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Music in the US
The change and introduction of different types of music from the 1800s to the present. -
Francis Scott Key
After seeing the bombardment of Fort McHenry during the War of 1812, Scott saw the American flag still waving which inspired him to write the famed "Star-Spangled Banner." This song later became the US's national anthem in 1913. -
New York Philharmonic Society
Founded in 1842 by Ureli Corelli Hill, this society was known for being the nation's oldest symphony orchestra. It was later absorbed by a bigger organization. -
Stephen C. Foster
Foster (1826-1864) was a white Pennsylvanian who made famous black songs. With an excursion into the South in 1852, he made a valuable contribution to American folk music by "capturing the plaintive spirit of the slaves" (The American Pageant 12th Edition). -
The Black Crook
This was a musical play created during the time of musical popularity that blended together the basic elements of a musical theatre. It combined music, dance, and spectacle to tell a story. It also inspired burlesques, spin-offs, parodies, and popular musicals. -
Thomas Edison's Sound Recording
Experimenting further with Bell's telephone and trying to stregthen the signal to send messages over long distances led to the discovery of recorded sound. In the same year, the cylinder phonograph was invented. These discoveries allowed Edison to make the phonograph record music and make it a commercial success. The phonograph affected the way music was made and consumed. -
New York Symphony Orchestra
Founded in 1878 and ran by the Damrosch family, the orchestra was strong-minded and more adventurous than the Philharmonic Society founded earlier. It was the first orchestra to venture over to Europe. Eventually, it merged with the Philharmonic Society. -
Metropolitan Opera House
The opera house was erected in New York. It imported singers, finely dressed and decorated, and also brought in European symphonies and operas for the American elites. -
Jazz
In the 1890s, traditional African American music, like spirituals and "ragged msuic," evolved into blues, ragtime, and jazz. These new types of music transformed the American popolar music later in the 20th century. -
Carnegie Hall
The musical hall, founded by Andrew Carnegie, was the most famous and enduring concert halls in the world. It has hosted many great orchestras, chamber groups and soloists in the 20th century from around the world. -
John Philip Sousa
Sousa was known as the "March King" and greatly impacted musical taste. He created his own band that achieved worldwide fame. He wrote many marches for nearly all significant events during his lifetime that gained great popularity and even established a standard for march pieces which is borrowed and adapted by many ragtime composers. He also designed the sousaphone, a brass instrument of the tuba family that encircled the body and has a widely flared bell. -
King Oliver's Creole Jazz Band
Joseph "Joe" King Oliver arrived in Chicago from New Orleans. There he and his band bcame the first important black jazz ensemble. -
Gospel Music
This genre of music developed in the past from the spirituals of slaves. During the singing, the people would sometimes shout to the Lord. It combined blues and jazz. At this time, it became popular with the help of Mahalia Jackson, Thomas A. Dorsey, Reverend James Cleveland, etc. -
Elvis Presley
Also known as the "King of Rock," Presley fused together black rhythm, blues with white bluegrass, and country styles to create rock and roll.It became highly popular during this time in the 1950s. -
"British Invasion"
British music was not present in America. With British bands, such as the Beatles and the Rolling Stones, becoming popular, that popularity soon spread to America. British music soon became national hits and also provided some needed distraction from the Kennedy assassination. The British influence made artists start composing original music and also introduced some new instruments. -
New Form of Rock
Early in the 1970s, new forms of rock were created. "Art Rock", for example blended rock and classical styles. Synthesizers became an important instrument in this style. "Punk Rock" was also created featuring blending rock and psychedelic styles. It was expressives, confusing, angry, etc. -
Disco
This genre of music was popularized the movie "Saturday Night Fever." It was a style of music that made people stand up and start to dance. It was played mainly in parties, nightclubs, etc. -
Hip-Hop/Rap
The genre was made from mixing jazz, black culture, reggae, and many more. It was popularized by "Rapper's Delight" by Sugar Hill. It was mainly in Harlem and the Bronx. It also created a new dance form called "break dancing." -
Michael Jackson
Jackson was known as the King of Pop. He became popular with the release of the album "Thriller." It became a highly popular and was instantly a classic.
