Symphonic jazz was a style of jazz in the early 20s that served as music to dance to. They were popular in the then-emerging ballrooms, and were composed to cater to a wider audience. Symphonic jazz were not very spontaneous compared to the other flavors of jazz.
Hallmarks
- heavily arranged/composed
- texture: mostly homophonic due to minimal improvization and larger instrumentation
- form
- blues (e.g. 12-bar blues)
- ragtime
- march
- instrumentation
- strings (fewer than full orchestra, provides a more delicate texture)
- saxophones (warmer sound than Dixieland)
- primitivism: e.g. animal mimicry
Musicians
- Art Hickman: song writer
- established saxophones as a staple for larger jazz ensembles
- Paul Whiteman: bandleader, composer
- white musician who recruited Black musicians
- classically trained
- recorded popular dance tunes
- Bing Crosby: singer, movie/radio star
- famous for song “Let it Snow”
- part of “The Calinda” played by Paul Whiteman Orchestra