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Battle Hymns: The Power and Popularity of Music in the Civil War
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
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About this ebook
Music was everywhere during the Civil War. Tunes could be heard ringing out from parlor pianos, thundering at political rallies, and setting the rhythms of military and domestic life. With literacy still limited, music was an important vehicle for communicating ideas about the war, and it had a lasting impact in the decades that followed. Drawing on an array of published and archival sources, Christian McWhirter analyzes the myriad ways music influenced popular culture in the years surrounding the war and discusses its deep resonance for both whites and blacks, South and North.
Though published songs of the time have long been catalogued and appreciated, McWhirter is the first to explore what Americans actually said and did with these pieces. By gauging the popularity of the most prominent songs and examining how Americans used them, McWhirter returns music to its central place in American life during the nation's greatest crisis. The result is a portrait of a war fought to music.
Though published songs of the time have long been catalogued and appreciated, McWhirter is the first to explore what Americans actually said and did with these pieces. By gauging the popularity of the most prominent songs and examining how Americans used them, McWhirter returns music to its central place in American life during the nation's greatest crisis. The result is a portrait of a war fought to music.
LanguageEnglish
Release dateMar 19, 2012
ISBN9780807882627
Author
Christian McWhirter
Christian McWhirter is assistant editor for the Papers of Abraham Lincoln in Springfield, Illinois.
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Reviews for Battle Hymns
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
2 ratings1 review
- Rating: 4 out of 5 stars4/5Mr. McWhirter describes the songs that were popular during the Civil War--who wrote them, why they wrote them, how and why they became popular, and their effects. It's a fascinating read--I had no idea that there were singing groups who toured their respective regions (North, South), performing these songs. The book reads a bit like a term paper, but Mr. McWhirter's style is approachable. Since this is the first war with a soundtrack, the book needs an accompanying CD--just providing the lyrics doesn't cut it. I found some of the songs on iTunes, and listen to them as I read.
Book preview
Battle Hymns - Christian McWhirter
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