In his 1958 autobiography, jazz pianist Bill Evans wrote about encountering certain musical phrases that immediately resonated with his artistic...
GMAT Information and Ideas : (Ideas) Questions
In his 1958 autobiography, jazz pianist Bill Evans wrote about encountering certain musical phrases that immediately resonated with his artistic sensibility. Evans described experiencing profound moments of creative recognition when hearing specific harmonic progressions, feeling an unexpected yet familiar connection to musical ideas he had never formally studied: _______.
Which quotation from Evans' autobiography most effectively illustrates the claim?
"The harmonic sophistication of modern jazz requires extensive theoretical knowledge and years of dedicated practice to master effectively."
"Jazz improvisation draws from a rich tradition of American musical forms, including blues, spirituals, and ragtime, creating a uniquely American art form."
"When I first heard that particular chord sequence, something stirred deep within me—though I had never encountered these specific harmonies before, they felt like a musical language I had been waiting my whole life to discover."
"The evolution of jazz piano technique has been shaped by countless innovative artists who have each contributed their own unique voice to the tradition."
Step 1: Decode and Map the Passage
Part A: Create Passage Analysis Table
| Text from Passage | Analysis |
|---|---|
| "In his 1958 autobiography, jazz pianist Bill Evans wrote about encountering certain musical phrases that immediately resonated with his artistic sensibility." |
|
| "Evans described experiencing profound moments of creative recognition when hearing specific harmonic progressions, feeling an unexpected yet familiar connection to musical ideas he had never formally studied:" |
|
| "_______." |
|
Part B: Provide Passage Architecture & Core Elements
Main Point: Bill Evans experienced profound moments of creative recognition when encountering unfamiliar musical ideas that felt both unexpected and familiar.
Argument Flow: The passage establishes Evans as a jazz pianist who wrote about his musical experiences, then describes the specific phenomenon of him feeling deep recognition and connection to musical ideas he had never formally studied, setting up the need for a quotation that demonstrates this experience.
Step 2: Interpret the Question Precisely
This is a fill-in-the-blank question asking us to choose the best logical connector. The answer must create the right relationship between what comes before and after the blank.
Step 3: Prethink the Answer
- The correct quotation needs to capture Evans paradoxical experience - encountering musical ideas that were new to him but immediately felt deeply familiar and meaningful
- It should show the unfamiliarity, the immediate profound recognition, and the sense of deep connection despite the newness
- The right answer should be a first-person quotation from Evans that describes hearing unfamiliar music but feeling an immediate, deep recognition or connection to it
"The harmonic sophistication of modern jazz requires extensive theoretical knowledge and years of dedicated practice to master effectively."
✗ Incorrect
- This discusses the technical requirements needed to master jazz and focuses on extensive study and practice, which contradicts the passage emphasis on immediate recognition of unstudied material
"Jazz improvisation draws from a rich tradition of American musical forms, including blues, spirituals, and ragtime, creating a uniquely American art form."
✗ Incorrect
- This provides general information about jazz influences and American origins but contains no personal experience from Evans
"When I first heard that particular chord sequence, something stirred deep within me—though I had never encountered these specific harmonies before, they felt like a musical language I had been waiting my whole life to discover."
✓ Correct
- Perfectly captures the paradox described in the passage with never encountered these specific harmonies before showing unfamiliarity, something stirred deep within me demonstrating profound recognition, and felt like a musical language I had been waiting my whole life to discover expressing unexpected familiarity
"The evolution of jazz piano technique has been shaped by countless innovative artists who have each contributed their own unique voice to the tradition."
✗ Incorrect
- Discusses the historical evolution of jazz piano technique generally but contains no personal experience from Evans addressing the specific phenomenon