Introduction:
Music is the fuel of our souls. Ever since the beginning, in all societies it has been a very important part of culture and history. Music not only relaxes our mind but also provides a complete set of information related to the social and cultural history either concerning to the social politics of that very society or to the religious aspect. Though the American music and songs have been in singing practice since the 16 th C. when the first Europeans and Africans began to enter into North America . On the other hand, the American songs were mostly influence and strongly attached to the musical traditions of the British Isles . This was the colonial, revolutionary as well as federal periods of from the 17 th C to 19 th C. Hymns tunes, ballads, theatre songs, drinking songs all were adopted from the English songs and were very important in the English Music. Where at the same time the African-American slave communities mostly played and sung patriotic songs, basically these were also the adaptations of English music for instance, the “Yankee Doodle” and “Star Spangled Banner”. Therefore, during the early 19 th C, few songs were prepared and composed for the minstrel show but were initially played by the African-Americans on the northern stages where these white and black performers not only adopted but also embroidered the politically charged movements into the African American musical style.
However, by the second half of the 19 th C, the American songs were tremendously expanded commercially and not only extended to the 20 th C but also did not faded away even today. For instance more music industries have opened as well as songs are now sold and recorded in CDs DVDs and many other technological means are used to save music as they were only sung live in the past. Therefore, this shows that music strengthen its roots as it commercially expanded, more and more songs were written and composed as well as produced and performed. So in this way the history and culture of America not only expanded via music but also was exported to every part of the globe.
Nonetheless with the passage of time, American music not only expanded and commercialized but also extended to the process of minstrel shows, which once being restricted to the ethnic minorities of immigrant groups were marked to the entire nation. Therefore, different communities of Europe started introducing their own musical style and incorporated their culture and history in their songs. For instance, some Irish Ballads started getting popular among singers and musicians who did not belong to the Irish community. Similarly, Italian, Spanish and Jewish composers and performers highlighted the important elements of their culture and made them a part of music. So in this way the European communities introduced their culture to the American music and made their music a part of the American music. Likewise, the African-American culture opened doors towards a series of distinctive songs styles that include the spiritual, ragtime, blues and later the rhythm and blues, which were passionately suited to the white American artists and audiences.
Ragtime and Showboat
Ragtime and Showboat are considered as the break-through moments of the history of musical theatre. These musical forms are recognized as the bookends of the American Music of the 10 th C, as both these have developed into a different and beautiful style at the same time treated racial discrimination in the American society, as their most important cultural aspect. Though many other forms of music were introduced at that time but Showboat and Ragtime had a distinctive impression that was more influential due to their characterization and historical cultural themes performed by the artists. However, Showboat was introduced first in the musical theatre and the Showboat performers also performed a few songs at that time. While Ragtime came after Showboat at the end of the 20 th C. Nonetheless, it captured the attention of the audiences more then any other musical form as it recalled all the past magnificent musical themes and was fabricated into a more sophisticated level. Therefore, Ragtime is considered as the most glorious and impressive musical theme of the 20 th C.
Ragtime
Basically Ragtime means off the beat that refers to ragged, where it is related to rag a piece of music to play with its rhythms to make them more jazzier. Ragtime is one of the most popular African American music that was introduced at the time when the various communities of Europe was expanding their cultural influence via music in all over America . The songs and music of Ragtime are more encyclopedic then the modern music as they at the same time have a beautiful melodic style with rock touch as well as marinating its sophistication. Out of its 2 ‘dozen songs, around 17 songs would be the most memorable to the music lovers. Ragtime music also portrays American culture and the social problems specifically racism when the world was at the edge of the World War I. Where his music covers from the introduction to the end and then the after effects of the international relations and the state politics that resulted into massive social disorder at that time. Furthermore, whatever stories are portrayed in his music mainly focuses on the conditions and the social discrimination in African America. These may be related to either the immigrant Jews, the Wealthy WASP or the dispossessed African Americans but the popularity he earned is equal in all regards.
Therefore, the music of ragtime not only expresses the social and political aspects of America during the 20 th C but also has much more to tell. Basically with the end of the America Civil War, freedom was given to the slaves but not complete economic and political freedom. However, many former slaves helped these slaves to express against the racial discrimination. As they were emotionally and socially suppressed by the whites and did not got any place in the state politics and any other administrative affairs they expressed their emotions via music that was the most impressive means enchanted with sophistication while at the same time having a rocky style. Basically the low-class black Americans started to play music and perform dances telling the stories of the social culture of that era. Though they were socially and politically discriminated among the whites but they did not easily accepted their music even from the time of slavery due to the beautiful melodious and magnificent style. For instance whenever any music concert was to be organized or any minstrel show was entertained; the blacks were not accepted on the stage with their musical instruments. However, they started getting recognition in the late 19 th C, which was due to the Rag style music that was first introduced by a very serious music composer named Scott Joplin’s. This musician did not achieve much fame and recognition during his whole musical life as gained with the introduction of “Maple Leaf Rag”. Therefore with the stepping of “Maple Leaf Rag” in the music world, it tremendously gained fame and popularity sparking nation-wide ragtime enthusiasm.
Showboat
The American musical theatre was introduced to a new art which distinguished it from the traditional musical comedy. Showboat was a revolution in the musical world at that time which attracted a number of musicians to adopt the style. It introduced dramatic reality into the comedy music played on stage where the characters were taken from the history representing the social and cultural history of that era. Being different from the traditional music style, showboat presented a wonderful melodious form of music that resulted into remarkable production by 1927. ( Lubbock , 1962. Pp. 753-756.) It therefore, developed into an authentic art form and is also popular even in the present era of modernization and advancement as it expresses the cultural history in a light dramatic musical comedy with backgrounds presenting the realities of the time. Therefore, Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern introduced this new style in the musical world where song, humor and comedy was integrated in one single form of music known as the showboat. It usually has a reliable musical story. Many music producers and composers adopted this revolutionary musical form in there albums. For instance, George S. Kaufman, Morrie Tyskind and Ira as well as George Gershwin presented a musical play, which was a radiant political satire of its time. ( Lubbock , 1962. Pp. 753-756.) Other major works in the showboat musical form were Carousel, The King and I, South Specific etc. all these plays situated examples of the political disturbances in the society of that time. So the musical comedy as well as the musical plays are an asset of the American musical theatre even today as well as in the past it was.
Writings expressing Showboat and Ragtime
During the 20 th C, music and songs were used to merge groups into communities in order to achieve some common goals as well as to express common feelings and thoughts. Poetry and music are the fastest means to convey any kind of messages and collect the public opinion as well as uniting people from different groups and communities into one single group for a collective purpose. Therefore most of the music and songs in the 20 th C and the era before and after that, even now, patriotic songs have been a very important part of the music culture.
However, songs also help the people from various classes to construct a self-image of them and thus at times become inspirational sources to them as an adoption to their lifestyles. Moreover, songs are also a very good source to express the conflicts and disputes among nations, the diversity of life styles in various nations as well as emotions and feelings either of love, passion, aggression or hatred or patriotism. So music is the most impressive source to capture the attention of the audience either presented via songs, plays, shows or dramas. Nonetheless songs and music also reflect the society and culture of the place where the musician basically belongs to or has taken influence. Later such songs are added as strong an influential and informative source that provides a beautiful and melodious picture of the history. For instance “Come Home Father” is a song sung condemning the too much use of alcohol during the 19 th C. (O'Shea. 2004.) Therefore, the culture and society and the socio-cultural as well as the economic aspects are always reflected via music even if not produced with the intention to high light these simple or important aspects of the society. At the same time there are many singers and musicians who produce their songs with the intention to present the picture of their social and cultural history to the world at large.
Therefore, Showboat and Ragtime brought tremendous change in the history of musical theatre. They not only revolutionaries the musical style but also diverted the attention of the audiences towards the social discrimination that was in practice during the 19 th -20 th C. Their melodies with soft rhythm and sophistication at the same time having a ragged touch were expressing the deep-rooted agony against the discriminative attitude of the whites against them. Basically these singers and musicians are the blacks who were living in America as minorities among the white Americans. So they were more frustrated and emotional though maintaining the level of decency with a rocky style made them more popular. Apart from this they magnificently presented the African-American social culture of that era, which is now accepted and appreciated by the present singers from all over Europe .
Showboat and Ragtime has gained so much popularity even in today’s world that college students enjoy playing the plays based on Showboat and Ragtime musical style. Basically the trends have changed and now the world is recognizing the internal social, cultural and political conflicts of America in a more transparent manner. Though rock, jazz and other musical forms are introduced in the musical industry that it earns a lot of capital for the industry but when it comes to literature and history and taste, musical forms like showboat and Ragtime are enjoyed and played more then any other form. This also tell the popularity and recognition of the blacks in the America that their struggle for identity and various social rights have been recognized by the world at large as well as the discriminatory behavior practiced in past by the whites against the black are also criticized.
Therefore lets try to relate some writings to the musical forms and historical aspects pictured by Showboat and Ragtime.
Levine, High Brow/Low Brow: The Emergence of a Cultural Hierarchy in America "Prologue and Epilogue"
Lawrence W. Levine has written many books related to the social and cultural aspects of America . Though this book does not contain much about the music as he devoted only one chapter to this aspect but it contains consistent information regarding the opera of the 19 th C that provides a very healthy source of information between the difference in popular art and culture at that time. Moreover he also provides a balance in the historical information as well as generates a debate between the “low” and “high” culture along with their historical developments and the various aspects if the differences in both. Therefore, it provides a stimulating and transparent picture of human judgment with a mature reflection with a comparison of both the present and the social and cultural aspect during the 20 th C. Nonetheless. It provides a very fascinating explanation of not only the development of the music style but also the various challenges faced by the blacks at that time.
Litwack, " America 's Shameful Pastime"
This was an article published in a magazine by George, which discusses the social discrimination of the Black Americans during the 19 th and 20 th C. where they were given brutal punishments and also made slaves. So this article relates to the social and cultural problems going on in the 20 th C to the 19 th C. ( Wilson, 2001).
Chafe, "Civil Rights"
Similarly this article also relates to the civil right movement going on in relation to the identity of Blacks among the whites in America . It covers all the important aspects of the movement and the challenges faced by the blacks at that time.
Southern, The Music of Black America
However this contains a complete historical development of the music of the black Americans during the 19 th and 20 th C. It not only includes a classical study on the development of the music but also provides a comprehensive study about the social and cultural influences driven at that time and made a part of their musical history. Southern Eileen has really done a great job in this regard.
Harding, So Much History so Much Future: Martin Luther King
Vincent Harding, who covered the political and socio-cultural situation of America during the period of King Martin Luther as the King set forward his philosophy related to Christian non-violence, wrote this essay. He basically was against the violent acts specifically the brutal behavior with the blacks in discrimination with the white Americans
Malcolm X " Message to the Grass Roots
Malcolm X was an African Civil Right leader who has discussed his personal experiences and achievements in this essay, which gives a transparent and authentic picture to the world about the happening of that time.
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