American music is relatively new considering the deep culture and music history of the east. What shaped music here in America and how did we reach our own unique sound as a country largely derived from immigrants? When immigrants first came to colonize, they were mostly from Northern and Western Europe, during this time Europe was experiencing the “Baroque Style”, a flamboyant, extravagant style of art that music mimicked and flourished from. During that time in America, wanting to be a composer or musician was thought of as alien. The idea of being a touring virtuoso as musicians did in Europe was impossible by the difficulty of traveling through America. An early musician of America was at best a craftsman. A person who settled in a town …show more content…
Billings was born in Boston in 1746, during that time few churches could afford a musician, and the Puritan Doctrine had limited music to unaccompanied psalm singing in an effort to show the Puritans who had stayed in England the way of their sins. By 1765 America only had about a dozen or so tunes that were being sung, at age 18 Billings published “The New England Psalm-Singer” a song book that included 126 compositions billing wrote himself. Billings had achieved fame, his tunes were attractive, homophonic in texture, and short, his music mimicked traits of what Europe was doing at the time as well. Billings was also a Patriot, composing pieces about the grief of his city's fate when it was occupied by British forces. He was also opposed the Stamp act and tea tax, Billings was also associated with Samuel Adams, who was one of the leaders in the American revolution. Billings and Samuel Adams had a common interests in music as well as politics, they even performed in churches and concerts together. One piece that grew into billings greatest hit was “Chester” a piece Billings wrote as the American Revolutionary War Anthem. This is one of the first Nationalistic songs we see in American history, bringing the country together. But by 1790 the peoples interest in church music began to fade, leaving billings broke and unknown by the new exciting music …show more content…
In this time people had gone from listening to psalms to symphony's, a decline in church music had been to the European Romanticism movement and lack of churches in America at the time. During this time Anthony Heinrich was composing a mix of works. He took elements from Native American music; which used Indian motifs which had kept growing in American music until the 1850s. He also used German, and Austrian, Italian folk songs and combined them into his works creating what would be called an “American Product” despite being from the Czech
The "old" European attitude, and the attitude that attracts many modern performers to early music, is exactly the opposite of the modern attitude:
John Adams began his career as a lawyer, and he first rose to prominence as an opponent of the Stamp Act of 1765 which deprived the American colonists of two basic rights guaranteed to all Englishmen, and which all free men deserved: rights to be taxed on only by consent and to be tried only by a jury of one?s peers. Then, he successfully defended the British soldiers involved in the Boston Massacre (1770) with only two of the eight found guilty of manslaughter believing that it was important to ensure that innocents were protected. From 1770 ? 1774, Adams served in the Massachusetts legislature and was then elected a member of the Continental Congress. He nominated Washington to be Commander-in-Chief and was part of the committee that worked to draft the Declaration of Independence.
Some scholars theorize that the Middle Passage to the Americas was so traumatic that most African influence was eradicated, and that few traces of Africa exist in African-American music. This “cultural tabulala [sic] rasa” theory is rightfully rejected by many scholars (Wilson 3). The inflow of African people to the New World was brought on by the existence of slavery, and resulted in the creation of a sort of extension of the African continent in a different hemisphere. In his article “The Significance of the Relationship Between [sic] Afro-American Music and West African Music,” music scholar Olly Wilson refutes the tabula rasa theory, and provides extensive examples of the ties that continue to exist between the two distant geographical regions. Another prominent scholar who recognizes the integration of African elements in American musics is Henry Louis Gates, Jr. Though his much deeper and more analytical approach to African musics is divergent from Wilson’s, both scholars acknowledge African diaspora musics and examine them in different ways based on different criteria.
Nearly a century’s worth of compositions has earned Aaron Copland extensive recognition as the foremost American composer of his time. Ironically, Copland was raised the son of Russian Jewish immigrants and inhabitant of a colorless city environment, yet would become known for producing the music of “rugged-souled Americans” (Mellers 4). Unbounded by historical musical constraints such as those present in the culture of France, where Copland studied for many years, Copland found himself free to explore and experiment in pursuit of a unique, undoubtedly American sound.
