Classical Music in America

Research on the state of classical and educational music in America shows declines and growth within its various disciplines. This article looks at what is called the good old days, concert attendance, and statistics of the musical arts from the 1970s to the present. The paper encompasses think tank organizations such as the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, who brainstorm on the theme of change and opportunity in American education as well as society\u27s support of the arts. Presented are global issues, which compound the complexity of the situation, and American educators who survey the ecological change of classical music

Classical Music in America

Research on the state of classical and educational music in America shows declines and growth within its various disciplines. This article looks at what is called the good old days, concert attendance, and statistics of the musical arts from the 1970s to the present. The paper encompasses think tank organizations such as the Association of Performing Arts Presenters, who brainstorm on the theme of change and opportunity in American education as well as society\u27s support of the arts. Presented are global issues, which compound the complexity of the situation, and American educators who survey the ecological change of classical music

Rudolf Serkin: A Life

Pianist Rudolf Serkin, a virtuosic solo performer and chamber musician, captivated music lovers the world over for much of the twentieth century. Although he acquired a large and devoted public following, Serkin preferred to keep out of the spotlight, instead directing attention toward the music he loved. Dedicated to disseminating European classical music in America, Serkin became a committed teacher and director of major musical institutions. Rudolf Serkin: A Life, the first biography of this influential figure, offers an insightful analysis of Serkin\u27s role in shaping American musical values and provides a rare glimpse into the life story of this intense performer and elusive man

From the Concert Hall to the Cinema: The Journey of the Classical American Sound

American classical music has enjoyed a long-standing presence around the world as its own entity within the classical music genre. As early as the 1920s, American classical music has had its own unique sound. The early 20th Century was a time of musical experimentation and social unrest in America. Due to its relative newness and experimentation by numerous composers, identifying the defining characteristics of American music, an experimental music itself, became difficult and ambiguous. Also, the continuation of American classical music became increasingly problematic as classical music was replaced in popular culture by other genres of music. The research for this study examined American classical music through the compositions of the Father of American Music: Aaron Copland. Through study and analysis of his music, characteristics of American classical music were identified, classified in this study as the Classical American Sound. Further research demonstrated that the Classical American Sound reached beyond the concert and into the world of film music. Through Western genre movies, the Classical American Sound – or the majority of its characteristics – were popularized in mainstream culture in the 1940s and 1950s. Through the compositions of modern composer John Williams, the Classical American Sound has evolved, yet has kept its basic characteristics. The Classical American Sound had a major impact upon American culture and identity, and the possibilities for further impact remains to be fully achieved

muZic Appreciation: Bridging the Gap between Generation Z & Classical Music

Today’s music educators stand in a strategic position in the history of classical music in America. At a time when symphony orchestras are struggling to survive due to an aging and declining customer base, a generation of musical omnivores are ripe for a connection to the world of classical music. Generation Z has a vast, eclectic musical appetite, choosing to listen to a variety of genres and styles of music instead of adopting a generational style. However, they have limited interaction with classical music due to certain non-musical attitudes and values. It is possible the disconnect between Generation Z and classical music can be bridged with an innovative approach to music appreciation courses in higher education. This study examined existing literature concerning the non-music major student’s interaction with classical music in an effort to determine factors that influence Generation Z’s attitudes and exposure to classical music. The research revealed that the attitudes, behaviors, and values of Generation Z are influential factors in the interaction and enjoyment of classical music. These factors informed the creation of a curricular framework that facilitates engaging popular music to make connections with other genres in a music appreciation course for non-music majors

Volume 26, Number 11 (November 1908)

Invention of the Nocturne Stephen Heller—His Life and Works From Rubinstein\u27s Note-Book Superstititions of Concert Pianists Effective Piano Practice American Students Should Study in America What the Masters of Music Have Accomplished in Old Age: Remarkable Instances of Musical Activity and Intellectual Fecundity Late in Life Musical Atmosphere in America What Constitutes Beauty in Piano Playing Classical Music as a Basis of Pianoforte Instruction Handel\u27s Youthhttps://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/etude/1541/thumbnail.jp

America\u27s Discovery of the Arts After the Industrial Revolution: The Evolution of the Middle Class Through Music

Music in nineteenth century America was greatly influenced by the Industrial Revolution and brought about changes in society through the development of concert life, the introduction of the piano in the home, and the new role women were given in music. This paper seeks to address how the middle class in America drastically changed from exposure to music. This exposure occurred through the formation of the classical concert in Europe that spread to America and promoted an awareness for the arts. It also caused more families to incorporate music into their daily lives through the growing affordability and popularity of the piano. This acceptance of the piano caused many women to gain employment and an independence that prior to this time had not been seen. Overall, it can be seen that American life today was shaped by the heavy emphasis of music throughout the nineteenth century

Ouachita Jazz Band to perform concert Nov. 8

The Jazz Band at Ouachita Baptist University will perform Tuesday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. in Jones Performing Arts Center on Ouachita’s campus. The concert will be free and open to the public. “Jazz is America\u27s music. It was created here and has had an impact on both classical and popular music styles,” said Dr. Craig Hamilton, Ouachita’s Lena Goodwin Trimble Professor of Music and director of bands. “The Jazz Band at Ouachita is a lab for students to learn different styles of jazz and popular music as well as experiment with improvisation.

GWU to Present Distinguished Tuba Player in Concert

Gardner-Webb University will host renowned tuba player and music educator John William Banther for a Distinguished Artist concert on Tuesday, April 7. The show is free, open to the public and will begin at 8 p.m. in Blanton Auditorium in GWU’s Hamrick Hall. Banther has performed opera, classical, rhythm and blues, Dixieland and beat-box tuba styles in North America, South America and in Europe.https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/gardner-webb-newscenter-archive/2192/thumbnail.jp

The Life and Patronage of Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge: Exploring Developments in Cultural Philanthropy with the Institutionalization of American Classical Music

The decades around the turn of the twentieth century presented a sudden growth in American musical life and more specifically, classical music. My thesis explores how this crucial and formative moment coincided with the rise of cultural philanthropy in the United States. As musical life was becoming institutionalized, individualist cultural philanthropists such as Elizabeth Sprague Coolidge created and supported these opportunities in innovative and unconventional ways. By examining the case study of Coolidge, this thesis explores how the institutionalization of classical music in twentieth-century America connects to new ideas about the role of patrons in artistic life and society in general. Her Berkshire Quartet and chamber music festivals, relationship with Carl Engel and the Library of Congress, utilization of the radio, and influence on academia provide insight into other methods of individualist patronage. Additionally, this thesis considers how this period saw other women engage in patronage and music sponsorship, further contributing to the institutions of American cultural and musical life