Title: Making America More Musical through the Phonograph, 1900-1930
Abstract: The little town of Main Street was a musical wasteland. Parlor pianos gathered dust, violins moldered in their cases. Students joylessly rehearsed solfege, keenly indifferent toward music-making. Inept organists left worshipers cringing in their pews. The town band was a disgrace. Then suddenly, after what came to be known as the Great Event, everything changed. Families organized string quartets, children eagerly studied music in school, and the community established an orchestra and revived caroling. What was this great event? Simply this: one day the town barber, Mr. Robinson, or Pa as he was known to all, bought a phonograph for his wife and four children. This one purchase set Main Street's musical renaissance into motion. After tiring of their dance records the Robinsons began listening to classical music--good music, as it was called. Soon, however, simply listening no longer satisfied. The Robinsons, unearthing forgotten instruments, started making music themselves. Before long the whole community was involved, performing and enjoying the best music. A remarkable civic harmony ensued. Neighbors stopped feuding. Troubled children found discipline. Rowdyism and public drunkenness waned. Even Democrats and Republicans socialized.
Publication Year: 1998
Publication Date: 1998-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
Access and Citation
Cited By Count: 44
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