The Origins of American Musical Theatre

The Origins of American Popular Music

American Musical TheatreTin Pan Alley

American Popular Music in all of its various forms and periods, is one of the

most widespread musical genres in the history of music. It developed from a

number of sources over a long period of time, beginning in the 19th century.

One of the most significant precursors of American Popular Music was the

early American musical theatre.

The American Music Theatre emerged during the latter half of the 1800s,

deriving its influences from a number of earlier forms of musical theatre including:

European Operettas, such as those composed by the Viennese “King of Operetta,” Johann Strauss, Jr., and the

French composer Jacques Offenbach;

Minstrel Shows

Burlesque, a form of musical theatre which consisted of parodies of serious works of art;

Vaudeville, a theatrical form of entertainment in which a series of unrelated performers appeared

together in what later became known as the Variety Show.

Variety Shows

During the first decade of the 20th century,

the Irish-born American composer

Victor Herbert (1859-1924)

established an American form of operetta

with such shows as Babes in Toyland

in 1903 and Naughty Marietta

in 1910.

Hungarian-born American composer Sigmund Romberg (1887-1951)

Czech-born American composer

Rudolf Friml(1879-1972)

Other American Operetta Composers

Excerpts from Operettas byAmerican Composers

“Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life” from Naughty Marietta music by Victor Herbert

(composed in 1910 / filmed in 1935)(begin at 2'26” – end at 3’48”)

(Next Slide)[Note the brief appearance in this scene at 3'26"

by actor Frank Morgan, who would go on in 1939 to play the title role in the film, The Wizard of Oz.]

Excerpts from Operettas byAmerican Composers

“Indian Love Call” from Rose Marie

music by Rudolf Friml / lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II(composed in 1924 / filmed in 1936)

(Begin at 1’16” – end at 2’12”)

(Next Slide)

Excerpts from Operettas byAmerican Composers

“Stout Hearted Men” from New Moon

music by Sigmund Romberg/ lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein (composed in 1928 / filmed in 1940)

(Begin at 0’57”; 3 min.)

(Next Slide)

A decade later, the Irish-American playwright, composer, lyricist actor,

singer, dancer and theatrical producer George M. Cohan

(1878-1942) developed a new, distinctly American style of musical comedy.

The productions of Cohan's shows in

New York's Broadway theaters were so successful

in the decade before World War One

that he was known as "the man who

owned Broadway."

(October 9, 1933)

But unlike most of his contemporaries, such as Victor Herbert, Rudolf Friml

and Sigmund Romberg, whose music is largely forgotten today,

Cohan's songs are still very much part of contemporary American culture.

Some of Cohan's best remembered songs today are those that are unabashedly patriotic,

such as "Over There," (which became a sort of "theme song" of the American soldiers

during both World War I and World War II) "You're A Grand Old Flag," "Yankee Doodle

Dandy" and "Give My Regards To Broadway" (1904) which was named by National Public

Radio in 1999 as one of the 100 most important works of American music of the 20th century.

On the next slide is a brief, but very moving rendition of that song, performed in an

uncharacteristically slow, almost melancholy style in a performance by singer Judy Collins. This is

actually a television commercial made by the Visa company shortly after September 11, 2001.

It shows how deeply this song and other songs of this genre are imbedded in the

American culture.

George M. Cohan is considered the “Father of the American Musical."

In 1942, a film was made about his life, featuring actor James Cagney,

(1899-1979) who won an Academy Award for his portrayal.

In 1968, 26 years after his death, a musical about the life of Cohan called

George M! was produced on Broadway in New York. The music and lyrics were,

of course, by the composer himself. Posters for that show are still being sold

on the Internet and it is frequently still performed today in high school theatre

productions.

Tin Pan

Alley

George M. Cohan was one of the

earliest members of a group of

popular American composers based in New York who were

part of what was known as

"Tin Pan Alley."

Tin Pan Alley is the name given to the collection of New York City music

publishers and songwriters who dominated the popular music of the United States in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The name Tin Pan Alley originally referred to a specific place:

West 28th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan.

Today, a plaque on the sidewalk on 28th Street between Broadway and

Sixth Avenue commemorates it. This block is now considered to be part of Manhattan's

"NoMad" neighborhood and the Flower District of Manhattan.

