vocalworks have

around the radio in the living room to hear news,

brought the music of the 1930s and ’40s to audiences

music, drama or comedy programs. The performance

throughout the United States and abroad. They are

features five singers accompanied by string bass,

proud to note that Vocalworks has lasted longer than

four-string and six-string guitars, and a washboard

the swing era itself. According to Cooper, swing music

with various attachments. Even President and Mrs.

appeals to the group because it “was designed to lift

Roosevelt put in appearances as they briefly address

people’s spirits. The Depression and World War II were

the nation in this simulated broadcast. Students are

very difficult times for the American people. They were

introduced to scat singing, call and response,

concerned about their future and what would become

improvisation, repetition, and syncopation, all

of them and our country. Swing music was a wonderful

characteristics of swing music. And since no production

escape that allowed people to lift their spirits and forget

would be authentic without a commercial, students

their troubles for awhile. Our group shows the importance

hear one from the era advertising Colgate

of music in that role and how it can still function in the

toothpowder and Pepsi Cola.

same way today.” Vocalworks’ distinctive style has been

Creative Process of the Artist or Culture:

featured on Garrison Keillor’s American Public Radio

Swing is just one style in the long continuum of

program, A Prairie Home Companion.

This

jazz that includes the blues, ragtime, Dixieland,

in

special

boogie-woogie, and bebop.

performances of the Fantasy on Ice show at the Dorothy

Many jazz specialists cite

Chandler Pavilion, with the Disneyland Jazz Band at

the 1935 Benny Goodman

the Orange County Performing Arts Center, and at the

appearance at the Palomar

Open House at the Hollywood Bowl in a series of

Ballroom in Los Angeles as

heartwarming

group

has

appeared

the opening of the swing era.

programs for young people. Other credits include an appearance with recording artist Michael Feinstein at the Greek Theater.

(continued p. 2) “Swing music was a wonderful escape that allowed people to lift their spirits and forget their Bruce Cooper. troubles.” California


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