· What constitutes American music? (The first thought that comes to my mind when I ask this question is that if there were a true American music, it would have to be that of the American Indians who were the original inhabitants of this part of the world. This is true but as we all know, the European settlers savagely repressed the Native Americans and so little of their music was absorbed into the Euro/American culture.)
It is impossible to answer this question without considering the effect of African traditions on our musical heritage. Consider this quote from the Czech composer Antonin Dvorak, who spent several years in the United States teaching and conducting concerts of his own music:
“I am now satisfied that the future music of this country must be founded upon what are called "negro melodies". This must be the real foundation of any serious and original school of composition to be developed in the United States."
He was correct of course but I doubt he could ever have imagined the direction and diversity that school of composition would take. The "negro melodies" he was referring to are Negro Spirituals, work songs, field "hollers" and other such styles that developed in the South during the years of slavery. These songs are a blend of European musical traditions and African influences and are unique to the United States. They are rooted in the African American experience of slavery and the continuing struggle for freedom but if you think they are primarily political in that sense or racially exclusive, consider another quote for Dvorak:
"In the Negro melodies of America I discover all that is needed for a great and noble school of music. They are pathetic, tender, passionate, melancholy, solemn, religious, bold, merry, gay or what you will. It is music that suits itself to any mood or any purpose. There is nothing in the whole age of composition that cannot be supplied with themes from this source."
These "Negro melodies"- Spirituals, work songs, ragtime and the blues- are in fact at the heart of what American music has become. Everything from popular songs to jazz to "rock and roll" owe something to the style and energy of these songs.
The goal of this paper is to get an understanding the origins of what has become, with all due respect to native Americans, a truly American music.
To do this, I want you to research and write about the following topics:
1. The Negro Spiritual (pp. 44-46 in the text)
a. What are they and where did they come from?
b. What is their relation to Gospel music?
c. Describe the basic musical elements of Spirituals as best you can, using the concepts of melody, rhythm, harmony, timbre, texture and form as discussed in the text.
d. What elements of these songs are African in origin?
2. Stephen Foster
a. Who was he and what did he do?
b. What is a Minstrel show and what was its significance in American society?
c. How did Foster’s music bring the African elements into the American popular song?
d. How did his music change the accepted view of African Americans?
3. Musical Examples
a. I want you to find at least two examples of music you listen to that illustrate this African influence (THESE 2 SONGS SIRATA BY HABIB KOITE & BAMADA AND ANY GOSPEL SONG) . Be as specific as you can about this. Use your ears and describe what you hear and why you think it is a good example of this influence. Use your imagination, have fun, and don’t worry about being right or wrong. Just tell me what you think and hear.
b. Provide You Tube or other links to audio files of your choices.
Your essay should be the equivalent of 3 -5 pages in length, including a complete bibliography.
ASSIGNMENTINFORMATION.PLEASE
READ CAREFULLY AND
ALWAYS CITE.
No copying
off
from the
internet
.
ALWAYS CITE
·
What constitutes American music?
(The first thought that comes to my
mind when I ask this question is that if there were a true American music, it
would have to be that of the American Indians who were the original inhabitants
of this part of the world. T
his is true but as we all know, the European settlers
savagely repressed the Native Americans and so little of their music was
absorbed into the
Eur
o
/American culture.)
It is impossible to answer this question without considering the effect of
Afr
ican traditions on our musical heritage.
Consider this quote from the Czech
composer Antonin
Dvorak, who spent several years in the United States teaching
and conducting concerts of his own music:
“I am now satisfied that the future music of this
country must be founded
upon what are called "negro
melodies". This must be the real foundation of any
serious and original school of composition to be developed in the United States."
He was correct of course but I doubt he could ever have imag
ined the
direction and diversity that school of composition would take. The
"negro
melodies" he was referring to are
Negro Spirituals, work songs, field
"hollers" and other such styles that developed in the South during the years of
slavery. These songs a
re a blend of European musical traditions and African
influences and are unique to the United States. They are rooted in the African
American experience of slavery and the continuing struggle for freedom but if
you think they are primarily political in tha
t sense or racially exclusive, consider
another quote for
Dvorak:
"In the Negro melodies of America I discover all that is needed for a great
and noble school of music. They are pathetic, tender, passionate, melancholy,
solemn, religious, bold, m
erry, gay or what you will. It is music that suits itself to
any mood or any purpose. There is nothing in the whole age of composition that
cannot be supplied with themes from this source."
These "Negro melodies"
-
Spirituals, work songs, ragtime
and the blues
-
are
in fact at the heart of what American music has become. Everything from
popular songs to jazz to "rock and roll" owe something to the style and energy of
these songs.
The goal of this paper is to get an understanding the origins
of what has
become, with all due respect to native Americans, a truly American music.
ASSIGNMENTINFORMATION.PLEASE READ CAREFULLY AND ALWAYS CITE. No copying off from the internet.
ALWAYS CITE
What constitutes American music? (The first thought that comes to my
mind when I ask this question is that if there were a true American music, it
would have to be that of the American Indians who were the original inhabitants
of this part of the world. This is true but as we all know, the European settlers
savagely repressed the Native Americans and so little of their music was
absorbed into the Euro/American culture.)
It is impossible to answer this question without considering the effect of
African traditions on our musical heritage. Consider this quote from the Czech
composer Antonin Dvorak, who spent several years in the United States teaching
and conducting concerts of his own music:
“I am now satisfied that the future music of this country must be founded
upon what are called "negro melodies". This must be the real foundation of any
serious and original school of composition to be developed in the United States."
He was correct of course but I doubt he could ever have imagined the
direction and diversity that school of composition would take. The
"negro melodies" he was referring to are Negro Spirituals, work songs, field
"hollers" and other such styles that developed in the South during the years of
slavery. These songs are a blend of European musical traditions and African
influences and are unique to the United States. They are rooted in the African
American experience of slavery and the continuing struggle for freedom but if
you think they are primarily political in that sense or racially exclusive, consider
another quote for Dvorak:
"In the Negro melodies of America I discover all that is needed for a great
and noble school of music. They are pathetic, tender, passionate, melancholy,
solemn, religious, bold, merry, gay or what you will. It is music that suits itself to
any mood or any purpose. There is nothing in the whole age of composition that
cannot be supplied with themes from this source."
These "Negro melodies"- Spirituals, work songs, ragtime and the blues- are
in fact at the heart of what American music has become. Everything from
popular songs to jazz to "rock and roll" owe something to the style and energy of
these songs.
The goal of this paper is to get an understanding the origins of what has
become, with all due respect to native Americans, a truly American music.