While I lack sources specifically on the Irish in the American music industry and song writing business of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, I am able to draw from other works that highlight relevant threads—such as immigration, Irish music, stereotyping, and identity—throughout my thesis. Scholarly writings (historical or otherwise) on the social dynamics found in and around the Irish influences in popular music produced in America around the turn of the twentieth century come in short supply. William H. Williams seems to be the only scholar to have extensively written about Irish and Irish-American song in the United States after the nineteenth century. Another honorable mention is due to musician and scholar, Mick Moloney, who studied the Irish presence on the American stage (vaudeville).
The Jazz Age was a cultural movement that took place in America during the 1920 's (also known as "the Roaring Twenties") from which both jazz music and dance emerged. This movement matched with both the equally phenomenal introduction of mainstream radio and the conclusion of World War I. The 1920s was the decade that marked the beginning of the modern music era. Some of the popular music genres were Jazz, Dance Bands, Blues, and Broadway. The decade marked the beginning of independent record companies, smaller operations that weren’t afraid to take a chance on music and artists that the bigger companies shied away from.
During the 1900s, passion of composing music arose and encouraged many young teens to create garage bands and elder to perceive music as career. Famous musicians like Robert Johnson, Bill Monroe, and Elvis Presley were seeking the same. Although many were composing songs, most of them adapted their own versions from many which created a list of similarities and differences between them. Most commonly similar were themes or forms yet some differentiated in delivery style or instrumentation. Many artists got more creative and used similar instruments but give a twist into the sound play. This can be seen in the script or heard in the audio of the songs “Walkin’ Blues” and “Blue Moon of Kentucky” like many others.
African American influence in music has been an ever present and controversial subject in American history. Stemming from many different cultures, religions and backgrounds, large portions of American music was introduced by, and credited to African Americans. Although in many cases, this music was used for entertainment by the masses or majority, contrary to popular belief, black music served a greater purpose than just recreation. Dating all the way back to the beginning of slavery in the U.S. during the 17th century, music has been used to make a statement and send a message. As African American music progressed over the years, there were common themes expressed as the genres evolved. It has been an open letter to the world, documenting and protesting the ongoing oppression faced by blacks in the United States, as well as an outlet for frustration. For many African Americans, the music gave them the only voice that couldn’t be silenced by their oppressors.
1. How is the history of European and Arabic cultural contact reveal through musical characteristics in places such as Spain and Bulgaria?
John Dillon is one of the most notable Irish politicians of the later 19th century and early 20th century. He was an avid home rule advocate, a leader in the Irish Parliamentary Party, and a devout follower of Charles Parnell. He was jailed several times for his political activity within the home rule cause. In May of 1881, he wrote this letter out of Kilmainham Gaol, where he was imprisoned.
“The rise of rock ‘n’ roll and the reception of it, in fact, can tell us a lot about the culture and values of the United States in the 1950s. According to historians James Gilbert, there was a struggle throughout the decade ‘over the uses of popular culture to determine who would speak to what audience, and for what purpose”. At the center of that struggle, rock ‘n’ roll unsettled a nation had been “living in an ‘age of anxiety’” since 1945” (p.15). Altschuler talks about how music and race interlock with one another. Rock had become a “highly visible and contested arena for struggles over racial identity and cultural and economic empowerment in the United States” (p.35). Other chapters within the book state the battles involving sexuality, generational conflicts, as well as other social issues. The author states ideas that are somewhat problematic. For example, he states that there is a myth that rock ‘n’ roll went into a “lull” following the payola hearings (the practice of record promoters paying DJs or radio programmers to play their labels ' songs) of 1959 and did not come about again until the arrival of the Beatles in 1964.
1. The Scotch-Irish were staunch libertarians, and acted upon their feelings. Sex ways and dress ways had close ties to each other in the backcountry. To talk about sex and sexual behavior was also acceptable in this culture. The dress women and men wore was meant to arouse the opposite sex. Anglican missionary Charles Woodmason wrote, “They draw their shift as tight as possible round their Breasts, and slender waists (for they are generally very finely shaped) and draw their Petticoat close t their Hips to show the fineness of their limbs– … –indeed nakedness is not censurable without ceremony.” Woodmason was appalled at how these women carried themselves, but to the women, they were sexy. Men even dressed in ways to show off
The roots of modern american rock and roll music, are firmly planted in Africa. As the native Africans were torn apart from their family’s and brought to the new world their lives were immediately and drastically changed forever. Finding themselves immersed in a completely new environment with a foreign culture, they thankfully persevered and carried on with their own traditions and most importantly to this paper, musical ones. Most American slaves originated from Western and Central Africa. The West Africans carried a musical tradition rich with long melody lines, complicated rhythms (poly rhythmics) and stringed instruments CITATION. The West Africans music was also strongly integrated into their everyday lives. Songs were preformed for religious ceremonies and dances and music was often a
The beginning of popular American music dated around the 1850s. The most influential person around this time was Stephen Foster, who was the first important popular songwriter. At this time, most music reflected racism in which people like George Christie (who first introduced Foster’s music) performed music in minstrel shows. These
Irish songs not only reflect Irish history, but take record of it. Whether it is a rough new beginning or a gruesome battle being recorded, care is always given to portray the emotions of the event. Though the music varies in instrumentation and complexity, the purpose is always served.
In a decade known for being so lively with excitement, and plenty of romance and love happening, one cannot leave out music. One of the factors that made this decade a “great decade” was the rise of Jazz. By 1925, Jazz was being played all over the country in places such as speakeasies, cabarets, dance halls and roadhouses (Roaring Twenties, PBS). Jazz not only brought joy, but it became a way of getting out of poverty for many talented southern African Americans. The twenties were sort of a preview of what could be done many years later.
Music plays a significant role in societies all over the world. It allows people of all ethnicities and backgrounds to express themselves. Different music genres help to inspire other artists to create new music that they would not have thought of before. In various ways, Britain and America have influenced and inspired one another for many years. Music was, and still is, a huge connecting factor between the two countries. The Beatles and Bob Dylan, two of the most famous artists of all time, demonstrate how Britain and America had a profound influence on each country’s music culture.
The broadcasting and recording industries did not solely represent the conquering racial assumptions of the 1950's, they internalized them and helped to continue them. Racial conventions permeated the organization and structure of the music industry at every level. The very existence
For my EPQ I have done an artefact, which is a composition physically showing how music has developed and changed over the years. I have chosen the five main musical eras, Renaissance, Baroque, Classical, Romantic and 20th century, to feature within the composition. I have researched the key features of these eras and what makes each era different from the others, and what allows them to be easily identified. I have then found the music for 'Happy' by Pharrell Williams (Pluta, 2014) and have copied the first verse and chorus five times, one for each era, and have moderated each section by applying the characteristics for that specific era. Adding different features to the same piece of music has helped differentiate each section from each other,
The unforgettable character and deep, crowd-silencing voice associated with Ronnie Drew makes him both loveable and memorable. This essay intends to explore Ronnie’s early life, music career and life achievements. The work is quite personal as Ronnie was my great-uncle. This essay will discuss the early life, musical career, and life achievements of Ronnie Drew. Drew was a fascinating character with plenty of interesting stories to tell. His witty tales, superb sense of humour and many notable achievements make him a national icon, respected and loved by the people of Ireland. The legacy of Ronnie Drew is his influence on future Irish contemporary singers such as Damien Dempsey and established acts such as The Pogues, The Waterboys and even