Chapter One “Nature Must Inspire the Thought” : Sacred Music in the European Colonies
William Billlings (1746-1800) Singing School Master, Composer, etc. The New-England Psalm-Singer, or American Chorister (Boston, 1770) [Textbook, p. 35] - 1st collection of entirely American works - theory, instructions, and music “Nature is the best Dictator, for all the hard dry studied Rules that ever was prescribed will not enable any Person to form an Air…without a Genius…Nature must inspire the Thought.”
Chester (1770) Part-writing? Tune? Chester by William Billings [verses 1 & 5] American Revolutionary Song:Chester - William Billings [all 5 verses] (also see LG 1.4) Tune?
James Lyon – Urania (1761) 1st American tunebook of any kind (mixes original and British compositions Princeton educated, European influences The Lord descended (1761), by James Lyon (1735--1794)
Other Groups Anglican - Church of England (in America) Ephrata Cloisters (p. 39-40) - German-speaking separatists (PA) - Ephrata Cloister Chorus Moravians (p. 40-41) - Bethlehem, Nazareth (PA), Salem (NC) - collegium musicum - Johann Friedrich Peter - Quintet IV in C major (1789) - Gott ist mein Hort (Arr. N.R. Knouse for Male Choir) (Live)
Chapter Two “Old, Simple Ditties” : Secular Music in the Colonies and Early Republic
Secular Music in Colonies MUH 3633 - Music in the United States Secular Music in Colonies 8/27/2018 No royal patronage in colonies Chiefly amateur music-making Professional musicians in “large” cities: Boston, NYC, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Charleston Most professionals = Immigrants (who & why?) Most secular music “imported” from Europe DAY 4 (28 Aug 17)
Broadsides Topical songs printed on [cheap] “broad sheets” No [printed] music Sung to well-known tunes [Oral] Ballad tradition British antecedents See: Isaiah Thomas Broadside Ballads Project for examples
MUH 3633 - Music in the United States 8/27/2018 “Liberty Song” p. 46-7 Tune based on: Royal Navy - Heart of Oak Dickinson Parody: The Liberty Song Massachusetts Variant: The Massachusetts Song of Liberty British response: Come Shake Your Dull Noodles ****** Revolutionary War ex. “Irishman's Epistle…”: DAY 4 (28 Aug 17)
MUH 3633 - Music in the United States 8/27/2018 To Do List Acquire: Crawford/Hamberlin Textbook, Source Readings & accompanying recordings Find Web Site & Read Syllabus If not done yet, send me email (per instructions on “daily assignment” web page) Start/Continue reading Crawford/Hamberlin See “Daily Assignments” Web page for details DAY 4 (28 Aug 17)