Contemplator
Popular Songs in American History: Ben Bolt: 19th Century Folk Song
This site contains the lyrics to a popular nineteenth century folk song. A MIDI file of the song is also available to download.
Other
Unstrung History of American Guitar: The Guitar and the Birth of American Music
The guitar in America began as an instrument used in popular music in the city and then branched out to minstrel shows, ragtime, and even jazz. Read about the history of this ubiquitous instrument and how it took on its American character.
University of Pittsburgh
Center for American Music Stephen Foster's Career
This University of Pittsburgh site provides a wealth of information about American songwriter Stephen Foster. This link discusses his professional career with various other links within the text about minstrel shows, etc. Return to the...
Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia Britannica: Romanticism
This is an encyclopedia article which defines the period of Romanticism from the late 18th to the mid-19th century. It describes the characteristics of Romanticism in general and in literature, visual arts, and music.
PBS
Pbs: Broadway: The American Musical: Operetta
As part of a larger look at the American musical, this brief look at the popularity of the operetta in the last part of the 19th century discusses why it was so popular with the middle class. Included is a short video that discusses...
Musicals 101
Cyber Encyclopedia of Musicals: The First Musical Comedies
Find out about Ned Harrigan and Tony Hart, a British musical duo, who brought musical comedies to the New York state.
Smithsonian Institution
National Museum of American History: America on Stone
Features an extensive collection of lithographs that portrays everyday life in the 19th century and attitudes about race and ethnicity. These prints play a major role in helping us understand America's past. Subjects covered include...
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Who Were the Cowboys Behind 'Cowboy Songs'?
This article and audio report [9:05] covers the origins of American cowboy folk songs. Uses popups. Also includes a brief video clip of a 19th century folk song being performed.
Wikimedia
Wikipedia: Polka
Wikipedia offers detailed information on polka, a type of music and dance originating in Bohemia. Includes samples, artists, and more.
Other
What Is Celtic Music?
Defining Celtic music, this site breaks down its history into Ancient Times, the 19th century and then by the 1970s and 1990s. Includes links to other sites about Celtic music.
Other
Farmers' Museum: Harvest of History: History of New York State Argriculture
Site compares and contrasts a farming village of 1845 to that of the present day. Students can make their own video online using clips, narrative, and music supplied by the museum.
Other
Guild Music: Edvard Grieg
This resource provides a brief biography of Edvard Grieg, an international Scandanavian composer of the 19th century. Information is also given on his most famous work, "the Cello Sonata in A minor opus 36."
Contemplator
Popular Songs in American History: Rosalie, the Prairie Flower
This page presents the lyrics to a famous folk song of the nineteenth century.
PBS
Pbs Learning Media: Pulaski, Wisconsin Polka Town, u.s.a.
The town of Pulaski, Wisconsin claims to have more musicians per capita than anywhere in the U.S. Learn about Pulaski, a town that thrives on polka music in this video segment from EGG: the arts show.
Other
The Nutcracker
Notes on the story, characters, music, and choreography of "The Nutcracker" ballet.
British Library
British Library: Discovering Literature:romantics&victorians Popular Culture
From circuses and 'freak shows' to broadsides and novels, from pleasure gardens and music halls to chapbooks and penny dreadfuls, Georgian and Victorian Britain offered the public a rich range of affordable entertainments. Read more...
Library of Congress
Loc: Lyrical Legacy: 400 Years of American Song and Poetry
Explore eighteen American songs and poems each represented by an original primary source document, along with historical background information and, in many cases, sound recordings and alternate versions.
Central Home
Central Home: The History of Dance: Polka
This website contains a brief history of the origins of polka music as well as definitions, descriptions of dance steps and important people related to the progress of polka music.
Other
What on Earth Is Polka?
"What on Earth is Polka?" offers a brief history of polka music as well as information on its origins, famous composers, and related vocabulary.
Contemplator
Popular Songs in American History: Turkey in the Straw
This site provides the lyrics to an early minstrel song that was popular during Andrew Jackson's presidency.
Smithsonian Institution
National Postal Museum: Famous Americans: Stephen Foster
Learn brief information from the National Postal Museum on Stephen Foster, American music composer, who was featured on the one cent postage stamp.
Digital History
Digital History: The Birth of American Popular Culture
A description of many different forms of popular culture in the first half of the 19th century ranging from sensationalized newspapers to dime novels to pseudoscience. Read about Stephen Foster's music, theatrical productions, and even...
PBS
Pbs: American Experience: Stephen Foster
A website that accompanies a film on Stephen Foster. Students can listen to the famous songs, view a timeline of his life, and find information about Foster's contemporaries.