One man made his impression on the music world soon after he arrived to America. His
He made many changes to the Declaration before he was happy with what he wrote. He was known throughout the colonies as a great writer on political issues.
John Adams was born on October 30, 1725 in the Massachusetts Bay Colony on the family farm. He was the older of two younger brothers, Peter and Elihu. John was named after his father John Adams Sr. His father was said to be the town's tax collector, selectman, constable and lieutenant of the militia. John Adams Sr. was the younger Adams’ role model. John’s parents gave him a lot of freedom. It was said that he doing activities outdoors and cared little for school. It is said that John’s stubbornness started at the age of ten when his parents were afraid that he was wasting his exceptional intellect. His father asked him what he was to do with his life and John said that he wanted to be a farmer. The next day his father took him out to the fields and worked him as hard as he could, hoping to teach him a lesson, but that night Adams sr. asked him if he was satisfied being a farmer and little John replied, “I like it very well sir.” Both of his parents were very surprised with his reply.
The 20th century was a century which United States had great influence in the world of music across the globe. America was the birth place of most influential music, from jazz to rock which was promoted by the q7uality of technology like radio and phonographs. Advanced technology ensured fast distribution of music to Americans and all-round the globe. 20th century also brought African Americans and their music culture which was more practiced by slaves. However, even before the African American s came into music, blues music was already evolving leading to development of other genres like country music, jazz to rock and classical music.
The street balladry of the people who began migrating to America in the early 1600s is considered to be the roots of traditional American music. As the early Jamestown settlers began to spread out into the Carolinas, Tennessee, Kentucky and the Virginias, they composed new songs about day to day like experiences in the new land.
Throughout history, music have defined or depicted the culture and social events in America. Music has constantly played an important role in constituting American culture, where people have expressed themselves through music during flourishing and turbulent times. In the 1930’s, Swing music created a platform for audiences to vent their emotions in the midst of Great Depression and political unrest. Such strong relationship between music and culture can be seen throughout history, especially in the sixties.
The era placed pressure on American composers to write music that was exclusively and distinctly American.
Two of the most important authors of early America are Thomas Paine and St. John de Crevecoeur. De Crevecoeur in his work “Letters from an American Farmer” set forth in simplest terms just exactly what it was that people who were immigrating to the American colonies could expect. His words and thoughts still define how many think of America today even if they don’t know that the words are his. Thomas Paine was a firebrand that wrote perhaps the most important of the pre-Revolution tracts in “Common Sense”. His analytical style in addressing the problems that were obviously there between the thirteen colonies and
Influence of Jazz on American Culture Nowadays, many believe that jazz is not that important in the music genre, but with our history, jazz plays a big role. “Jazz does not belong to one race or culture, but it is a gift that America has given to the world,” quoted Ahmad Alaadeen. Jazz in the 1920’s opened the eyes of whites and invited them into African American culture; it evolved Americans to where we are today since it brought a change to the music scene, an acceptance of African Americans, and a change of lifestyles. Jazz began affecting American culture from the beginning of its conception.
With more than four and half million Italian immigrants arriving to American between the years of 1876-1924, traditions, food, literature and an immense amount of Italian culture was slowly spread nationwide. With that, Italian music was also brought across seas. Music in New York City began developing rapidly during the nineteenth century as the number of immigrants and residents steadily increased. Italian music has become popular genre with many subdivisions. Italian music has also become an influential genre of music on other types of popular music.
Powell, A. (2007). The Music of African Americans and its Impact on the American Culture in the 1960’s and the 1970’s. Miller African Centered Academy, 1. Retrieved from http://www.chatham.edu/pti/curriculum/units/2007/Powell.pdf