Colonial Music
Most of the music of Colonial America came from the musical styles of countries whose people immigrated here - England, Scotland, Ireland, Germany, Italy, France, and Africa - with the majority of the influence being felt from England. However, before the Revolution, American's contribution to the music they played and sang could be felt. Ballads, dance tunes, folksongs and parodies, comic opera arias, bugle calls, drum calls, psalms, minuets, and sonatas made up the repertoire that Americans used in their daily lives and for special occasions.
Most people knew a large number of songs by ear. And on numerous occasions one can find a familiar tune with a different set of lyrics to it than the original. Sometimes one song could be used in the various musical genres. For example, "Over the Hills and Far Away" was a theater song, a military march, a recruiting song, and a dance piece. And some instruments and songs were used more by a certain class, ethnic group, or gender.
Gender delineated what types of instruments one could play. Women were highly regulated in their instruments. The harpsichord and types of guitars, what we call today the English and the Baroque guitars, were all that women were allowed to use. Men had more flexibility, however most men chose to play violins and flutes (including fifes and what we call today recorders). Other instruments that were played were drums, trumpets, clarinets, glass harmonicas, spinets, organs, 'cellos, french horns, oboes, bassoons, trombones, violas da gamba, and hammered dulcimers. Pianos, or pianofortes as they were called in colonial times, started to come into fashion around the time of the American Revolution.
- Dance Music
- Theater Music
- Church Music
- Military Music