Aronidis, Vasilis; (2025) Musical Event as Spatial Articulation: Jazz Events in Harlem (1920s-1930s) as a Synthesis of African American and European Musical Traditions. Doctoral thesis (Ph.D), UCL (University College London).

Preview

Text Vasileios_Aronidis_Thesis_Edited Version.pdf - Accepted Version Download (96MB) | Preview

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the dynamic relationship between music and architecture, situated within an interdisciplinary framework that considers musical, spatial, historical and social dimensions. Driven by the discovery of a rare 1931 jazz radio broadcast from the first Cotton Club in Harlem, New York City, the primary aim is to understand how musical and spatial dynamics interact to shape musical events. This thesis shifts existing methodologies from previous examinations of jazz performances, which have traditionally regarded them as merely musical works. Instead, it seeks to explore their spatial and socio-historical contexts. Specifically, the thesis focuses on Harlem's jazz musical events in the 1920s and 1930s, examining how they were influenced by the two contrasting musical traditions from the nineteenth century that defined New York City's music and architecture for musical performance: African American and European. To investigate how this interplay shapes distinctive musical events and how the examined venues serve as spaces for cultural exchange and artistic expression, I propose a new methodology for representing musical events as spatial articulations that emphasise adaptability, fluidity, and the complex relationships among participants. I use diagrams and animated videos to illustrate the dynamic evolution of performances over time. This analysis includes new evidence and observations from the Ring Shouts in New Orleans, Metropolitan operas, Ziegfeld Follies, and Midnight Frolics in Midtown Manhattan, ultimately comparing them to jazz musical events in Harlem. By linking the chosen case studies to their broader spatial, social, and cultural contexts, I aim to enhance our architectural and theoretical comprehension of the interplay between music and architecture as an interconnected concern rather than a niche topic. This methodology encourages fresh and compelling perspectives on the history of our built environment, focusing on musical events, and emphasising the participants' involvement in these historical narratives.

Download activity - last month

Export as CSVXMLJSON

Download activity - last 12 months

Export as CSVJSONXML

Downloads by country - last 12 months

Export as CSVJSONXML

Archive Staff Only

View Item