The start of Tin Pan Alley is usually dated to about 1885, when a number of music

publishers set up shop in the same district of Manhattan. The end of Tin Pan Alley is less

clear cut. Some date it to the start of the Great Depression in the 1930s when the phonograph and radio supplanted sheet music as the driving force of American

popular music, while others consider Tin Pan Alley to have continued into the 1950s when

earlier styles of American popular music were upstaged by the rise of rock & roll.

The origins of the name "Tin Pan Alley" are unclear. The most popular account holds that it was originally a derogatory

reference in the New York Herald newspaper referring to the sound made

by many pianos all playing different tunes at once being exactly like the banging

of many tin pans in an alleyway.

With time this nickname was popularly embraced and many years later it came to describe the U.S. music industry

in general.

According to popular music author Katherine Charlton,

“The term ‘Tin Pan Alley’ referred to the thin, tinny tone quality of cheap upright

pianos used in music publisher's offices."

Milton Ager Thomas S. Allen Ernest Ball Irving Berlin Shelton Brooks Nacio Herb Brown Irving Caesar Hoagy Carmichael George M. CohanScott Joplin Con Conrad J. Fred CootsBuddy DeSylva Walter Donaldson Paul Dresser Dave Dreyer Al Dubin Dorothy Fields

Ted Fio Rito Max Freedman Cliff Friend George Gershwin Ira Gershwin Charles K. Harris James P. Johnson Isham Jones Gus Kahn Jerome Kern Al Lewis Sam M. Lewis F.W Meacham Johnny Mercer Theodora Morse Ethelbert Nevin Bernice Petkere Maceo Pinkard

Lew Pollack Cole Porter Richard RodgersHarry Ruby Al Sherman Lou SingerTed Snyder Kay Swift Albert Von Tilzer Harry Von Tilzer Fats Waller Harry Warren Richard A. Whiting Harry M. Woods Jack Yellen Vincent Youmans Joe Young Hy Zaret

Notable Composers

andLyricists

of Tin Pan Alley

Irving Berlin[1888–1989]

was an Americancomposer and lyricist of

Russian Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the

greatest songwriters. Composed the highest-selling

song in the history of recording, "White Christmas," reported to have sold

over 100 million copies.

Jerome Kern[1885–1945]

was an American composer ofmusical theatre and popular

music; composed the music for the landmark Broadway show,

Showboat in 1927 with songwriting partner Oscar Hammerstein II.

Cole Porter[1891–1964]

was a highly successful American composer

and songwriter; composed hundreds of songs for his

hit Broadway shows in the 1930s, 40s and 50s,

many of which are considered "standards" today.

George Gershwin[1898–1937]

was an American composer, songwriter and pianist who

has been cited as the world's most frequently-performed

composer. George Gershwin had two careers: first as a phenomenally successful songwriter and then later

as a phenomenally successful composer of classical music.

Ira Gershwin[1896–1983]

was a lyricist and songwriting partner with his younger brother

George Gershwin. Together, they wrote dozens

of classic hit songs in the 1920s and 30s. After his brother's death in 1937,

Ira Gershwin continued writing hit songs with composers

Harold Arlen and Arthur Schwartz.

Hoagy Carmichael[1899–1981]

American composer, pianist, singer, actor,

and bandleader. He is best known for

composing "Stardust" and "Georgia on My Mind,"

two of the most-recorded American popular songs.

Johnny Mercer[1909–1976]

was a highly prolific American lyricist, songwriter and singer

who wrote songs with many composers

including Harold Arlen, Hoagy Carmichael

and Henry Mancini. He is said to have had more

hit songs than any other lyricist.

Richard Rodgers [1902–1979]

was an American composer of classic Broadway shows

including The Sound of Music, South Pacific, Oklahoma,

Carousel and others. In his songwriting partnerships

with lyricists Lorenz Hart and Oscar Hammerstein,

he produced more hit songs than any other composer.

Oscar Hammerstein II [1895–1960]

was an American lyricist, librettist, theatrical producer,

and theatre director of musicals for almost forty years.

His legendary songwriting partnerships with

Richard Rodgers and Jerome Kern

changed the tone of American musical theatre

and American popular music.