Music
Listen to the same music our forebears sang and danced to. Their music chronicled their fight for freedom, their moments of sadness and their joys. Songs they brought with them from distant lands marked the history of their lives
Every period in a country's history has its own popular music. It was no less true of America 250 years ago than it is today.
A wide variety of music was available to 18th century America — from printed music to the latest dances, military marches, fiddle tunes, and songs from the musical stage.
| Go to these pages to select the songs of your choice: | |
 |
The French and Indian War |
|
The 18th Century |
|
The Revolutionary War |
|
George Washington’s Life |
|
The War of 1812 |
|
The Star-Spangled Banner & America |
|
Yankee Doodle |
Not all of the music was written by Americans. Most of the songs of the Colonial and Revolutionary War period originated in England, Scotland and Ireland as people from those countries immigrated to America.
On these pages you will find a representative collection of music from 18th Century America. You can listen to and download country dances, marches, dances, airs and minuets.
Popular music at that time was seldom composed for a specific instrument. Musicians used any instrument at their disposal, a practice borne of convenience and necessity.
Listen closely and you will hear the harpsichord, the violin, the fiddle, the hammered dulcimer, the tabor pipe and drum and the recorder.
All of the music at The Music of Early America can be played using Windows Media Player.
- Sara and Maynard Johnson. Historic Music of Olden Times. The Kitchen Music website: http://members.aol.com/kitchiegal
- Colin Roth. Fiddle tunes from the American Revolution. Halcyon Days Music: http://www.halcyondaysmusic.com/colonialmusic