Final answer:
The earliest blues was primarily a vocal tradition, exemplified by the powerful voices of singers like Bessie Smith during the Harlem Renaissance. The music focused on expressing the African American experience and was characterized by its adaptability and accessibility, often accompanied by simple, portable instruments rather than pianos or large ensembles.
Step-by-step explanation:
The earliest blues was primarily vocal music. During the period of the Harlem Renaissance, black musicians in the United States began to develop new styles of music to express the experiences of life in their communities. One of these styles was blues music, which evolved from African-American spirituals. Bessie Smith, known as "The Empress of the Blues", was celebrated for her strong vocal abilities and her songs captured the essence of blues as a vocal tradition. The adaptability of musicians in using accessible instruments like harmonicas, violins, guitars, and homemade instruments reflects that pianos and bands were less prevalent in folk traditions, which is indicative of the nature of early blues as well.
Folk traditions also influenced the development of early blues, with slaves and free blacks in the South crafting work songs and spiritual tunes with a focus on percussive elements and blue notes. As these musical styles developed, they retained a strong vocal character, often accompanied by simple, portable instruments that were easy to carry, which is in line with the vocal roots of blues.
Early blues was not dominated by piano music, band music, or solo guitar music, but rather it emerged primarily as a form of vocal expression, with the music evolving to fit the venues and circumstances of the performers. Musicians like W. C. Handy played a significant role in transcribing and spreading blues music, but the core of this genre remained rooted in its vocal beginnings.