Introduction to American Popular Music
How the movement of people
affects the movement of
music
Things that West
Africans brought
with them:
• Traditions of oral
story telling
• Culture of songs
in rituals
• Strong traditions
of percussion
and rhythm
• Dance
West African Slave Trade
This is known as the African Diaspora:
Communities around the world descended
from the historic movement of African
people
Geography of the Diaspora:
• Southern United States (1/7 of the slave trade)
• Caribbean (The Islands)
• Central America
• South America (North and East Coast)
Impacts of the Diaspora on Musical Traditions:
• Call and Response (individual singsaudience repeats)
• Strong drumming and rhythm patterns in “American” music
• Story telling (i.e. Amer Blues, Mexican Corridos, Rap, etc)
Where did the Diaspora go?
How did it affect the new world?
African Roots
“American” Traditions
• Traditional Music from
Mali
• African Percussion
• Call and Response Kenya
• Music of the African
Diaspora
• Gospel Call and
Response
• 12 Years a Slave-Roll
Jordan Roll
• Glory- "Oh my lord“
• Samba du Salvador de
Bahia
• Ile Aiye Canto Negro
Examples of the Musical
Diaspora
th
19 Century (1800s)
America
Things to know:
• Massive immigration from Europe (Irish, German,
Scotch, English)
• “Melting Pot”
• Northern cities segregated by class and race (Working
class white [German & Irish]) vs. Black Americans
(former slaves/farm migrants)
• Rural areas mostly integrated not concerned with
ethnic differences
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The lay of the land in 19
century America
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Songs from England
& U.S. became
popular
Songs were played
either in Opera
houses or parlors
(bar)
Rise of the “Middle
Class” demanded
songs in music sheets
to play at home
Songs for public
consumption are
called “Parlor Music”
World’s first music
industry
th
The Parlor Song in the 19
Century
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First real composer of
popular music
Hear the mixing of
traditions (Irish folk
music with African
American styles)
All Foster's songs are
"Parlor songs":
intended for middle
class consumption in
mass-distributed sheet
music form, for
performance on
pianos.
Stephen Foster (18261864)
What is Folk Music?
Russian folk music children’s
group playing at cultural event
Mumford and Sons-English band
playing mix of traditional Irish and
English songs with modern music
Why do people like “real”
music”
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Titanic- Dance Scene
Traditional Irish Follk Music
Traditional Russian Folk Music
Yiddish (Jewish) Folk Music
Mumford & Sons
Appalachian Mountain Music
Examples of European
Folk Music
• Musical traditions from rural areas are seen to
have “authentic”, “real”, “true source”
• “Unspoiled” by civilization allows the music to
have strong roots to the people
• Universal themes allow connections to different
cultures
• Connections between Anglo American, Celtic,
and German folk lyrics
• More on this later…
“Volksmusik”- (Folk Music)
Volks (Folk) = People
• "Beautiful Dreamer" Stephen Foster
• "Jeannie with the light brown hair"- Stephen Foster
• "Oh Susana"-Stephen Foster
Playlist # 1 Parlor Music