Minstrelsy Daddy or Jim Crow Rice (1808-1860) The Father of American Minstrelsy He would perform his songs, usually Negro songs, between acts of local theatrical productions His routine of Old Crow in the 1830s made Rice famous and it became the first great International hit. Rices Jim Crow skit was a racial caricature contrived to flatter a contemporary belief in white superiority.

Minstrelsy (1850s to 1870s) Basic premise: White performers with blackface (burnt cork) imitating black culture, mainly plantation life. Minstrel shows were divided into two parts: 1. The First Part featured songs, jokes, and a lively continuous

performance 2. The olio which consisted of variety acts, farce and

burlesque opera. It closes with a singing and dancing number for the entire cast.

3. The program consisted of fast-moving songs, jokes, dances, instrumental specialties.

4. In later shows street parades became a preliminary part of the performance

Minstrelsy (1850s to 1870s) 1. The stage set-up: In a semi-circle 2. The End Men which provided slapstick comedy know as

Mr. Bones (castanets) and Mr. Tambo (Tambourine) 3. Mr. Interlocutor a straight man who acted as a foil between

the End Men. He was the butt of the end mens jokes and often sang bass solos.

4. Eventually the performers were supported by a real singing chorus

The Significance of Minstrelsy 1. It was Americas first popular music that gained world-wide

attention. 2. We did not need to import European performers 3. It was Americas first musical export. Several companies

toured Europe 4. After the Civil War there was a great deal of sympathy for

American Americans and the shows became less offensive, sometimes including black performers with blackface.

5. Minstrelsy led to Vaudeville acts

Old Joe

Side Bar: The Jim Crow Laws The Jim Crow Laws (1876 and 1965) mandated racial segregation in all public facilities in Southern states of the former Confederacy, and starting in 1890, a "separate but equal" status for African Americans. Some examples: Segregation of public schools, public places and public transportation The segregation of restrooms, restaurants and drinking Overturned in by 1954 in Brown v. Board of Education declared state laws establishing separate public schools for black and white students to be unconstitutional. Civil Rights Act of 1964 Voting Rights Act of 1965

Songs of the Civil War: Film playlist

Name Union Conferderate African-American Ashokan Farewell _Soundtrack composition No More Auction Block For Me Yes Lincoln & Liberty Yes Dixie's Land Yes The Southern Soldier Boy Yes Aura Lee Both Both Rebel Soldier yes Follow the Drinking Gourd yes Battle Hymn Of The Republic Yes When Johnny Comes Marching Home Yes Yellow Rose Of Texas Yes Run, Mourner, Run yes The Colored Volunteer yes The Secesh (Shiloh) Yes Somebody's Darling Both Both An Old Unreconstructed The south losing the war yes The Vacan Chair Both Both Better Times Are Coming Both Both Lorena Both Both Marching Through Georgia Yes Hard Times Come Again No More Both Taps

Name Type or purpose Ashokan Farewell _Soundtrack composition No More Auction Block For Me Freedom song Lincoln & Liberty Hope: Campaign song Dixie's Land Mistrel song became Southern Anthem The Southern Soldier Boy Lament Aura Lee Lament Rebel Soldier Battle Song: Southern Defiance Follow the Drinking Gourd Freedom song Battle Hymn Of The Republic Hope: Higher purpose When Johnny Comes Marching Home Hope

Yellow Rose Of Texas Emily D. West, free people of color, seduced Santa Anna Run, Mourner, Run Freedom song The Colored Volunteer Asking for recognition of contribution The Secesh (Shiloh) Battle of Shiloh Somebody's Darling Loss An Old Unreconstructed The south losing the war Battle Song: Bravery The Vacan Chair Loss Better Times Are Coming Hope Lorena Loss: Homesickness Marching Through Georgia Battle Song: Victory Song Hard Times Come Again No More Hope Taps Lament

Oh, I'm a Good Old Rebel Oh, I'm a good old rebel, Now thats just what I am, And for this Yankee nation, I do no give a damn. I'm glad I fought a ganner, I only wish we won. I aint asked any pardon for anything I've done. I hates the Yankee nation and everything they do. I hates the Declaration of Independence, too. I hates the glorious union, tis dripping with our blood. I hates the striped banner, and fit it all I could

I rode with Robert E. Lee, For three years, thereabout. Got wounded in four places, And I starved at point lookout. I catched the rheumatism A campin' in the snow. But I killed a chance of Yankees And I'd like to kill some more. Three hundred thousand Yankees Is stiff in southern dust. We got three hundred thousand Before they conquered us They died of Southern fever And southern steel and shot I wish there were three million Instead of what we got.

