Music Section: |
Popular Music in the 1880's (Hazel)
While looking back to the 1880's the popular music at the time was Ragtime. Ragtime is a genre of music, that was nicknamed the 'misplaced beat' but it gave enough time for a dance to follow along and that dance was the cakewalk. A couple of songs that expressed this genre was the Maple Leaf Rag, composed and published by Scott Joplin in 1899, but issuing this song didn't happen until 1902. This composition sold about a half-million copies, and it continue to sell at that rate for two decades after it was issued. Another great hit that Scott Joplin accomplished that was also very popular was his song The Entertainer, that was composed in 1902. With America being the place to be in the 1880's, many artists have expressed their gratitude for what America stood for, liberty and equal opportunity. There were music groups and artists that have shown their patriotic side. Billy Murray composed his song You're A Grand Ole Flag that still is a tune that everyone knows and can sing. After becoming very famous he had a very laid-back lifestyle one may think that he might have obtained the American Dream by living a pleasurable life. He was able to enjoy every little thing, and was fond of automobiles. Not only was he able to be successful on his own, he was also part of a quartet, called The American Quartet. I suggest to listen to their very popular song, On Moonlight Bay. Many of our famous musicians were also immigrants, and some were of immigrant descent. Chauncey Olcott was of Irish descent, but was born in Buffalo, New York. He started to sing when he appeared with Emerson and Hooley’s Minstrel Company in Chicago. A year after he then sang with another group called the Haverly’s Mastodons, and because of the light tenor voice he had theatre managers encouraged him to do Irish Ballads, a good suggestion would be to hear his song When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, which was published in 1913. Another example of music performed by musician of different cultural background would be Enrico Caruso's own song O' sole mio, which means My Sun. Enrico Caruso was born in Naples, Italy and became very popular in that town, then traveled from Europe to America in 1903 where he was able to his music recorded, and later to be heard in the Phonograph. Now the best music that was made was in 1917 near the 1920's, where Dixieland Jazz started to take its peak. This genre of music originated from New Orleans. The bands that would play this style of music, originally played for funeral marches, but instead of playing a gloomy tune that should played at a funeral, these bands would plays songs that are very lively like a celebratory type of music. Many have requested this music to be played, at the time because of its very catchy tune it just started to become the music to be played in Dance Halls. To play this style of music there are a various instruments that are required to play, like the drums, piano, bass, banjo, trombone, trumpets, and cornets. One of the many Jazz bands that played this genre was the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, or O.D.J.B for short. This band was an all white group that made their first recordings in 1917, and I would strongly suggest to listen to their song called Darktown Strutters Ball. Music that is Popular Today (Imani) Without a face by Rage Against the Machine This song is a part of the album ____________. It came out in 1996. The song was created because of the wall that was erected as soon as the Berlin wall fell down, between the US border and Mexico. The wall was created to keep immigrants out of America. Part of the song talks about a young man who came to America to make some money for his family because he wasn’t able to take care pf them while he was in Mexico. The song goes on and takes more about immigration. Who’s Gonna Build Your Wall by Tom Russel. In 2007 this song was created. This song was written in response to the wall being erected on the border. The song also focuses on the topic that immigrant are the ones behind the scenes in rich people’s lives Are We A Nation? by Sweet Honey in the Rock, ft. Yonas This song talks about immigration in general. Focusing on the topic that America needs to come together as a nation. This song also talks about the problems with immigration and that America needs to do something about this so everyone can be free and equal. These Shoes, by Andrew McKnight This song is telling the story of an immigrant and his journey to America. This song also talks about the struggles that immigrants have to go through such as, the need to provide for his family in America, and not being able to find a decent job. Americano by Lady Gaga This song focuses on all the problems with America, and one that she talks about is immigration laws. She also talked about gay right s also and how they have to get married in Mexico because its not legal in America yet. |