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