1. MUH 3633 - Music in the United States
12/5/2019
Chapter Four
“Make A Noise” : African American Music before the Civil War
DAY 11 (23 Sep 19)

2. MUH 3633 - Music in the United States
12/5/2019
New Orleans (1819) Observations in “Congo Square” by Benjamin Latrobe See Textbook, p. 88
DAY 11 (23 Sep 19)

3. Latrobe (2)

4. “The Bamboula” by E.W. Kremble for The Century Magazine (1886)
MUH Music in the United States
12/5/2019
“The Bamboula” by E.W. Kremble for The Century Magazine (1886)
DAY 11 (23 Sep 19)

5. (Southern) Black Sacred Music
Spirituals – Christian praise w/ African sound
Texts often reference OT Biblical events: - Bondage of Israelites in Egypt & Moses - Crossing Red Sea, River Jordan - Year of Jubilee
Ring Shout = “sacred dancing”
McIntosh County Shouters, GA coast
- Ex. Jubilee [LG 4.3, p. 91]
- Ex. McIntosh County Shouters at LoC [6:04]

6. General African Music Traits
MUH Music in the United States
General African Music Traits
12/5/2019
Non-notated (=Oral) tradition
Emphasis on Rhythm (often: Polyrhythm)
Use of Percussion
Density of Timbre (“buzzy sound”)
Use of Ostinato
Use of interlocking parts
Call and Response
Controlled Improvisation
Associated w/ Dance and/or Ceremony
DAY 11 (23 Sep 19)

7. MUH 3633 - Music in the United States
12/5/2019
Chapter Five
“A Language of Feeling” : Cultivating Musical Tastes in Antebellum America
DAY 11 (23 Sep 19)

8. Music for the Masses vs. ?? “Classical” / “Art” / “Cultivated” Music
Elitist vs. Egalitarian
Who makes/uses/listens each and why?
Reflected in markets for music
- publishing (for home or other use)
- teaching
- performing (professionals & pro. ensembles)
- promotion

9. b. 1756, Portsmouth, England d. 1809, Baltimore
Alexander Reinagle
English Immigrant Musician
New York (1786) to Philadelphia
Composer, publisher, performer, teacher, promoter, salesman, etc.
1st U.S. sheet music (Levy Sheet Music Collection)
Music Director – Chestnut St. Theatre
Stage Works & Concert Pieces
Sonata No. 1, 1st mvt (1794) - classical form & style
“America, Commerce, and Freedom” (see next slide)
b. 1756, Portsmouth, England d. 1809, Baltimore

10. from… The Sailor’s Landlady (1794?)
America, Commerce and Freedom (Chamber Ensemble)