How Did The Civil War Affect American Musical Culture

This investigation will explore the question: To what extent did the events of the Civil War affect American musical culture between the years 1851-1875? The time period chosen, 1851-1875, will be examined closely in order to determine the changes in American musical preferences and trends caused by the Civil War.
The first source to be evaluated is the book by Christian McWhirter - Battle Hymns: The Power and Popularity of Music in the Civil War, written in 2012. The use of this source is essential, given that McWhirter was an instructor of US History and Western History at the University of Alabama, as well as an assistant editor at the National Archives in Washington DC, where he researched and analyzed historical documents for almost 7
This could be most commonly observed in African Americans, frontier women and men, immigrants, and laborers. (Mintz & McNeil). On plantations, music took the slaves away from their troubles and brought joy to what was otherwise a very hard, taxing life. Immigrants like the Irish brought folk ballads and dance songs infused with sentimentality and nostalgia for their home countries over to the United States. (Mintz and McNeil). In regards to the home and family, the fashion in which Antebellum and Civil War era music was performed placed great value on family and community. As an example, evening parlor performances in many households were a frequent and cherished social norm. Normally, in these performances, the mother or daughter played the piano while the rest of the family watched, and in certain instances, sang. Performances like these were a cherished pastime: they served not only as entertainment but also as a means of familial bonding. “One child’s periodical asked ‘What stronger proof of happiness all around can there be than the evening social concert, when old and young, male and female, make melody with their voices as in their hearts?’… [and] The Richmond Dispatch added that frequent piano playing and singing in families reduced conflict by decreasing sourness and gloom.” (McWhirter, 14-15). Emotions played a large part in Antebellum era music and was a large factor in establishing the “popular” genres of music at the time – Minstrel songs, sentimental ballads, and opera. Ballads, for example, were exceedingly popular due to the fact that “They were sung for the sheer joy of making music as well as a way…lift tortured spirits, and to relieve boredom and distract weariness.” (Providence Public Library). “Such songs spoke directly to a society in the