Word Study. to settle - to live folk songs - songs of common people generation - all the people living in the same pe­riod of time to be conscious — to know origin -

to settle - to live folk songs - songs of common people generation - all the people living in the same pe­riod of time to be conscious — to know origin - birth brass instruments - wind instruments band - a group of musicians playing together society - any organized group of people joined

together because of some interest in

common amateur - nonprofessionai remote - far away

I. Read these sentences and study the underlined words:

1. The United States was settled largely by Europeans. 2 Thwp. are many folk songs that grew out of Work-3, English, Irish, Scottish folk songs have been sung by many

generations.

4. Americans are not even conscious that these songs are of for­eign origin.

5. Some of the brass instruments of the military bands fell into the hands of the Negroes.

6. Manv musical societies were formed.

WHAT KIND OF MUSIC DO AMERICANS PLAY, SING, LISTEN AND COMPOSE?

, ', y; --y w^'" " '" ^ Since the United States was settled largely by Europeans, it is

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not surprising that classical music and folk songs were brought over from that continent. Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Bach,

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Mozart, Bartok and Verdi are but a few names of European compos­ers often seen on orchestra or opera programs. English, Irish, Scot­tish folk sones are sung very often and have been sung in America

" /l/^" ^/" ⁹, '.^..•-•-•/w,...'.' by so many generations that Americans are not even conscious that

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these songs are of foreign origin. ^ ",,.

There are many folk songs that grew out of work. Working peo­ple had their own ballads and love songs. A cowboy, too, sang

•, i, r-y, w--i" ¹--•'^; '', '-••'•• .'-'. Ui^c^ about his work and his girl. In recent years there has been increased

•T'" ',, 'iiiti''^' interest in collecting and recording the folk songs from remote

regions. ^ ^^

But the greatest contribution to American music, however, has

been made by the Negroes in the South. Neero songs are now part of

„,.,, j^-⁹ ••" '• '••"., .^'W^'-'" the nation s most precious musical heritage: in''''" '

Perhaps the Negro's greatest contribution toAmerican music has

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been jazz. After the Ciyir'Wax.some of the brass instruments of the Confederate military bands fell into the hands of the Negroes, and the result was all kinds of rhythmical and melodic experiments. Thus jazz was born. Such composers as Gershwin in America and Stravinsky, Ravel in Europe have been influenced by American jazz.

After the American Revolution, when waves of immigrants came

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to the United States, many foreign musicians sought a home in the

new world. They gave lessons, travelled about giving concerts, and /, ^-,.<;.•. wrr<,..,....., ^-.••.rp,.<. -

awakened an interest in music. Musical societies were formed and

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amateur groups performed, both in public and in private, the Phil­harmonic Society of New York, America's oldest permanent orches­tra, was founded. Today interest m music has grown, there are orchestras as well as those in universities and schools. American children are given music instruction as part of their elementary ed­ucation, and for those talented young people who want ^to make music their career, there are schools, which give advanced training.