Mesa   

This course will explore the diverse styles of jazz, addressing the complexities that often arise for new listeners in distinguishing what constitutes jazz and what does not. We will trace the historical development of this American art form, highlighting pivotal moments and key figures within each style. Along the way, we will study notable recordings and the contributions of influential innovators who shaped the evolution of jazz.

Some 27 million visitors prepared for the twentieth century by attending the World’s Columbian Exposition, which once occupied nearly 700 acres on Chicago’s South Side. Most had never even seen a light bulb, yet they were suddenly greeted with more electric lights than were then in use in the entire city of Chicago. The Fair was a striking blend of the palatial and the modern: its Greco-Roman buildings evoked Renaissance grandeur, while the visionary architecture of Louis Sullivan hinted at the future. Elegant concert halls—where thousands heard Handel’s Messiah—were complemented by the music of John Philip Sousa and Scott Joplin. This course will revisit the architecture, art, and music of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair.