MUH 214 1st Edition Lecture 13Late 19th Century Music-Minstrelsy-Coon songs-Carry me backs-Pseudo spirituals -Concert Music-Traveling Shows-Brass bands-RagtimeMinstrelsy -The denigration of black cultureMinstrel Facts-Created by Thomas Dartmouth “Big Daddy” Rice• Father of American Minstrelsy• 1829• Louisville, KY-AKA Ethiopian Music-Not developed by African Americans, but rooted in that culture-Staged entertainment-Commercialized for the mass market-Became most popular music of late 19th c.These notes represent a detailed interpretation of the professor’s lecture. GradeBuddy is best used as a supplement to your own notes, not as a substitute.Minstrel Characteristics-Depicted an exaggeration of slave life-Originally white performers using burnt cork on faces-Stereotypical Characters• Jim Crow – lazy, plantation worker• Zip Coon – slick, smooth talker• Aunt Jemima – mother figure “Mammy”• Jezebel – street womanCoon Songs-A way of depicting negative image of Blacks -Blacks portrayed as promiscuous with no libido control-Also portrayed as prone to violence-Rigid rhythms-Syncopation prominent-Printed as sheet music-Examples• “All Coons Look Alike to Me” Ernest Hogan, written by a black man• “Da Coon Dat Had De Razor”Carry-Me-Backs-Used theme that freed Blacks longed to return to security and solace of South-Examples• “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny”• “My Old Kentucky Home”Pseudo-Spirituals-Secular songs with spiritual like titles-Designed for parlor and show performances-Examples• “Oh Dem Golden Slippers”• “My Lord is Writin’ Down Time”Concert Artists-Concert Music • Philadelphia 1800’s Cultural Center-Hyers Sisters (Anna/ Emma)• 1st Black concert repertory company• Also formed comic opera/ musical comedy repertory company-Prima Donnas• The Black Swan – Elizabeth Taylor Greenfield*America’s 1st black concert singer• Marie Selika Williams – “Queen of Staccato • Nellie Brown Mitchell – “Greatest Singer of African Descent” (1886)• Flora Batson Bergen – “Double Voiced Queen of Song” – extensive range• Lucie Lenoir – “Creole Nightingale”• Matilda Sisieretta Jones – “Black Patti”*Sang at White House for President Harrison (1892) -Male Vocalists • Sidney Woodard• William Powell• Theodore Drury• George Johnson – 1st Black to sing on record• Male singers more often in ensembles, quartets, minstrel troupes, or companies.-Concert Instrumentals• Thomas Green Bethune “Blind Tom” – Piano• John William Boone “Blind Boone” – Piano• John Thomas Douglas – Violin• Walter Craig – ViolinTraveling Road Shows -Hyers Company-Slavin’s Original Georgia Jubilee Singers• One of the 1st to use Black actors in U.T.C (1876)-In Old Kentucky• Used 24 pc “boys” band “The Wangdoodles”• Became training ground for black entertainers• Forerunner of Brass Bands*Jenkins Orphanage Band*Brister’s Boy’s Band (1890’s) Cincinnati -The South Before the War• Produced by Whallen and Martell• Had plantation scene which became standard for all showsBrass Bands-Popular in New Orleans-Forerunners to jazz bands-Instruments often hand-me-downs from military-Played parades, holiday celebrations, funerals, social events-Example• Excelsior• Onward• St. Bernard • TuxedoRagtime -Syncopated piano style that evolved from banjo styles -Initially for Solo Piano (later brass bands/orchestras)-1st financially successful black music-Entertainment in Brothels-Preserved on piano rolls-1st copyright 1883 (Turpin-Harlem Rag)-1st publ. 1897 (Krell-Mississippi Rag)-Centered in Midwest (St. Louis, Sedalia, and Memphis) and N.O.-John Stark – major publisherNew Orleans Atmosphere -Major post-Civil War city• Military post• Sea Port• Agri-business-Center of Southern culture-Social Hierarchy• Whites• Creoles of Color• Blacks-Diverse population – Urban melting pot-Social events• Cotillions/Botillions• Quadroon Balls• Weddings/Funerals – 2nd Line Dancers• Parade/Picnics• Mardi Gras/CarnivalsVenues -Uptown/Downtown-Canal St.-Storyville (1897-1917)• Entertainment/Red Light District• Named for N.O. Councilman Sidney Story• Two blocks from French Quarter• The Blue Book – guide to houses (cribs)/services/prices/”stock”-Salons• Gathering of intellectual, social, political, and cultural elites under the roof of hostess or host-Cabarets• Restaurant or nightclub with stage for performances and the audience sitting at tables (often dining or drinking)• Performance introduced by a master of ceremonies• Mediterranean-style brothel – a bar with tables and women who mingle with and entertain the