Listening (Handy, "St. Louis" Blues (1914)

St. Louis Blues is one of the first and most influential blues songs of its time. The chord progression of 3rds to 4ths and 5ths and Bessie Smith's style are very innovative. The use of the "swooping" voice and the cornet give the song an "improv" feeling. Additionally, the use of the 3rd and flat 3rd gave the song its blues feeling; without those notes in the progression the piece wouldn't have the same effect. I thought that this piece was a new way of music that revolutionized music in the next few decades from jazz to rock and roll. A signature feature that is displayed in this piece is the use of syncopation with the singer and the structured time. Bessie sings the "big hits" on the up beat of a phrase, rather than on the beginning of a measure.