Music was everywhere during the Civil War. Tunes could be heard ringing out from parlor pianos; thundering at political rallies; and setting the rhythms of military and domestic life. With literacy still limited; music was an important vehicle for communicating ideas about the war; and it had a lasting impact in the decades that followed. Drawing on an array of published and archival sources; Christian McWhirter analyzes the myriad ways music influenced popular culture in the years surrounding the war and discusses its deep resonance for both whites and blacks; South and North.Though published songs of the time have long been catalogued and appreciated; McWhirter is the first to explore what Americans actually said and did with these pieces. By gauging the popularity of the most prominent songs and examining how Americans used them; McWhirter returns music to its central place in American life during the nation's greatest crisis. The result is a portrait of a war fought to music.
2011-08-21Original language:RussianPDF # 1 9.00 x .55 x 6.00l; .73 #File Name: 1466254114242 pages
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