MUHL 3773 - Music History and Literature 3: American Music
Fall 2026 Syllabus, Section 01, CRN 43162,
Credit hours: 3
Course Meeting Times
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Instructor
Edward Sallustio
Email: ejsallustio@ysu.edu
Course Description
3773. Music History and Literature 3: American Music. A historical survey of music in America. Students will study the important composers and musical genres and the cultural contexts and social forces that influence the creation and dissemination of music. In addition to the core content of the class, students will be introduced to parallel narratives in the visual arts, literature, and theater. Students will also demonstrate, through examination and written assignments, their understanding of American musical styles and how they have developed within America’s unique historical context, demographics, and social structures. Sophomore standing or permission of instructor required. 3 s.h.
Course Readings
| Group | Title | Author | ISBN |
|---|---|---|---|
| Required | An Introduction to America's Music, 3rd ed. (Norton, 2018) | Richard Crawford and Larry Hamberlin |
The course readings are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, research developments, current events, and/or to ensure better learning.
Assignments/Assessments
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Schedule of Topics and Assignments
| Day | Date | Reading(s) | Proposed Topic | Due/To Prepare for Class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tue | 8/25 | CLASS INTRODUCTION | SYLLABUS, COURSE LAYOUT, ASSIGNMENTS, INDIVIDUAL/GROUP PROJECT GUIDELINES | |
| Thu | 8/27 | PART I: AMERICA’S MUSIC FROM COLONIZATION THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR | COURSE INTRODUCTION; MUSIC AND WORSHIP IN COLONIAL AMERICA LG1.2 “OLD HUNDRED” LG1.3 “GUIDE ME, O THOU GREAT JEHOVAH” - EX. OF THE OLD WAY SINGING | Read Chp. 1 |
| Tue | 9/1 | Chapter 2 | MUSIC AND WORSHIP/MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT IN COLONIAL AMERICA LG1.4 WILLIAM BILLINGS, “CHESTER” LG2.1 JOHN DICKINSON, “THE LIBERTY SONG” LG2.2 “JEFFERSON AND LIBERTY” | Read Chp. 2 |
| Thu | 9/3 | Chapter 3 | MUSIC AND WORSHIP IN THE NEW REPUBLIC LG3.1 DANIEL REED, “SHERBURNE” NEW BRITAIN (AKA “AMAZING GRACE”), THE SACRED HARP LG3.3 LOWELL MASON, “OLIVET” | Read Chp. 3 |
| Tue | 9/8 | Chapter 4 | AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSIC BEFORE THE CIVIL WAR LG4.1 “CARRIE BELLE” LG4.3 “JUBILEE” | Read Chp. 4 |
| Thu | 9/10 | Chapter 5 | MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT IN ANTEBELLUM AMERICA LG5.2 GOTTSCHALK, “THE BANJO” LG6.2 STEPHEN FOSTER, “JEANIE WITH THE LIGHT BROWN HAIR” | Read Chp. 5 Research topics due |
| Tue | 9/15 | Chapter 6 | MINSTRELSY AND POPULAR SONG THROUGH THE CIVIL WAR LG6.1 DAN EMMETT, “DE BOATMEN DANCE” STEPHEN FOSTER, “DE CAMPTOWN RACES” | Read Chp. 6 |
| Thu | 9/17 | RESEARCH WORKSHOP: DATABASE SEARCHES (BECKY MOORE) | Meet 4th Floor Maag Library. Fieldwork Essay Due | |
| Tue | 9/22 | EXAM 1 (CHAPTERS 1-6) | Exam 1 | |
| Thu | 9/24 | PART II: AMERICA’S MUSIC FROM THE CIVIL WAR TO WORLD WAR I | COLLECTORS OF AMERICAN FOLK SONGS LG7.1 “BUFFALO SAID TO ME” “DEEP RIVER”, ARRANGED BY HARRY T. BURLEIGH JOHN PHILIP SOUSA, STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER | Read Chp. 7 |
| Tue | 9/29 | Chapter 8 | PERFORMERS’ MUSIC LG8.1 JOHN PHILIP SOUSA, STARS AND STRIPES FOREVER LG8.3 CHARLES HARRIS, “AFTER THE BALL” | Read Chp. 8 |
