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All of this music belongs to the nation : the WPA's Federal Music Project and American society

Title
All of this music belongs to the nation : the WPA's Federal Music Project and American society / Kenneth J. Bindas.
Author
Bindas, Kenneth J.
Publication
Knoxville : University of Tennessee Press, ©1995.
Supplementary Content
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TextRequest in advance JNE 96-82Offsite

Details

Description
xiv, 164 pages : illustrations; 24 cm
Summary
Established in 1935 under the aegis of the Works Progress Administration, the Federal Music Project (FMP) was designed to employ musicians who were hard hit by the economic devastation of the Great Depression. All of This Music Belongs to the Nation is the first book-length study of the FMP and the many paradoxes and conflicts that marked its four-year existence. As Kenneth J. Bindas points out, the FMP leadership was more conservative than that of the sister projects in art, theater, and writing. Its stated aim of "raising" the taste of musicians and citizens alike created a particular problem. Although many unemployed musicians came from the sphere of popular music, such as jazz and Tin Pan Alley, the FMP chose to emphasize "cultured" music, particularly the orchestral works of composers in the European classical tradition. Inevitably, this created tension within the project, as those musicians deemed "popular" received second-class treatment and, in the case of racial and ethnic minorities, were segregated and stereotyped. Despite these troubles, Bindas demonstrates, the FMP succeeded in bringing music to millions of listeners across the country.
Subject
  • Federal Music Project (U.S.)
  • 1900-1999
  • Government aid to music > United States
  • Music and state > United States > History > 20th century
  • Music > Social aspects > History > United States > 20th century
  • Government aid to music
  • Music and state
  • Music > Social aspects
  • United States
Genre/Form
History.
Bibliography (note)
  • Includes bibliographical references (pages 145-159) and index.
Contents
The contradictions of creation -- The people's music, 1935-1936 -- Expansion, curtailment, and attack, 1937-1938 -- The only response : expanded exposure -- Gettysburg : an opera for the people -- Evaluation and participation : American composers and the FMP -- Exposure, not equality : Black musicians and the FMP -- Stepdaughters of Orpheus : women musicians and the FMP -- Bringing in all the people : Hispanics, gypsies, and cowboys -- An end of it all.
Call Number
JNE 96-82
ISBN
  • 0870499092
  • 9780870499098
LCCN
95004375
OCLC
32511860
Author
Bindas, Kenneth J.
Title
All of this music belongs to the nation : the WPA's Federal Music Project and American society / Kenneth J. Bindas.
Imprint
Knoxville : University of Tennessee Press, ©1995.
Edition
1st ed.
Type of Content
text
Type of Medium
unmediated
Type of Carrier
volume
Bibliography
Includes bibliographical references (pages 145-159) and index.
Connect to:
Table of contents
Book review (H-Net)
Chronological Term
1900-1999
Research Call Number
JNE 96-82
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