TELEVISION

America's Musical Heritage

Series: America's Musical Heritage
4.3
(17)
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Episodes
12
Rating
TVPG
Year
2019
Language
English
Publisher
The Great Courses

About

In Professor Anthony Seeger's America's Musical Heritage, learn how to listen to the music of America with new ears. Produced in collaboration with Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, proprietor of the vast treasury of American vernacular music, these 12 episodes explore more than 200 years of music from trailblazers like Scott Joplin, the Memphis Jug Band, Woody Guthrie, and many others.

Related Subjects

Episodes

1 to 3 of 12

1. Inheriting America's Musical Traditions

29m

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Use classic children's music (everything from jump rope rhymes to lullabies) as a fascinating window into America's musical traditions and how they open up a plethora of musical doors and memories. Also, get an introduction to some of the many incredible treasures contained in the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings series.

2. American Revolutionary and Wartime Music

25m

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American music has shaped the meaning of war, making it a more shared experience. Take a closer listen to music from the Revolutionary War ("The President's March") and the Civil War ("I'm Going Home to Dixie"), as well as anti-war songs including "I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier."

3. European Empires and American Music

33m

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The United States is built on a foundation of pre-existing musical heritages from people who were already in North America before the nation was born. Survey the musical traditions of the British, French, and Spanish empires, as well as influence from Indigenous groups (some of which still endure to this day).

4. Minstrel Shows and Variety Shows

30m

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In this episode, Professor Seeger wrestles with the development of American minstrel shows in the 1830s, with their roots in slavery and racial stereotypes. Then, he reveals how these problematic shows laid the groundwork for other musical traditions, including circuses, medicine shows, and the popular entertainment known as vaudeville.

5. Music of American Movement and Dance

29m

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From square dances (the official state dance in over 20 states) to the waltz (one of America's earliest dance crazes), investigate the relationship between movement and music in the United States. Discover how the human body can synchronize itself to an external rhythm (a response known as rhythmic entrainment).

6. Hymns, Spirituals, and Chants in America

32m

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Examine the main strands of religious music in the United States. Among the many you'll look at are spirituals (both European and African variations); religious chants from Catholic, Jewish, and Muslim traditions; and ring shouts and shape-note singing. Also, spend time with popular compositions like "Northfield" and "Amazing Grace."

Extended Details

  • Closed CaptionsEnglish

Artists

The Great Coursesdirector
The Great Coursesproducer
Anthony Seegeractor