Professor Answers Question Of 'What Makes Jazz Jazz'
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The first meeting of the Jazz Forum answered a big question for the 70 people who attended last night.
Carroll Clark, professor of sociology, and professional jazz musician of the early '20's, answered the elusive question of "just what is jazz?"
"Jazz is the spirit of the present generation." Prof. Clark said, "and the essence of jazz rests in improvisation."
"First," he said, "Jazz departs from the conventional music scale in certain ways; it has a rhythmic complexity of its own.
"Jazz consists of new tonalities. It is not bound by the rigidity of pitch that characterizes European music."
Prof. Clark stated that although
the internal structure of jazz has certain defined characteristics, improvisation causes the trimmings to be anybody's guess.
On the history of jazz, Prof. Clark said, "Jazz was born in America. The American Negro was the great pioneer in our jazz."
The acceptance of jazz on the American scene was welcomed by Prof. Clark. He had to give up jazz in 1924 when he started teaching because "it was something professors just didn't do."
Going underground for many years, Prof. Clark was finally able "to come out of the cellar" when the American public realized that jazz was indeed the spirit of our present generation.
I grow old learning something new every day.—Solon
Wescoe to Speak At Faculty Forum
Chancellor W. Clarke Wescoe will speak tomorrow noon at the Faculty Forum in the Kansas Union.
Monday. Nov. 7, 1960 University Daily Kansan
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KU Pipeline Institute to Be Held in Liberal
The Natural Gas Pipeline Institute directed by the University of Kansas Southwest Center will be held November 15 and 16 in Liberal.
The conference, which will begin at 8 a.m. Tuesday with registration, will be held in the Court Room of
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Purpose of the institute is to present the latest practical information on the construction and operation of natural gas pipelines.
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