Dr. Lynn Price Robbins and Isaac S. Loftus are joined by Dr. Christian McWhirter to explore the world of music during the American Civil War. We still know many of the popular songs today; but what did they mean to soldiers and civilians of the 1860s? And what does Abraham Lincoln’s taste in music say about him and his era?

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TRANSCRIPT: coming soon 

OUTLINE:

0:00 - Introduction

3:53 - The Music Industry During the Civil War

7:56 - What Happened to The Harpsichord?

10:17 - The History of Songs We Know Today from the Civil War

19:31 - Communal and Individual Music

22:09 - Did the Civil War Make Music More Political?

27:10 - Minstrelsy and Black Music in the South 

41:34 - The Importance of Cultural Context 

44:48 - Lincoln’s Relationship with Music

55:25 - Lincoln’s Engagement with Black Music

1:00:40 - What Historic Sites You Should Visit

1:05:45 - Where to Find Dr. McWhirter?

EPISODE LINKS:.

Battle Hymns: The Power and Popularity of Music in the Civil War – https://uncpress.org/book/9781469613673/battle-hymns/

Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum - https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov

Dixie lyrics – https://www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/civil-war-music-dixie

The Battle Cry of Freedom - https://www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/civil-war-music-battle-cry-freedom-southern-version

The Battle Hymn of the Republic – https://www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/civil-war-music-battle-hymn-republic

Marching Through George – https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/sheetmusic/898/

John Brown’s Body – https://history.iowa.gov/history/education/educator-resources/primary-source-sets/abolitionist-movement/john-browns-body-song

Bonnie Blue Flag - https://www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/civil-war-music-bonnie-blue-flag

Just Before the Battle Mother - https://www.battlefields.org/learn/primary-sources/civil-war-music-just-battle-mother

Stephen Foster - https://songofamerica.net/song/camptown-races/

Oh, Susanna – https://songofamerica.net/song/oh-susanna/

Camptown Races – https://songofamerica.net/song/camptown-races/

Mad Men Minstrel Episode - https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/mad-men-blackface-episode-roger-sterling-don-draper-imdb-tv-a9596921.html

American Discord: The Republic and Its People in the Civil War Era - Chapter regarding music about Lincoln – https://lsupress.org/9780807169698/american-discord/

Abraham Lincoln to Mary Lincoln, 2 July 1848 - https://papersofabrahamlincoln.org/documents/D200505

They Knew Lincoln - https://global.oup.com/academic/product/they-knew-lincoln-9780190270964?cc=se&lang=en&

ALPLM Blog - https://presidentlincoln.illinois.gov/blog

Edwards Place - https://www.edwardsplace.org

Dana-Thomas House - https://dana-thomas.org

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