War Songs and Drinking Songs, Then and Now....

War songs started as early as the 1700s, typically anti-war and used in many peace protests. Some of this country's most famous songs were created as either a protest to a war we were fighting, or as a victory song after the conclusion of a war. In 1861, William Steffe and abolitionist Julia Ward Howe wrote "The Battle Hymn of the Republic," which became particularly popular for all US citizens during the Civil War. But not all war songs were soft and serious- some were downright humorous, in order to make the soldiers smile. Songs like, "Pack Up Your Troubles" helped US soldiers get through World War I, reminding them of home and giving them a positive outlook on the war, and "Kiss Me Goodnight, Sergeant Major" was a British soldier song, written in 1939, mocking their officers: "Don't forget to wake me in the morning, and bring me 'round a nice hot cup of tea. Kiss me goodnight, Sergeant-MajorSergeant-Major, be a mother to me!"

Drinking songs were very popular in the 1800s, and many of our present-day hymns, and even our national anthem, were taken from the tunes of drinking songs. "The Star Spangled Banner" was set to the tune of a popular British drinking song, written by John Stafford Smith, and The lyrics come from a poem written in 1814 by Francis Scott Key. "Barnacle Bill the Sailor" was an American drinking song, written in between World War I & II, and was later used as inspiration for the cartoon, "Popeye the Sailor Man" (the first link takes you to a video of the actual song, the second to the episode of "Popeye" that uses the song).

Times of war were hard for people in America, and people all over the world. They found a way to release their stresses, joys, and frustrations in writing music. I'd say we still do this today, just in different ways. "Where Were You When the World Stopped Turning," written by country singer Alan Jackson, was a direct response to the 9/11 attacks in 2001, when the US declared war against Afghanistan, and I would say it is a modern-day war song. It was a different world back in the 18th and 19th centuries, and even in the early 1900s. A lot has changed since those times. But one thing that has stayed the same is the power of music to help people carry on through whatever their country is going through, together.

Playlist: Songs 152-155

The Renaissance, a Time of Revival

The Renaissance was a movement in Europe throughout the 14th-17th Centuries, and explored, expanded, and forever changed literature, art, religion, human philosophy, and music. Fortunately, much of the Renaissance music has been saved due to the creation of the Printing Press in the 1400s, which was about the time this sacred music started. Due to all of the political, economic, and religious events happening during this time, styles of composing, means of circulating music, and new musical genres were all drastically impacted and reformed.

Many people have a misconstrued perception of what Renaissance music actually sounded like, often of light instrumental dancing music using string instruments, like in this video: “A Knight’s Tale” (click on title to go to video) is a movie set in the Renaissance period, and in this scene, the characters are performing a timely dance…I thought it would be fun to add to this particular post. :)

In actuality, music at this time was more orthodox, and choral. “Polyphonic” was a genre important especially for church choruses, and was often composed of multiple choirs of singers, brass and strings, resembling classical music, as well as opera. Many popular instruments were created in this grand period, including the trumpet, tambourine, harp, lyre, viol (predecessor of violin), sackbut (trombone), bagpipe, flute, and cornett.

I added five new songs to the playlist, including “Angelus ad Pastores Ait” by Andrea Gabrieli, “Sicut Cervus” by Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, and “O Magnum Mysterium” by Tomas Luis de Victoria. Gabrieli was an Italian composer and organist in the 16th Century, as well as the first internationally renowned member of the Venetian School of Composers. Those composers spread Venetian music throughout Europe, and had an enormous influence over the music concluding the Renaissance, which in turn developed the well known genre: opera. Palestrina was an Italian Renaissance composer in the 16th Century, as well as a representative of the Roman School of Musical Composition, where he had a large impact on the Roman Catholic Church music, and the beginning of “polyphonic” compositions. Victoria is known as the most important and famous Spanish Renaissance composers of the late 16th-early 17th Centuries, the Counter-Reformation.

The other two songs are different versions of the renowned song, “Ave Maria.” First is by Giulio Caccini, a famous Italian composer of the late Renaissance period, and one of the founders of Opera music. In contrast, the second version is by the current R&B artist, Beyonce. I thought it was very interesting to compare the difference of the two versions, one from the song in its original time period, one from today’s period. My, how music has changed! And yet, music today would be nothing if it weren't for this crucial time in music history....

Playlist: Songs 156-160

And So the Journey Begins....

"Music, once admitted to the soul, becomes a sort of spirit, and never dies."

~Edward George Bulwer-Lytton

Music has been around since the beginning of time. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of genres of music in the world now. Regardless of your age or where you're from, chances are there is some kind of music you enjoy listening to- be it classical, country, Christian or reggae. There is simply something about music that human nature cannot live without, and although music has gone through many changes over the centuries, and still continues to change, it contains a certain unexplainable power over people, and we simply have to have it.

I've grown up listening to all kinds of music. My grandparents are classically trained musicians, my father is a band director, and his sister is a choir director. Music is in my blood. I would like to think I have a wide variety of musical interests....I like anything from Mozart to Brad Paisley. As long as the artist is actually singing and not screaming, I'm pretty accepting of any and all music. I have actually created a playlist with some of my favorite songs for you, some that are classics, and some just personal favorites. However, the more I learn about the history of music, I am constantly introduced to new genres of music that I never knew about. It is truly fascinating all of the incredible music out in our world, new and old, that does not get due credit.

This blog is intended to do exactly what the title of it says....I will be taking a journey through the history of music, covering many famous genres that were crucial to the music industry, and to the world, and present some new, or uncommon, ones as well. In today's society, people turn on the radio and listen to whatever is on "American Top 40" or "Top 20 Country Countdown," and that is all they ever listen to. The musical classics are being lost throughout the generations- honestly, does any current high school kid listen regularly to Bach, Duke Ellington, or even The Beatles? I want to reintroduce the grand musicians, and recapture the true essence of music. I will also be adding to my playlist with each blog entry, including songs from that entry's "feature genre," so you can not only learn about different types of music, but listen to it as well. The current songs on the playlist are just some of my personal favorites. My goal in this blog is to expand my own appreciation for all types of music, from all different time periods, and I hope you'll join me in this journey through time and music....

Playlist: Songs 161-165