I really like Stephen Foster’s Songs.
My students like them too.
I tell them that in Foster’s day, there were NO iPads, iPods, Nanos, MP3 Players, cd’s, videos, or even Cassettes or RECORDS. Everybody had a piano in the Parlor, and if you wanted to hear a Stephen foster song, you could play it on the piano.
Which meant you HAD to be able to READ Sheet Music!
While almost everybody had a piano in the parlor, almost every family also had someone who could play fiddle. Most churches had someone who could play the pump organ. Most towns had amateur brass bands. Many towns had fiddlers, banjo pickers and others who could play dances. This was a very musical country.