Civil War Music: Public Civil War Music: Public Performances and Private Performances and Private

AmusementsAmusements

Lowell MasonLowell Mason

(Note connection with George Root.)(Note connection with George Root.) Boston!Boston! 11stst one to bring music to public education one to bring music to public education Composed many songs in hymn formatComposed many songs in hymn format Worked to Worked to reform religious musicreform religious music Although influenced by William Billings a Although influenced by William Billings a

Yankee Tunesmith (mid-1700s) Mason Yankee Tunesmith (mid-1700s) Mason sought to bring sought to bring European (art)European (art) Music to Music to New EnglandNew England

Cultivated v. Vernacular MusicCultivated v. Vernacular Music

Vernacular would include: Minstrel Songs, Vernacular would include: Minstrel Songs, Folk Songs, sentimental ballads… versus Folk Songs, sentimental ballads… versus classical musicclassical music

Vernacular would feature popular songs Vernacular would feature popular songs with accessible lyrics that a common with accessible lyrics that a common audience understood.audience understood.

Cultivated music might include opera, Cultivated music might include opera, choral music, think Handel, Haydn, Verdi, choral music, think Handel, Haydn, Verdi, MozartMozart

Dwight’s Journal of MusicDwight’s Journal of Music

Began as an attempt to elevate the Began as an attempt to elevate the public’s taste in musicpublic’s taste in music

Began 1852-1881Began 1852-1881 Reports on different musical groupsReports on different musical groups Gottschalk was criticized for his Gottschalk was criticized for his

implementation of vernacular banjo…but implementation of vernacular banjo…but was praised for his virtuoso piano playingwas praised for his virtuoso piano playing

Jenny LindJenny Lind

Swedish NightingaleSwedish Nightingale PT BarnumPT Barnum $10,000 a night$10,000 a night Avg. income was $500 a yearAvg. income was $500 a year Cultivated music in circusCultivated music in circus 130 concerts in 93 cities (1850-1851)130 concerts in 93 cities (1850-1851) Henry Bishop’s 1Henry Bishop’s 1stst track “Home Sweet Home” track “Home Sweet Home”

was commonly performed by Jenny Lindwas commonly performed by Jenny Lind Trills!Trills!

Home, Sweet Home by BishopHome, Sweet Home by Bishop

Simple with 4 bar phrases and a range of Simple with 4 bar phrases and a range of an octave.an octave.

Lyrics originate from a French play Lyrics originate from a French play translated by John Howard Payne translated by John Howard Payne (American playwright)(American playwright)

Plot is similar to Plot is similar to Beauty and the BeastBeauty and the Beast

Louis Moreau GottschalkLouis Moreau Gottschalk

1829-18691829-1869 Grew up in New OrleansGrew up in New Orleans Studied music in Paris in the 1840’sStudied music in Paris in the 1840’s Technique and incorporating vernacular music from New Technique and incorporating vernacular music from New

Orleans heritageOrleans heritage Dwight’s was not complimentary on his vernacular style, Dwight’s was not complimentary on his vernacular style,

but liked his technique.but liked his technique. Popular songs: The Banjo and The Popular songs: The Banjo and The Bamboula (drums)Bamboula (drums) Banjo includes quote from Banjo includes quote from Camptown RacesCamptown Races (Foster) (Foster) Most popular piano work was “The Last Hope”Most popular piano work was “The Last Hope”

Orchestras and Choral SocietiesOrchestras and Choral Societies

Vocal music was sacred in nature. Vocal music was sacred in nature. Handel and Haydn Society in Boston around Handel and Haydn Society in Boston around

1815 performed oratorios (operas)1815 performed oratorios (operas) Men sang in falsetto to fill soprano sections. Men sang in falsetto to fill soprano sections.

(Women generally weren’t allowed to join.)(Women generally weren’t allowed to join.) H&H were normally accompanied by 12 H&H were normally accompanied by 12

orchestra players on loan from a philharmonic orchestra players on loan from a philharmonic society. This was the society. This was the most prominentmost prominent of the of the choral groups.choral groups.

Germania SocietyGermania Society Played 900 concerts between 1848-1854.Played 900 concerts between 1848-1854. Boston was home until they disbanded in1854.Boston was home until they disbanded in1854. 25 musicians from Germany25 musicians from Germany Monster concerts (Gottschalk and Patrick Gilmore) Monster concerts (Gottschalk and Patrick Gilmore) National Peace JubileeNational Peace Jubilee

Organized by Patrick Gilmore who composed/directed Organized by Patrick Gilmore who composed/directed “When Johnny Comes Marching Home” “When Johnny Comes Marching Home”

Designed to reunify and heal America after the Civil Designed to reunify and heal America after the Civil WarWar

Early Monster Concert Louis Jullien in 1853 came Early Monster Concert Louis Jullien in 1853 came from France w/ 25 musicians he brought over from France w/ 25 musicians he brought over Fireman’s QuadrilleFireman’s Quadrille which featured a real blaze. which featured a real blaze.

