Course Description

The 100 years from 1845 to 1845 saw major changes in the musical life of the United States. A national musical infrastructure was created with the centralization of music publishing, the development of a national touring circuit for performers and shows, and the birth of recording, movies and radio broadcasting. Distinctively American idioms were created in song, dance music, religious music, band music, concert music and musical theater. We will follow these developments and the ongoing search for an American musical identity through the 19th and early 20th centuries.