Patriotic Music
Introduction
Do
you know how much music has been written at times of war? Music
has been composed for just about every type of human event imaginable, but
music written for wartime is especially poignant. Now don't get the idea
that I believe in any type of war because I don't, but this is not a political
essay so I only want to emphasize how important this music has been to
comfort, console and sometimes keep the soldier's morale up. Some songs
are funny, some are ballads, some are angry, but read on and you'll see the
great variety of songs and realize how many of these you probably already
know.
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Music in the Revolutionary and Civil War
One of the
characteristics of military music for hundreds of years has been drums, bugles
and fifes. Going back to the Revolutionary War, you can find picture
after picture of the bands surrounding George Washington and other war heroes.
Many of the surviving songs and band pieces utilize these instruments.
Think of "Yankee Doodle"
Barbara Allen
This song "Barbara Allen" is a sad, love ballad. This song was also a favorite
of George Washington. There are many different versions ranging from the
British to Scottish, but there was also an American version. The song is about
a man named Sweet William, who dies from his heart split in two over his
better half, Barbara Allen, who is treated very cruel. In 1976, the song was
two hundred years of age.
Music has always
been an important part of American society and it was no different during the
Civil War. Military bands were called upon to play at recruitment
rallies and their patriotic marching tunes were sometimes a great incentive to
inspire young men to enlist.
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Music in World War I
The
music of WWI, just like the music of the other wars, reflects the time and the
culture in which it was written. War is always a frightening and sad
time, but somehow, people manage to come up with rousing, upbeat songs and
music that helps everyone to get through it.
Some of the songs that you probably already know from WWI are:
How do you feel when you listen to these songs?
click here to listen
All of these songs feel very sad to me even though they have an upbeat tempo.
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Music in World War II
Women made a big contribution in WWII doing
everything from working factory jobs at home to fighting in the trenches to
singing war-related songs in clubs and on stage.
A well-known icon is WWII is Rosie the
Riveter
Songs that you may know are:
There is a lot to be found on WWII and its music at
http://www.teacheroz.com/WWIIHomefront.htm
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Music in the Vietnam War
This is the first war that I really remember and even though I was a teenager,
I really didn't understand what it was all about. I do vividly remember
hearing Peter, Paul and Mary singing "Blowin' in the Wind" and other protest
songs. Some you might remember are :
The song that best captures the spirit of this day is
“The Wall”
by Vietnam Veteran Tim Murphy.
His haunting chorus reminds us that when a soldier dies, part of our spirit
dies with him.
“And every name’s a father or a husband or a son
or a daughter or a brother or a cousin to someone
or a name might be a classmate or a friend you may recall
there’s nearly sixty thousand fallen names
still waiting at The Wall.”
Many of these songs and a lot more can be found
online and are fun to go through and listen to samples. It also gives a
tremendous feeling gratitude to the men and women who have risked and
sometimes lost their lives so that we can be a free country.
Celebrate Memorial Day by listening to some of our rich treasury of songs!
Alice
Alice H. Cash, Ph.D., LCSW
www.HealingMusicEnterprises.com
www.DrCashPrefers.com
