Chapter 1-5: Introduction to Minstrelsy and Early American Popular Music

Vocabulary-style flashcards covering key concepts from the notes, including minstrel origins, blackface, major figures, publishing formats, immigrant song markets, and the rise of the entertainment industry.

Minstrelsy

A 19th-century American entertainment form featuring performers (often white) in blackface who sang, danced, and acted out stereotypes of Black culture; it helped popularize a distinct style of American music.

Blackface

Makeup and performance style used by white actors to caricature Black people on stage, central to minstrel shows.

Jim Crow (character)

A stock minstrel character whose name became associated with racial segregation and discriminatory laws in American history.

Chalk line dance

A rhythmic, stage-based dance reference mentioned in the notes as part of early minstrel/party performance; contributing to the rhythmic appeal of the era.

Ragtime

A syncopated piano style that evolved from rhythms developed in minstrel-era music and later became foundational to early 20th-century American popular music.

Thomas Rice

Performer who popularized the Jim Crow character in New York, helping to spread blackface minstrel entertainment.

Al Jolson

Famous New York performer (Jewish) who wore blackface on stage; his fame helped normalize blackface in American entertainment.

Stephen Foster

18th/19th-century American songwriter whose minstrel-era songs demonstrated the profitability of composing for mass audiences.

Sheet music

Printed music sold to the public; the main product of early music publishing.

Player piano rolls

Piano rolls used by playing pianos to reproduce music; an important extension of the music publishing industry.

Polish songs

Music written to appeal to Polish immigrants, reflecting the immigrant-driven songwriting market.

Italian songs

Music written to appeal to Italian immigrants, reflecting the immigrant-driven songwriting market.

Disposable songs

Songs tied to current events or news that quickly became outdated as events moved on.

The entertainment industry

The developing industry encompassing music, theatre, and nightlife; initially viewed with caution but ultimately a major cultural force.

Irving Berlin

A Jewish immigrant and one of America's most famous songwriters, illustrating the impact of Jewish immigrants on American music.

Cole Porter

An influential American songwriter, representative of the era’s immigrant-influenced American songwriting tradition.

Fearless confidence

A trait highlighted as essential for success in entertainment, reportedly cultivated through early cultural training and performance practice.

Community bands

Local town bands (concert bands) that existed after the Civil War, reflecting the broad participation in organized music.

Post-Civil War bands

Bands that performed military-style music and contributed to the era’s musical landscape in the United States.