Claudio GrafullaClaudio Grafulla Washington’s MarchWashington’s March features the Dodworth Saxhorn features the Dodworth Saxhorn

band and was composed by Claudio Grafullaband and was composed by Claudio Grafulla Grafulla leads the 7Grafulla leads the 7thth Regiment Band of New York during Regiment Band of New York during

the Civil Warthe Civil War Was a composer/arranger of others songs: Was a composer/arranger of others songs: Un Ballo in Un Ballo in

Maschera Quickstep, tooMaschera Quickstep, too Washington’s MarchWashington’s March was composed for virtuoso players, was composed for virtuoso players,

technically difficult, unusual in that technically difficult, unusual in that has no introduction!!!has no introduction!!! Today the Washington Greys exist but are from the 8Today the Washington Greys exist but are from the 8thth

Regiment 42Regiment 42ndnd Infantry Division not the 7 Infantry Division not the 7thth regiment. regiment. The Washington Greys were named for our President, The Washington Greys were named for our President,

traditionally grey was the color of US soldiers prior to the traditionally grey was the color of US soldiers prior to the Civil War.Civil War.

Brass Instruments & MarchesBrass Instruments & Marches

Woodwinds were used prior to 1830s as they had Woodwinds were used prior to 1830s as they had greater range, with the development of valves for brass greater range, with the development of valves for brass instruments greater range could be made.instruments greater range could be made.

Bugle Bugle most popularmost popular, Halliday created the 5 valve , Halliday created the 5 valve standard issue military buglestandard issue military bugle

Aldophe Sax created saxhorns by 1845 the saxhorn was Aldophe Sax created saxhorns by 1845 the saxhorn was made as well as the saxophone.made as well as the saxophone.

Percussion-snare drum placed high on the left side since Percussion-snare drum placed high on the left side since 1600s, Bass drum and cymbals were issued too1600s, Bass drum and cymbals were issued too

Brass Bands and Marches become popular by 1845Brass Bands and Marches become popular by 1845

MarchesMarches

Marches typically begin with an Intro.Marches typically begin with an Intro. Strains or sections are different, typically 8 bar Strains or sections are different, typically 8 bar

length, usually there is a contrasting section length, usually there is a contrasting section called a called a triotrio that is played in a subdominant and that is played in a subdominant and is lyrical.is lyrical.

The The trio sectiontrio section is usually softer in dynamics and is usually softer in dynamics and more sparse in texturemore sparse in texture

Marches on the CD: Marches on the CD: Washington March, The Washington March, The Battle Cry of Freedom, Un Ballo in Maschera Battle Cry of Freedom, Un Ballo in Maschera QuickstepQuickstep

Stephen FosterStephen Foster

Known as the American MinstrelKnown as the American Minstrel Died nearly broke yet wrote many popular songs, no royalties Died nearly broke yet wrote many popular songs, no royalties

for songwriters yet.for songwriters yet. Sold to Christy’s Minstrels and others, actually sold rights of Sold to Christy’s Minstrels and others, actually sold rights of

his songs to a publisher (Firth & Pond) that would rip him off his songs to a publisher (Firth & Pond) that would rip him off so he could get a cash advance.so he could get a cash advance.

Hit songs include: Jeanie with the light brown hair, Camptown Hit songs include: Jeanie with the light brown hair, Camptown Races , Oh’ Susanna, Suwannee River…Beautiful Dreamer Races , Oh’ Susanna, Suwannee River…Beautiful Dreamer last song he wrotelast song he wrote

Many thought he was from the South but like Dan Emmet Many thought he was from the South but like Dan Emmet was not.was not.

See hyperlink for timeline and correlating linksSee hyperlink for timeline and correlating links

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/foster/timeline/timeline2.htmlhttp://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/foster/timeline/timeline2.html

Minstrel ShowsMinstrel Shows

Originates with the Originates with the Virginia MinstrelsVirginia Minstrels, , popularized what was coined popularized what was coined Ethiopian StyleEthiopian Style but but its caricature of blacks was negative.its caricature of blacks was negative.

Parts 1Parts 1stst opening opening semi-circlesemi-circle…..2…..2ndnd olio… 3 olio… 3rdrd walk aroundwalk around

Interlocutor- straight man, not in blackfaceInterlocutor- straight man, not in blackface

Tambo and Bones (blackface) on either side Tambo and Bones (blackface) on either side They spoke in black dialect and were very racist. They spoke in black dialect and were very racist. Olio featured banjo solos, clog dances, Olio featured banjo solos, clog dances, speeches. speeches. Walk aroundWalk around parodied the ring shout. parodied the ring shout.