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Invention of the Glass Harmonica
Ben Franklin invented this intriguing and difficult instrument, which supported his ideology that America needed to produce art before claiming to have a taste for it. -
"New England Psalm Singer" by William Billings
1st truly American songbook- American songs by American composers, printed on paper made in America -
Star Spangled Banner by Francis Scott Key
The Star Spangled Banner is a poem written by Francis Scott Key, as the author watched Fort McHenry get attacked by British boats during the War of 1812. The poem was later set to the tune of a drinking song, is known for being difficult to sing due to the leaping melodic line, and was named America's national anthem. -
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Trail of Tears
A part of the Indian Removal Act, the Trail of Tears was a part of the forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans, in which the people had to walk this trail on a dangerous journey resulting in thousands of deaths for reasons such as disease, illness, and starvation. -
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Lindomania!
A spectacular show created by PT Barnum starring Jenny Lind (AKA The Swedish Nightingale). The show created a market for solo opera arias (specifically popularizing the Italian opera) through the solo female singer. She became a phenomenon through brilliant marketing strategies including charity donations, newspaper articles, merchandise sales, and by creating artificial mobs buying tickets for her shows. -
"The Banjo" by Louis Moreau Gottschalk
A composition for piano designed to sound like African-American banjo playing at the time. -
Slave Songs of the United States by William Francis Allen
Recorded negro melodies/spirituals to help preserve them/prevent them from being forgotten. This was the first time they were recorded in written form, as the vocals used non-Western intonation/variations and thus were difficult to notate on sheet music. -
Completion of Carnegie Hall, NYC
Was completed during the Gilded Age, a time of classical music complication and glorification. Tchaikovsky conducted the grand opening, showing that America was still looking to Europe for musical ideals. -
"American," String Quartet- Dvorak
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"Gaelic Symphony" by Amy Beach
One of the first pieces by a female composer to gain attention, the symphony was a response to Dvorak's New World Symphony. -
:"Maple Leaf Rag" by Scott Joplin
One of the most famous piano rags, known for its infectious rhythms. -
"St. Louis Blues" by W.C. Handy
Handy is considered the "father of the blues," and this song is significant because it was the first published song to be recognized as blues music, inspired by other music heard with the flatted 3rd and 7th and establishing the form of 12-bar blues. -
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1st Golden Age of Broadway
Escapism, focus on sociopolitical statements. -
1st Commercial Cajun Recording
"Lafeyette" by Joseph Falcon -
"Symphony No. 1 in E minor" by Florence Price
Price was the first black woman to have her music performed by a major US orchestra. -
"El Salon Mexico" by Aaron Copeland
Copeland was inspired by Mexican dance music -
"God Bless America"- Irving Berlin
Originally sung by contralto Kate Smith -
Marian Anderson sings at the Lincoln Memorial
Anderson was denied a stage to sing on while performing in the US because of her race, so she sang a public, outdoor concert, which resulted in her performing for a live crowd and radio audience larger than would have been held in a concert hall. -
"Cottontail" by Duke Ellington
A very modern jazz song at the time, which emphasized soloists, was too fast to really dance, and started pushing jazz in the direction of bebop. -
"This Land Is Your Land"- Woody Guthrie
Originally recorded by Guthrie in 1944, written in 1940 -
We Shall Overcome
A poem that was adapted into a gospel song that became an anthem for the civil rights movement with the sentiment that G-d will help and that the black people would prevail. -
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Bluegrass
Folk music from the Appalachian Mountains developed for concert stages. -
Folk Song U.S.A.: the 111 Best American Ballads by Alan Lomax
Written by Alan Lomax, who travelled around the USA trying to record and learn about the folk songs of different regions and how they connected or diverged from each other. His work resulted in the recording and preservation of numerous songs and styles, which he felt was important to education. He described folk songs as "continually varying performances." -
"Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano" by John Cage
Drew more attention to prepared piano, explored the possible sounds and textures a single instrument could convey. -
Alan Freed
First coined the term "Rock and Roll" as a radio DJ- when playing R&B for white audiences, he didn't want to use the term R&B, so he called it rock and roll instead. -
"West Side Story" by Leonard Bernstein
Broadway premier! -
"Kind of Blue" by Miles Davis
An example of modal jazz, in which the chord changes are determined by the soloist; this song was important to defining modal jazz as it's own genre. -
"Good Vibrations" by Beach Boys
This song was important due to its overall popularity and for pushing the boundaries of rock music- it was heavily produced and densely orchestrated and used the classical techniques of lament bass and additive polyphony. -
"Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band" by The Beatles
A proactive and innovative album, it is considered the first concept album and featured music produced in ways that it couldn't have been performed live. -
"Coat of Many Colors" by Dolly Parton
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"Rapper's Delight" by Sugarhill Gang
Based on the song "Good Times" by Chic -
"Walk This Way" by Aerosmith/Run DMC
A collaborative song presented in a music video that features both groups, and is meant to send a message of unity, acceptance, and that hip-hop music belongs in American culture and is "here to stay." -
"The Death of Klinghoffer" by John Adams
An American opera that shows Adam's strong minimalistic style at the time. -
"Titanic" soundtrack, James Horner
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"Hamilton" by Miranda
Premiere!