From psalm to symphony : a history of music in New England / Nicholas E. Tawa.

Author/creator Tawa, Nicholas E.
Format Book
Publication InfoBoston : Northeastern University Press, ©2001.
Descriptionxiv, 466 pages : illustrations ; 25 cm
Subjects
Music--New England. --History and criticism.

Contents To settle a wilderness -- Singing schools and teacher-composers -- The road into the musical future -- Fostering musical improvement -- Toward a new music era -- Paine and Chadwick -- Parker, Foote, and MacDowell -- Beach and Ives -- Transformations -- Redefining tradition -- The composers of the post-World War I period -- The second half of the twentieth century -- Composers briefly of New England after World War II -- Composers resident in New England after World War II -- A final word.
Abstract Beginning with the Pilgrim and Puritan settlers on the rockbound wilderness of Massachusetts Bay, New Englanders have left an enduring imprint on America's musical landscape. Now the author examines for the first time New England's rich heritage of music making over a span of 350 years. In this sweeping chronological account, Tawa traces the region's fascinating history of art music from the psalm and hymn singing of the early colonists, to the works of native composers, to the Boston Symphony Orchestra. He chronicles artistic developments within the context of the geographical, economic, cultural, and political currents that influenced and defined the area's musical experiences, and he describes how ongoing societal transformations and evolving forms of music have both enriched and reinvented a New England identity. Focusing on the people who wanted, produced, and listened to music, Tawa's eloquent narrative underscores how musical life in New England has played a significant role in shaping the nation's music. He highlights the region's preeminence in music publishing, its outstanding contributions to the improvement and manufacture of instruments, its commitment to music education, and its leadership in establishing first-rate musical institutions. Also featured are New England's many gifted and skilled composers, including William Billings, John Knowles Paine, Arthur Foote, Amy Beach, Charles Ives, Frederick Shepherd Converse, Randall Thompson, Walter Piston, Gunther Schuller, and John Harbison. This highly readable and informative volume will appeal to music aficionados, historians, and general readers alike.
Bibliography noteIncludes bibliographical references (pages 439-448) and index.
LCCN 2001034529
ISBN1555534910 (cloth : alk. paper)

Availability

Library Location Call Number Status Item Actions
Music Music Stacks ML200.7.N3 T39 2001 ✔ Available Place Hold