MUSIC 26AC Lecture 5: September 12
Early Europea Aeria Ballad September , 7
• European migration to the US
o 1607: first permanent settlement – colonists come for political, economic, social, or religious
reasons
o 1619: first African slaves
o Different immigrants come with different purposes/reasons
• Ballad: song featuring a series of verses that tell a story—often about a historical event or personal
tragedy—sung to a repeating melody
o Musical features of the ballad
▪ “trophi for AAA…: organizational structure of a musical piece; repeating a
melody with many verses; lyrics may change
▪ Unvaried emotional delivery – about the story, not the singer
▪ Oral tradition is the main form of transmission
• Much variation between singers, regions, etc.
▪ Narrative – tells a story with common themes
• Example:
o Nae of sog: Barara Alle
o Singer: Texas Gladden
o Song type: ballad
o Form: strophic (AAA)
o Instrument: voice (solo), a capella
o Tempo: moderate
o Performance style: strong voice, nasal, emotion same throughout
o Lyrics/POV: 1st to 3rd person (also: who, story/plot, why, images that can provide what is
unfolding between the characters)
• Ballads transform in the US
o Broadsides: songs sold on large sheets
▪ Start to incorporate current and local references and more urban content
o Ballad operas also performed here
▪ Originally British tradition drawing from ballad repertoire
o Takes on the regional character
• Hyman article
o Ballads lose their edge i the U“
▪ Less violent, less sexual, less magical
▪ More nonsensical
o Use examples from different song collectors to show differences
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