| Thu | 10/1 | Chapter 9 | COMPOSERS’ MUSIC LG9.1 EDWARD MACDOWELL, “TO A WILD ROSE” LG9.2 AMY BEACH, GAELIC SYMPHONY, II LG9.3 CHARLES IVES, “THE THINGS OUR FATHERS LOVED” | Read Chp. 9 |
| Tue | 10/6 | Chapter 10 | THE RISE OF RAGTIME LG10.1 SCOTT JOPLIN, MAPLE LEAF RAG LG10.2 IRVING BERLIN, “ALEXANDER’S RAGTIME BAND” LG10.3 JAMES REESE EUROPE, “CASTLE HOUSE RAG” | Read Chp. 10 |
| Thu | 10/8 | Chapter 11 | THE BLUES LG11.1 W.C. HANDY, “ST. LOUIS BLUES” BESSIE SMITH, “THINKING BLUES” LG14.1 ROBERT JOHNSON, “WALKING BLUES” LG12.1 KING OLIVER’S CREOLE JAZZ BAND, DIPPERMOUTH BLUES | Read Chp. 11 |
| Tue | 10/13 | DOCENT-LED VISIT TO THE BUTLER MUSEUM | Meet at The Butler. AI Essay Due | |
| Thu | 10/15 | EXAM 2 (CHAPTERS 7-11) | Exam 2 | |
| Tue | 10/20 | PART III: AMERICA’S MUSIC IN THE INTERWAR PERIOD | JAZZ IN THE MODERN ERA LG12.1 KING OLIVER’S CREOLE JAZZ BAND, DIPPERMOUTH BLUES JELLY ROLL MORTON AND HIS RED HOT PEPPERS, BLACK BOTTOM STOMP LG12.2 LOUIS ARMSTRONG AND HIS HOT FIVE, WEST END BLUES LG12.3 COUNT BASIE, LESTER YOUNG, LESTER LEAPS IN LG 12.4 DUKE ELLINGTON AND HIS ORCHESTRA, KO KO | Read Chp. 12 |
| Thu | 10/22 | Chapter 13 | COUNTRY AND FOLK LG 13.1 “Can the Circle Be Unbroken” The Carter Family LG 13.2 “Blue Yodel No. 8 (Muleskinner Blues) Jimmie Rodgers LG 13.3 “Corrine, Corrina” Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys LG 13.4 “John Henry” Anonymous LG 13.5 “So Long, It’s Been Good to Know You” Woody Guthrie | Read Chp. 13 |
| Tue | 10/27 | Chapter 14 | THE GOLDEN ERA OF POPULAR SONG LG 14.1 “CAN’T HELP LOVIN’ DAT MAN” (JEROME KERN AND OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II) LG. 14.1 BILLIE HOLIDAY, “WHAT IS THAT THING CALLED LOVE” LG. 14.3 “CHEEK TO CHEEK” IRVING BERLIN LG. 14.4 “PEOPLE WILL SAY WE’RE IN LOVE” RODGERS/HAMMERSTEIN II | Read Chp. 14 |
| Thu | 10/29 | Chapters 15-16 | CONCERT MUSIC IN THE MODERN ERA LG 15. 1 GEORGE GERSHWIN, RHAPSODY IN BLUE LG 15.2 THE BANSHEE HENRY COWELL LG 16.3 “MORNING ON THE RANCH” AARON COPLAND AARON COPLAND, APPALACHIAN SPRING “ZOOM AND BORED” CARL STALLING LG 16.2 “THE NEGRO SPEAKS OF RIVERS” MARGARET BONDS | Read Chps. 15 &16 |
| Tue | 11/3 | PART IV: AMERICA'S MUSIC IN THE POSTWAR ERA | EXPERIMENTAL STRAINS: FROM THE ULTRAMODERNISTS TO CAGE “Water Walk” John Cage LG 17.2 “Todas las tardes en Granada” George Crumb “Come Out” Steve Reich LG 17.3 String Quartet no. 4 “Amazing Grace” Ben Johnston | Read Chp.17 |
| Thu | 11/5 | Chapter 18 | MODERN JAZZ LG 18.3 “El cauco” Tito Puente and His Orchestra | Read Chp. 18. Interview Assignment Due |
| Tue | 11/10 | Chapter 18 continued | MODERN JAZZ CONT… INTERNATIONAL SWEETHEARTS OF RHYTHM: AMERICA’S HOTTEST ALL GIRL BAND – DOCUMENTARY FILM | Read Chp. 18 |
| Thu | 11/12 | Chapter 19 | POSTWAR COUNTRY AND FOLK MUSIC DIVERGENCE LG 19.2 “Your Cheatin’ Heart” Hank Williams LG 19.4 “Only a Pawn in Their Game” Bob Dylan | Read Chp. 19 |
| Tue | 11/17 | Chapter 20 | Rock and Roll | Read Chp. 20 |
| Thu | 11/19 | Student Presentations | ||
| Tue | 11/24 | Student Presentations | ||
| Thu | 11/26 | Thanksgiving: No class | ||
| Tue | 12/1 | Student Presentations | ||
| Thu | 12/3 | Exam 3 | Exam 3 | |
| Tue | 12/8 | Final Papers due 11:59pm |
The course schedule, policies, procedures, and assignments in this course are subject to change in the event of extenuating circumstances, by mutual agreement, and/or to ensure better learning.