AFR 155 - John Coltrane and the Revolutionary Tradition in African American Music

Institution:

Williams College

Subject:

Africana Studies

Description:

This course will examine protest and freedom songs and music from the 1950s and 1960s Civil Rights Movement with an emphasis on the music of John Coltrane (1926-1967). We will begin with a brief historical look at protest and freedom songs from the 1800's through the 1950's, including genres such as jazz and Black classical music. We will focus on the Civil Rights era, and we will ask why the music of John Coltrane became identified with the 1960's movement. Avery Sharpe, a distinguished jazz bassist, spent over 20 years performing with John Coltrane's pianist McCoy Tyner. He will provide for students a first-hand experience with this revolutionary music and its practitioners. He will take students to Harlem, where they will tour the historic Apollo Theater, visit the Abyssinian Baptist Church, and attend a jazz club performance. They will also be given the chance to do original oral interviews with Aisha Tyner and other intimates of the Coltrane circle. Students will also study and experience a public performance of Avery Sharpe's new work based on the life of Sojourner Truth,famous abolitionist, political activist, and freedom fighter. This EDI course explores the musical expressions of the culturally diverse peoples of African descent in the New World, as well as the myriad ways in which representations of jazz and protest music challenge institutional power and dominant U.S. and/or European hierarchies of race, gender and class.

Credits:

3.00

Credit Hours:

Prerequisites:

Corequisites:

Exclusions:

Level:

Instructional Type:

Lecture

Notes:

Additional Information:

Historical Version(s):

Institution Website:

www.williams.edu

Phone Number:

(413) 597-3131

Regional Accreditation:

New England Association of Schools and Colleges

Calendar System:

Four-one-four plan

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