Music
Part 1
The site Lipscomb University Department of Music provides adequate information on the history of bands in American music. Lipscomb provides information on three leading bands in American music. The first band is Federal Army Brass Bands. This band often played music to encourage people to enlist in the army (Rhodes, 2007). The Federal City Brass Band was developed in 2002 by Jari Villanueva. This band recreated the appearance as well as the sound of a typical American Army regimental brass band of the 1860s. They play music of the civil war era. The Federal City Brass Band, Jari Villanueva director, performed Old Joe Hooker Quickstep at the Vintage Band Festival, August 2006. The second band is the Brass Bands of the Civil War. Brass Bands were popular in America during the year 1861. This band played essential roles during the Civil War playing in concerts, dances, political rallies, picnics, and parades (Rhodes, 2007). While performing their music, they wore uniforms that mirrored their units. The third band is the Pandemonium steel band. Pandemonium steel band consisted of acoustic musicians and people playing steel drums—this performance by Walt Mikolajcik and the pandemonium steel band at a Wedding reception.
Part 2
The information I found about The Golden age of popular song is that the songs helped its listeners cope with their changing situations. During the Golden age period, there was widespread despair, homelessness, and unemployment. To express their frustration to the political class and the elites, musicians composed music which exposed these vices to the public. While they did so, the music also helped address problems people experienced. This music appealed not just to the Americans but also immigrants and the natives.
It is interesting how the styles of pop music changed with time. Some of the artists created music that could ease the public’s pain. It was music by real people expressing real emotions. The songs were more nostalgic than the songs of today. They were memorable songs delivered in an effortless and light style. They were soothing and beautiful at the same time. As compared to the earlier pop songs, today’s songs have been extremely commercialized and degraded.
The Bride, a member of the Steel Drum Band, plays Steel Drums with her band at her wedding reception (Bride, 2011). The music produced by the bands is beautiful as they are created from the different notes following playing various instruments. Even so, the music helps trigger emotions in the audience listening to it. Bride beats the drums to produce notes that culminate in the final music; the audience is listening to at the reception.
American popular songs of the Golden age were not just about music but also American culture and society. The music is not only musical but also achieves certain functions. The songs relieve problems as well as stress levels. These songs embodied the attitudes and values that made America great. The songs encouraged people to enjoy their newfound freedom in civilized ways. Pop songs instilled ambition in young people. The songs influenced young people to explore other cultures, interact, and love one another. Musicians gave their audience the feelings and words to enable them to feel deeply as they so wished. It was not just the words but also the familiar harmonic, melodic, and rhythmic patterns. In essence, the songs had harmonic richness, melodic invention, and lyrical creativity.
Bibliography
Bride Plays Steel Drums. 2011. [Youtube]. [Accessed 2 July, 2020). Retrieved from
Rhodes, Stephen. L. 2007. The Nineteenth-Century American Wind Band. [Online]. [Accessed 2
July, 2020]. Retrieved from https://ww2.lipscomb.edu/windbandhistory/rhodeswindband_06_19thcenturyamerican.htm#:~:text=The%20golden%20age%20of%20professional%20bands%20was%20ushered,rich%20and%20colorful%20time%20in%20America%27s%20music%20history.