Music in America

Life in America: Music in America

America has some outstanding exports that we supply to the world. Our farmers are so efficient at producing food that it could be said that we feed the world. And in terms of high technology, the world looks to America to lead the way and we do so very well indeed.

But one of our greatest exports provides the world with dozens of fascinating products that they cannot get enough of. And that is our culture. The American culture, from fashion to movies to gossip to the internet, fascinates the world. You can see it in how countries all around the world imitate and develop local versions of American customs and culture to become as much like Americans as they can.

And of all the different elements of our wonderfully diverse culture, the music in American stands out as a genuinely unique cultural phenomenon that captivates the world as much as it captivates us. There is a certain “sound” that is so uniquely American that it could not have developed in any other nation than this one. That sound is big and bold, full of life and optimism and excitement. That is because the nature of music in America is that it reflects the spirit and the heart of what it is to be an American.

Broadway  Music in America

Probably the first type of music in America that became known as distinctively “American Music” is what came out of Broadway. While England and other countries have vibrant theater districts, this thing we came to call the “Broadway show tune” could have come into being nowhere else but in this big sprawling country. Of all those tunes, the lyrics from the Rogers and Hammerstein musical Oklahoma capture that American feeling as well as any…

We know we belong to the land
And the land we belong to is grand!
And when we say
Yeeow! Ayipioeeay!
We're only sayin'
You're doin' fine,
Oklahoma! .

 

Jazz Music in America

The exuberance, the pride and the excitement of that song is as much an expression of what it means to be an American as you can find. But Broadway is not the only place you can find music that is so distinctively American that it could have come into being nowhere else but here. Jazz music in America is an outstanding example of a uniquely American music that has spread around the world. This rich and sultry musical style grew out of the swamps of Louisiana, spread to Chicago and then to the world to become one of the most addicting music styles of its time. And to this day those who become jazz fans are jazz fans for life.

Jazz music in America is one of the truly original musical art forms in. It is defined as “originating around the start of the 20th century in New Orleans, rooted in African American musical styles blended with Western music technique and theory.” One of the most famous jazz musicians was John Coltrane. In his study of Coltrane’s newest posthumous release entitled “John Coltrane: Fearless Leader”, Norman Weinstein analyses on of jazz’s greatest stars and the CD that summarizes his sessions from 1957 to 1958.

Coltrane did not start his first jazz group until 1960,( a quartet including Steve Kuhn, Pete LaRoca and Billy Higgins), so the period of time described in this CD is prior to any real self controlled, organized play on his part. First Weinstein discusses the difference between Coltrane’s pre-Atlantic, pre-Impulse recordings versus the later sound. Coltrane has recordings that go all the way back to 1946 but he did not start recording professionally and with a means to preserve and distribute until 1955. After this point however, he created and produced an impressive number of albums. Since his death, some of these have been released. Still others have been releases solely on the merit of his having been playing on the side or in a lesser portion of a recording. Weinstein mentioned that a previous Coltrane release, a 16 disc set was overwhelming and that the new 6 disc set of his review is a much more manageable collection of Coltrane’s music, though not as exhaustive as the aforementioned collection.

He recommends tuning out the other musicians and concentrating solely on Coltrane and bassist Paul Chambers and calls Coltrane’s playing “intensely inspired.”

Weinstein goes through each disc, listing the songs and recommends listening to the CD’s in backwards order as they are chronologically listed. He suggests that the listener go back in time and listen to Coltrane’s earliest represented recordings last instead of first as a kind of musical audio deconstruction.

Biographical information on Coltrane suggests that he began to play while a young man in a racially segregated community after the death of his aunt, grandfather and father. His musical passion seemed to be built from the grief over these deaths and his sadness was transformed into “practicing obsessively.” Though the new CD set does not go that far back into Coltrane’s early years. It depicts and records a specific time of his growth. Weinstein contends that you are able to hear that growth and that it is well worth the purchase.

Rock and Roll Music in America

And we cannot leave our discussion of a music in America that shows off the greatness of the American Spirit without mentioning Rock and Roll and even Hip Hop. These much maligned styles of music in America, because they are bold, in your face, challenging and not afraid to say what needs to be said. At the same time they are complex, fun, interesting and once you are hooked on them, you are hooked for life. What better way to describe the American spirit. And what better export to the world than a music that gives to mankind the spirit of America.

They say that if you listen to the music of a people, you can genuinely get a feel for the spirit of that people. Sometimes we don’t think of ourselves as “a people” in the same way a country that is largely populated by one ethnic group is. But the music in America is a culture with a rich history, a set of cultural values, a language all our own and a unique view of the world that is totally American. From Bye Bye Miss American Pie, to Oklahoma to the great songs of Jazz, Country and Folk music, the richness of the American culture is fully expressed in her music. And that music is something Americans prize and take joy in every day. And we know our music in America is truly great because the world cannot get enough of it either.

Country Music in America

Country music in America is one genre that appeals to all age groups. This form of music has certainly changed over the years but continues to be very popular. There are stories in country music that people can apply to their own lives. The image of a country music star is a cowboy or cowgirl wearing boots, jeans, a button up shirt, and a hat. The music seems to have gotten a faster sound with the newer artists but many of the elements of country music are still there.

The early days of country music in America go back to honky tonk bars in Nashville and into Texas. These are small bars where people go to listen to music and to dance. Many country music artists now will tell you they have been influenced by the talents of early artists. Many of them have long histories that span decades.

Some of the country music artists that have been out there are considered to have laid a solid foundation for country music. The most popular lady in country music has always been Patsy Cline. She died in a plane crash decades ago but her legacy lives on. Her good friend Loretta Lynn has graced country music with many hits as well.

There are well known men in the area of country music including Johnny Cash, George Jones, Hank Williams Jr., and Conway Twitty. Their songs continue to be among the top selling country music hits of all times. Some newer artists have tried to remake these earlier hits but nothing can compare to the quality of the original artists.

Country music is very appealing when it comes to dancing. There are certain dances such as the two step that are quite popular. There are also faster dances to that include spins, twists, and even turns. Line dancing has become very popular and attached to certain types of country music as well.

Nashville, Tennessee is the heart of country music. The is where many of the top artists come to write and record their music. Many of them live there as well and can be seen around the area from time to time. The most prestigious place for country music in America to be played is at the Grand Ole Opry in Tennessee.

Christian Music in America

Modern popular Christian music in America with Christian themes in the lyrics is a big industry, especially in the United States. There are several record labels and radio stations that promote Christian music groups. The lyrics vary in their strength of feeling and the Christian message is delivered in different ways. Gospel music has often crossed over into the mainstream and many artists, such as Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan, have explored their Christian beliefs.

Our music in America is as diverse as our people, but it is definitely one of our greater cultural contributions to the world