I can't pick up my musket And fight 'um down no more But I ain't gonna love 'um Now that is certain sure And I don't want no pardon For what I was and am I won't be reconstructed And I do not give a damn Oh, I'm a good old rebel, Now that's just what I am, And for this Yankee nation, I do no give a damn. I'm glad I fought a ganner, I only wish we won. I aint asked any pardon for anything I've done. I aint asked any pardon for anything I've done.

Stephen Foster, 19th Century Song Writer

Stephen Collins Foster Born 1826, near Pittsburgh, Pa. Died in 1864, New York, N.Y. at age 37. He wrote popular minstrel songs and sentimental ballads. He began writing songs as a young boy. His father and brothers urged him to go into business. However, Stephen's inclinations remained musical. His musical influences included: Popular, sentimental songs Songs learned at black church services which he attended

with the familys servant Olivia Pise Popular minstrel show songs Songs sung by black laborers

.

In 1850 he marries Jane McDowell, a physicians daughter His ambition was to become the best Ethiopian song writer, However, he vacillated between composing minstrel songs and songs in the sentimental respectable style then popular. In 1842 he published his song Open Thy Lattice, Love. In 1848 he sold his song Oh! Susanna for $100; together with his Old Uncle Ned it brought the publisher about $10,000 He was commissioned to write songs for Minstrel shows. The most famous, Old Folks at Home (1851), also called Swanee River, 1851: He rented an office in 1851 shortly after the birth of his daughter Marion. There were incompatibilities in his marriage caused him to separate, reconcile and separate from Jane

He was not a good businessman, and in 1857, he sold all rights to his future songs to his publishers for about $1,900. In 1860, already struggling with sinking morale and alcoholism, he moved to New York City. His songs after that date are overly-sentimental songs. His wife left him in 1861. He spent the rest of his life in debt. He left about 200 songs, for most of which he wrote the words as well as the music. They include Camptown Races, My Old Kentucky Home, Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair, and Beautiful Dreamer.

His finances took a turn for the worse (owing largely to the lack of copyright protection), and his health also deteriorated due to alcoholism. He was saddened and conflicted by the outbreak of the Civil War, Foster spent his last years in New York City, living on the Bowery and writing songs for ready cash. He died on January 13, 1864 at Bellevue Hospital, weakened by a severe shaving accident and fall His wallet contained 38 cents and a scrap of paper with the inscription: Dear friends and gentle hearts.

Minstrel and Plantation Songs Foster, to his credit, avoided dialect, forbade caricatures to be published on the covers of his sheet music, and sought, to the best of his abilities and within the temper of his times, to refine, humanize, and transform this genre into what he preferred to call "plantation songs Foster's Ethiopian and plantation songs were popularized by both black and white performing groups from the Christy Minstrels to the Hutchinsons, and later to the Fisk Jubilee Singers

"Old Folks at Home", (1851) Foster Way down upon de Swanee Ribber, Far, far away, Dere's wha my heart is turning ebber, Dere's wha de old folks stay. All up and down de whole creation Sadly I roam, Still longing for de old plantation, And for de old folks at home. Chorus All de world am sad and dreary, Eb-rywhere I roam; Oh, darkeys, how my heart grows weary, Far from de old folks at home!

Romantic Ballads Foster's legacy lies in the 135 ballads or romantic parlor songs he composed. Foster's nostalgic songs; wilting flowers, mists, and frail, pure, ethereal women speak of an age of innocence. The same lonesome permeates the poetry of one of Foster's favorite authors, Edgar Allan Poe. Fosters ability to mirror the times and speak to the heart of the people--this has been the genius of this long line of folk-inspired composers.

Beautiful Dreamer, Foster Beautiful dreamer, wake unto me Starlight and dewdrops are waiting for thee; Sounds of the rude world, heard in the day, Lull'd by the moonlight have all pass'd away! Beautiful dreamer, queen of my song, List while I woo thee with soft melody; Gone are the cares of life's busy throng, Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me! Beautiful dreamer, awake unto me!

Romantic Ballads

Beautiful dreamer, out on the sea Mermaids are chanting the wild lorelie; Over the streamlet vapors are borne, Waiting to fade at the bright coming morn. Beautiful dreamer, beam on my