Popular Music of the Nineteenth and Early Twentieth Centuries Minstrelsy and Stephen Foster

Minstrelsy The Minstrel Show The Minstrel Show –Featured mainly white performers who artificially blackened their skin and carried out parodies of African American music, dance, dress, and dialect

George Washington Dixon The first white performer to establish a wide reputation as a “blackface” entertainer The first white performer to establish a wide reputation as a “blackface” entertainer Made his New York debut in 1828 Made his New York debut in 1828 His act featured two of the earliest “Ethiopian” songs, “Long Tail Blue” and “Coal Black Rose.” His act featured two of the earliest “Ethiopian” songs, “Long Tail Blue” and “Coal Black Rose.”

Thomas Dartmouth Rice (1808–60) White actor born into a poor family in New York’s Seventh Ward White actor born into a poor family in New York’s Seventh Ward Demonstrated the potential popularity and profitability of minstrelsy with the song “Jim Crow” (1829) Demonstrated the potential popularity and profitability of minstrelsy with the song “Jim Crow” (1829) “Daddy” Rice’s Jim Crow character “Daddy” Rice’s Jim Crow character –Spoke and sang in a dialect that was based partly on preexisting white rural characters

“Zip Coon” Shortly after Rice's “Jim Crow” became famous, George Washington Dixon performed as “Zip Coon.” Shortly after Rice's “Jim Crow” became famous, George Washington Dixon performed as “Zip Coon.” “Jim Crow” was supposed to be a southern slave, dressed in rags; “Zip” (derived from the name Scipio) was supposed to be a northern, urban, dandified black. “Jim Crow” was supposed to be a southern slave, dressed in rags; “Zip” (derived from the name Scipio) was supposed to be a northern, urban, dandified black.

“Zip Coon” “Ethiopian” song hit “Ethiopian” song hit Published in New York in 1834 Published in New York in 1834 Verse-chorus ballad form Verse-chorus ballad form Verses contain images of banjo playing, wild dancing, and barnyard animals. Verses contain images of banjo playing, wild dancing, and barnyard animals. – “Zip a duden duden duden zip a duden day” (direct ancestor of the song “Zip a Dee Doo Dah,” featured in Walt Disney’s 1947 cartoon Song of the South)

The Virginia Minstrels (1843) Led by white banjo virtuoso Dan Emmett ( ), created a lengthy stage performance that featured a standardized group of performers: Led by white banjo virtuoso Dan Emmett ( ), created a lengthy stage performance that featured a standardized group of performers: –Mr. Interlocuter—lead performer who sang and provided patter between acts –Mr. Bones and Mr. Tambo—sat at either end of the line of performers. Dan Emmett claimed to have written “Dixie’s Land.” Dan Emmett claimed to have written “Dixie’s Land.”

Minstrelsy From the 1840s through the 1880s, the predominant genre in the United States From the 1840s through the 1880s, the predominant genre in the United States An important influence on the mainstream of American popular song An important influence on the mainstream of American popular song Minstrel troupes toured the United States constantly, helping create an embryonic national popular culture. Minstrel troupes toured the United States constantly, helping create an embryonic national popular culture. The minstrel show is the direct ancestor of vaudeville. The minstrel show is the direct ancestor of vaudeville.

An Early Pop Songwriter: Stephen Collins Foster (1826–64) The most influential songwriter of American popular song during the nineteenth century The most influential songwriter of American popular song during the nineteenth century Composed around two hundred songs during the 1840s, 1850s, and early 1860s Composed around two hundred songs during the 1840s, 1850s, and early 1860s Foster was probably the first person in the United States to make his living as a full-time professional songwriter. Foster was probably the first person in the United States to make his living as a full-time professional songwriter.

Foster’s Songs “Oh! Susanna” “Oh! Susanna” “Old Folks at Home” “Old Folks at Home” “My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night” “My Old Kentucky Home, Good Night” “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair” “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair” “Beautiful Dreamer” “Beautiful Dreamer”

Stephen Collins Foster (1826–64) His earliest musical experiences were dominated by the sentimental song tradition. His earliest musical experiences were dominated by the sentimental song tradition. Foster knew and incorporated into his work the various song styles popular in mid-century America. Foster knew and incorporated into his work the various song styles popular in mid-century America.

Listening: “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair” An example of Foster’s sentimental “Irish” style, strongly reminiscent of the songs of Thomas Moore An example of Foster’s sentimental “Irish” style, strongly reminiscent of the songs of Thomas Moore An example of a form that would become increasingly common in American popular music An example of a form that would become increasingly common in American popular music –Four-section song with an AABA melodic structure –The A sections begin identically, but their endings vary slightly. –The B section introduces a new melody and chords and acts as a musical “bridge” that leads us to the final A section.

Listening: “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair” A1: I Dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair... A1: I Dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair... A2: I see her tripping where the bright streams play… A2: I see her tripping where the bright streams play… B: Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour… B: Many were the wild notes her merry voice would pour… A3: I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair … A3: I dream of Jeanie with the light brown hair …

Stephen Collins Foster (1826–64) Foster’s success was supported by a number of social and technological factors: Foster’s success was supported by a number of social and technological factors: –Minstrel troupes performed his songs on their tours. –Sheet music –Rapid growth of public music education –Expanded domestic production of cheap pianos –The parlor

Stephen Collins Foster (1826–64) Foster died in obscurity and poverty at the age of thirty-seven. Foster died in obscurity and poverty at the age of thirty-seven. –Copyright enforcement in the mid-nineteenth century did not favor tsongwriters. –Foster’s first success, the plantation song “Oh! Susanna” (1847), was sold outright to a music publisher for one hundred dollars.