After first becoming an independent country, there was no "America." The United States needed an identity, a national myth. Starting with a "borrowed" national anthem, we adopted our first national song. Home-grown songs and dance helped paved the way to create an idea we call "America". Enslavement and immigration provided us with non-European music, which we call our own. Unique, evocative, descriptive and often nationalistic, music has been used to unify the rough un-homogenized United States into an idealistic identity. It’s a captivating story — but not always obvious. Curious?
((Owen Cantor - Wednesday - In-Person))
