When a Jazz Classic Redefined Music's Place in Modern Art
Fifty-three years ago, Paul Desmond's 'Take Five' became the unlikely soundtrack to an evolving cultural landscape.
It’s hard to imagine now, in an era saturated with cross-genre collaborations and blurred artistic lines, but there was a time when jazz was considered, by some, little more than background noise. Then came Paul Desmond’s "Take Five" in 1959, propelled into the mainstream by the Dave Brubeck Quartet, and suddenly, the perception began to shift. More than just a catchy tune in an unusual 5/4 time signature, "Take Five" transcended its musical roots, quietly but firmly asserting itself as a piece of art that demanded serious consideration.
Its journey into a broader cultural consciousness was cemented a few years later. On this day in 1973, New York City’s Museum of Modern Art acquired the original score of "Take Five" for its permanent collection. This was a groundbreaking moment, not just for jazz, but for music as an art form. Until then, MoMA's focus had largely been on visual arts—painting, sculpture, photography. The inclusion of a musical score signaled a profound recognition: that composition, like a canvas or a sculpture, could be considered a standalone work of modern artistic expression, worthy of preservation and study within an institutional context.
The acquisition wasn't just symbolic; it opened doors. It challenged traditional hierarchies, suggesting that the ephemeral nature of sound could hold as much artistic weight as tangible objects. It also gave a new legitimacy to jazz, moving it further from dimly lit clubs and closer to white-walled galleries. While other museums and archives had collected musical works, MoMA's move was particularly impactful due to its prominence as a bastion of modern art.
Today, the reverberations of that 1973 decision are clear. We see music installations in galleries, sonic art exhibitions, and a much wider acceptance of sound as a medium for profound artistic exploration. "Take Five" itself, with its cool, sophisticated melody and innovative rhythm, remains a timeless classic. But its legacy extends beyond its sonic beauty; it helped pave the way for a more inclusive definition of art, reminding us that true creativity knows no single form.