Until the last century, mainstream music was not a consumer product for entertainment as much as it is today. It was often connected to church and patriotic functions, and thus was heavily moralistic. Many people worked long hours, infant mortality was high, and diseases took people into death relatively young. Song themes were often dark and gloomy. Performances had to be “live.” As society changed, and those conditions became less oppressive, music changed, too. Sound technology made it widely available. People could own recordings and listen privately. Harold C. Schonberg wrote several books that discuss this in some chapters. And Arthur Loesser wrote a wonderful book called MEN, WOMEN, AND PIANOS that contains many insights related to pianos and culture.
danketaz Premium Member almost 7 years ago
Pierce might go in for Irving Berlin’s treatment of Emma Lazarus’ poem. He looks in the mood for ‘The Wretched Refuse’ or ‘Tempest-tossed’ references.
Dani Rice almost 7 years ago
Not many Americans even know there are more verses to the National Anthem.
emptc12 almost 7 years ago
Until the last century, mainstream music was not a consumer product for entertainment as much as it is today. It was often connected to church and patriotic functions, and thus was heavily moralistic. Many people worked long hours, infant mortality was high, and diseases took people into death relatively young. Song themes were often dark and gloomy. Performances had to be “live.” As society changed, and those conditions became less oppressive, music changed, too. Sound technology made it widely available. People could own recordings and listen privately. Harold C. Schonberg wrote several books that discuss this in some chapters. And Arthur Loesser wrote a wonderful book called MEN, WOMEN, AND PIANOS that contains many insights related to pianos and culture.
Charlie Tuba almost 7 years ago
The tune of the Star Spangled Banner was a British drinking song, To Anacreon in Heaven:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/To_Anacreon_in_Heaven
Charlie Tuba almost 7 years ago
I knew that Harding played the tuba!