What has America done for the music tradition of Western Civilization?

WesternCulture

[WesternCulture]

Or sooner; What has the US done to the music tradition of Western Civilization?

There are plenty of Americans who understand and appreciate great composers like Beethoven, Vivaldi, Albinoni, Bach and Mozart, but something must be wrong with a nation that year after year produces crap like the music of 50 Cent, Katy Perry and Lady Gaga.

I'm European and I admit we make a lot of worthless music too, but at least we Europeans are fostered in the great tradition of composers like the giants mentioned above.

[yarddog]

I love good music but I absolutely hate bad music.

Bad music includes Jazz, Heavy Metal and Rap.

[HandyDandy]

I believe that the guy who invented the electric guitar was an American. Does Les Paul ring a bell?

[Banjoguy]

My wife and I were just talking about this. We were listening to great jazz musicians of the late 30's and early 40's. We are pleased that we get the Arts Channel. We were wondering, "where has it all gone?"

There are many great musicians and instrumentalists among those who improvise music. It is composition on the fly and many times a wonder to behold. Assuredly, not all is good, but much of it is.

There are folks calling certain music "jazz" which I would not. But jazz is a way of approaching the performance of a musical composition. It's not necessarily a dated genre. So, maybe it is jazz, just not traditional jazz.

Have I confused everyone?

[driftless2]

virtually all ...negroes"

Not true. A great deal of what is considered popular music came from a variety of sources. Certainly black Americans contributed a lot. But much popular music came from New York City, the Appalachians, and the many small towns that dot the landscape.

[driftless2]

"don't play accordion in public"

That is on my bucket list.

[Chickensoup]

Do not forget Musicals. We really rocked musicals.

[HandyDandy]

The stuff that Duke Ellington and his band were doing during the Cotton Club days is as sophisticated as American music gets.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

MY FAVORITE BAND! BOB WILLS AND THE TEXAS PLAYBOYS!

“I’m Feeling Bad” is my favorite song of theirs, then STAY ALL NIGHT, STAY A LITTLE LONGER.

After Bob’s death the TEXAS PLAYBOYS still released many albums I could not afford at that time. IDA RED was one of their releases.

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

VICTORY AT SEA

I’VE GOT IT ON VINYL! Both volumes! Along with the DVD of the shows.

[foreverfree]

bump

[Ruy Dias de Bivar]

Is CONCERTINA (squeeze box) OK?

[RoosterRedux]

I love 'em too. Always lift my spirits.

I also love that they often wear holsters and pistols when singing.

Very wholesome era.

[Skooz]

The Ramones
Television
Velvet Underground
Robert Johnson
Blind Willie Johnson

Start there and work your way outward.

[RoosterRedux]

Here's another great one...

Deep Water - Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys

[HandyDandy]

How about the songs that came out of cowboys trying to lull the cattle on drives? Streets of Laredo?

[BuddaBudd]

Looptroop Rockers

[reed13k]

darn it and my daughter just reminded me about Appalachian folk music too...

[RoosterRedux]

OK...here's my last link.;-) My favorite of all times.

Bob Wills and his Texas Playboys - Cotton Eyed Joe

[CodeToad]

You are the one with the inferiority complex so bad all she can do is bash America. You ain’t the first to try, dummy. Sweden, the Nazi supporters.

[greene66]

Can’t get too animated over ridiculous arguments over musical aesthetics. But I can listen to something like Joe Venuti’s Blue Four’s 1930 recording of “I’ve Found a New Baby” fifty times over and always find something a little different to concentrate on and enjoy.