Word
bebop
Phoneticsbe·bop
US/ˈbiˌbɑp/
UK/bɪbˈɒp/
Definition
n. a style of jazz music from the 1940s that is fast, complex, and focuses on the musicians' technical skill. It is often played by small groups of jazz musicians.
n. a style of jazz music developed in the 1940s characterized by fast tempos, complex chord progressions, and virtuosic improvisation. It represents a significant shift from the swing era toward a more intellectual and technically demanding form of jazz.
Examples
“The band played a fast bebop tune.”
“The young pianist spent years studying bebop to master the complex harmonies and rapid improvisations required by the genre.”
“While swing music was designed for dance floors, bebop was intended for small groups of musicians who prioritized technical innovation and harmonic complexity over commercial appeal.”
Examples
simple
“The band played a fast bebop tune.”
contextual
“The young pianist spent years studying bebop to master the complex harmonies and rapid improvisations required by the genre.”
complex
“While swing music was designed for dance floors, bebop was intended for small groups of musicians who prioritized technical innovation and harmonic complexity over commercial appeal.”
Etymology
Alteration of earlier rebop, nonsense syllables used in scat singing in the 1940s. Compare doo be doo be doo, doo-wop, etc.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/bebop