America: Music and Politics

Music sought to illustrate and portray our national identity. What should truly American music sound like? There was debate about: High vs. low culture Popular vs. folk music Blending various approaches

There was the experimental attitude in music – seeking to find new sound techniques. This method of composing tried to find new: Timbres – new sounds from traditional instruments and new instruments Pitch – dissonance and mathematical methods Rhythm – fascination in different ways to organize musical rhythms American music was seeking something. It was seeking something very free. It did not want to be defined by just 1 main methodlogy or style. It sought to be very spiritual and scientific.

Fanfare for the Common Man Some musical observations include: Open 4 th and 5ths  alluding to wide open spaces like the American West Percussion and brass fanfare No strings, but a heavy focus on the brass section American frontier attitude, which must now be brought to war (WWII) Memorable melody (with little dissonance) – so that it would be easily accessible to the “common man”