AMERICAN MUSIC HISTORY Early American Music and Marching Band

HISTORICAL BACKGROUND OF MUSIC IN AMERICA Earliest form of music documented in America was during the Colonial time period Earliest published music book: “Bay Psalm Book”, 1640 WILLIAM BILLINGS: 1746 – 1800 Most well-known composer of psalms and published “New-England Psalm-Singer” in 1770 Moravians: German-speaking protestant immigrants who settled in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Came over from Moravia and Bohemia. Chamber music

BRASS AND WIND BANDS MARCHING BAND Earliest bands became attached to military units By the 19 th century, local bands began appearing and parades always had a brass and wind band present Repasz Band of Williamsport, Pennsylvania founded in 1831 and Salem Brass Band of Salem, North Carolina, and Boston Brass Band were among the most notable bands during the 19 th century Considered today to be one of the fixtures of American life; by the 1960’s there were 50,000 wind bands through the United States. Every high school and college had one MUSIC: Marches, dances including the two-step, waltzes, and polkas were standard pieces played by marching bands JOHN PHILIP SOUSA: 1854 – 1932 (most famous of the bandmasters) In 1880 became the leader of the US Marine Band In 1892 he organized his own band which toured throughout the world Most notable compositions was “Stars and Stripes Forever” written in 1896

LISTENING #1: (Click on the link below) Using your packet as a guide, complete the listening criteria for this John Philip Sousa march The Stars and Stripes Forever