An outline history of American music

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An outline history of American music

Journal Title: Notes Muzyczny - Year 2014, Vol 1, Issue 1

Abstract

The article presents historical outline of American Music. After a brief introduction, referring to the origin of how the independent country of the United States of America was created, there is an important conclusion that American music can be described as a sum of different elements which – as a result – give it peculiar and unique features. The traditions of American music date back to the times of the first colonizers who came to America at the end of the 17th century and who, by bringing their own music patterns, maintained the custom of home music making. The first American composer was William Billings, connected with Boston. The author of this article pays attention to the significant influence of slaves on the shaping of a new style in music, which consequently gives a basis to single out two types of American music: the music of the white and the music of Afro-Americans. The 19th century brought a split between artistic music, which could be heard among high society, and cultivated music, which was a result of overlapping native influences. Also the continuous visits of numerous outstanding European virtuosi (such as Wieniawski, Paderewski, Thalberg, or Dvořak) to the USA made it possible for American music to be confronted with other music, to become popular and to develop. At the turn of the 20th century American creators paid special attention to the native folklore. This is when the first collections of folk songs were created, the songs were analysed in terms of lyrics and music. Also the interest in Indians’ music was a special sign of an ostentatious difference and independence from Europe. An important role in it played Arthur Farwell, his name is also what the breach of influences of German music tradition in “the New World” is connected with. The beginning of the 20th century, and more specifically the 1920s, opened a new chapter in the history of American music. The creators focused their attention on writing pieces which would be recognizable to the world and regarded as the music of the United States – here is where two names should be listed first of all, and they are Virgil Thomson and Charles Ives. Ives, as well as Henry Cowell, Charles Ruggles, John Becker and Wallingford Riegger are described as the “American Five” and these composers are what the trend known as the new avant-garde is connected with. The author also notices that, while outlining the history of American music, one should not pass over such elements as blues, ragtime, or jazz, which remain to be one of the phenomena of culture which symbolize American sensitivity and temperament. Forerunners of the jazz style were Afro-Americans who, after the American Civil War and abolishing the slavery, started to search for their own place in life. Jazz bands started to appear and promote this new style and music. A part of history became Paul Whiteman, known as the ‘king of jazz’, it was at his order that George Gershwin wrote his Rhapsody in Blue, one of the most recognizable pieces of American music. A separate music phenomenon mentioned by the author is American film music, the roots of which can be found in the 19th century opera music and silent film. The figure most closely connected with this kind of creative work is Aaron Copland. In can be stated without doubts that in the 20th century American music found its identity and it confirmed its distinct position in the world. It became subject of numerous scholarly theses, also in Poland. American composers finally escaped from European influences by searching out their own stylistic idiom, which lead to the great popularity of their music. Thanks to these efforts music created in the United States maintained its independence and recognizability.<br/><br/>

Authors and Affiliations

Iwona Jakubowska

Keywords

The influence of the style of Karol Szymanowski on the creative work of Polish 20th century composers based on the Polish Suite by Szymon Laks

The essence of the present article is presenting the influence of the creative output as well as personality of Karol Szymanowski on subsequent generations of Polish 20th century composers searching for new trends and op...

EP ID EP518061
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