MUSIC OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR ERA

MUSIC OF THE AMERICAN CIVIL WAR ERA

by Steven B Cornelius

American History Through Music

recommended by Norman Warwick

Yesterday we published my article The Battle of The Blues And The Greys, a stream of consciousness style that I would use as mind, sometimes before but usually immediately after, writing a song. I saved most of these writings, garbled as they were, to remind me of the life and times that surrounded the writing of the lyrics. It was a little bit of self-help at the time, but when I read through them again some thirty years later they reminded how and why the songs had been written, and even allowed a light editing., which might help turn them into a readable collection.

My singer-writer duo, Lendanear with Colin Lever, recorded my lyric of The Battle Blues And The Greys on our debut album Moonbeam Dancing, and benefitted from Colin´s banjo-like guitar picking. It was an obvious but oblique look-back on an era reflected in what remains my favourite film Gone With The Wind.

So, with that proposed book, and a much more interesting ans scholarly work we have just discovered, you can see why were gonna need a bigger bookshelf !

As divisive and destructive as the Civil War was, the era nevertheless demonstrated the power that music could play in American culture. Popular songs roused passion on both sides of the Mason-Dixon line, and military bands played music to entertain infantry units-and to rally them on to war. The institution of slavery was debated in songs of the day, ranging from abolitionist anthems to racist minstrel shows. Across the larger cultural backdrop, the growth of music publishing led to a flourishing of urban concert music, while folk music became indelibly linked with American populism. This volume, one of the first in the American History through Music series, presents narrative chapters that recount the many vibrant roles of music during this troubled period of American history. A chapter of biographical entries, a dictionary of Civil War era music, and a subject index offer useful reference tools.

The American History Through Music series examines the many different styles of music that have played a significant part in our nation’s history. While volumes in this series show the multifaceted roles of music in culture, they also use music as a lens through which readers may study American social history. The authors present in-depth analysis of American musical genres, significant musicians, technological innovations, and the many connections between music and the realms of art, politics, and daily life. Chapters present accessible narratives on music and its cultural resonations, music theory and technique is broken down for the lay reader, and each volume presents a chapter of alphabetically arranged entries on significant people and terms Steven H Cornelius is Associate Professor of Music at Bowling Green University, with a specialization in African music. He also teaches courses on nineteenth century American music

The American History Through Music series examines the many different styles of music that have played a significant part in our nation’s history. While volumes in this series show the multifaceted roles of music in culture, they also use music as a lens through which readers may study American social history. The authors present in-depth analysis of American musical genres, significant musicians, technological innovations, and the many connections between music and the realms of art, politics, and daily life. Chapters present accessible narratives on music and its cultural resonations, music theory and technique is broken down for the lay reader, and each volume presents a chapter of alphabetically arranged entries on significant people and terms

Steven H Cornelius is Associate Professor of Music at Bowling Green University, with a specialization in African music. He also teaches courses on nineteenth century American music.

“Steven H. Cornelius has written a historical text readable by the lay person….Cornelius presents his case quickly, succinctly, and in a flowing text. The comprehensible style engages the reader. Several subdivisions within the chapters help to focus the reader on new material….Music of the Civil War Era is a fine interdisciplinary text that places the mucis in the context of the social and economic conditions of the period.”

Music Reference Services Quarterly

Highly recommended for specialty collections…. examining the different styles of music which have played important roles in American history. Music Of The Civil War Era is one of the first volumes in a projected series American History Through Music: it includes a bibliography, end-notes, and a fine subject index researchers will applaud.

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