Civil War Music
Martha Burns (ST402254@BROWNVM.BITNET)
Mon, 25 Oct 1993 14:08:36 ECT
There are several excellent historically-informed recordings of antebellum
and Civil War era music. Many of them were issued in the seventies. The best
is SONGS OF THE CIVIL WAR, issued on New World Records in 1976. Also excellent
is WHO SHALL RULE THIS AMERICAN NATION?: SONGS OF THE CIVIL WAR ERA BY HENRY
CLAY WORK, on Nonesuch Records, 1975. Nonesuch also put out two volumes of
songs by Stephen Foster, called (appropriately) SONGS BY STEPHEN FOSTER, Vols.
I and II, issued in 1977. These are the most historically sensitive recordings
of Foster's songs available, and are really wonderful. Also good is AN EVENING
WITH HENRY RUSSELL, Nonesuch, 1977. OUR MUSICAL PAST: A CONCERT FOR BRASS
BAND, VOICE, AND PIANO was issued by the the Library of Congress in 1976, and
features mostly instrumental pieces from the 19th century, with some very
good vocal pieces included. For instrumental music, 19TH-CENTURY AMERICAN
BALLROOM MUSIC: WALTZES, MARCHES, POLKAS & OTHER DANCES, Nonesuch, 1975, is
also first rate.
If you're just beginning to learn about historical American music, a
good first step is to find the New World Records Recorded Anthology of
American Music, a series of many records released under an editorial committee
which included top consultants in history, musicology, music history, etc.
The records, all together, cover a wide spectrum of historical periods and
and themes and they're reliably good. Some libraries shelve the series
together as a whole; others break them up and shelve them by topic. You're
sure to find some of them at least under "Americana". From there you can
browse and see what interests you.
Someone mentioned a recording of a regimental band performing CW music.
In general, these military band records can be rousing, but they are weak from
a historical standpoint. Look for original instruments and for historical
consultants. These are usually good signs.
If you want to read about 19th-century American music, the best beginning
survey is still Gilbert Chase, AMERICA'S MUSIC, FROM THE PILGRIMS TO THE
PRESENT, 3rd ed., revised, Urbana and Chicago: U. of Illinois Press, 1983.
This third edition includes an extensive bibliography of primary and
secondary sources relating to American music, put together by Richard
Crawford, a leading music historian. Another good survey is Charles Hamm,
MUSIC IN THE NEW WORLD, New York: W.W. Norton, 1983. Also useful is Charles
Hamm, YESTERDAYS: POPULAR SONG IN AMERICA, New York: W.W. Norton, 1979. This
is available in paperback, as is the Gilbert Chase survey.
There is also a good journal devoted to American music history: AMERICAN
MUSIC. This comes out quarterly and reviews new recordings of American
music as well as books on the topic.
There's lots more to read and hear, particularly once you narrow your
interests. But this information should provide a start for anyone who would
like to know more about American music.
Martha Burns
Department of History
Brown University