Ragtime And Showboat

Music is the fuel of our souls. Ever since the beginning, in all societies it has been a very important part of culture and history. Music not only relaxes our mind but also provides a complete set of information related to the social and cultural history either concerning to the social politics of that very society or to the religious aspect. Though the American music and songs have been in singing practice since the 16 th C. when the first Europeans and Africans began to enter into North America . On the other hand, the American songs were mostly influence and strongly attached to the musical traditions of the British Isles . This was the colonial, revolutionary as well as federal periods of from the 17 th C to 19 th C. Hymns tunes, ballads, theatre songs, drinking songs all were adopted from the English songs and were very important in the English Music. Where at the same time the African-American slave communities mostly played and sung patriotic songs, basically these were also the adaptations of English music for instance, the "Yankee Doodle" and "Star Spangled Banner". Therefore, during the early 19 th C, few songs were prepared and composed for the minstrel show but were initially played by the African-Americans on the northern stages where these white and black performers not only adopted but also embroidered the politically charged movements into the African American musical style.

However, by the second half of the 19 th C, the American songs were tremendously expanded commercially and not only extended to the 20 th C but also did not faded away even today. For instance more music industries have opened as well as songs are now sold and recorded in CDs DVDs and many other technological means are used to save music as they were only sung live in the past. Therefore, this shows that music strengthen its roots as it commercially expanded, more and more songs were written and composed as well as produced and performed. So in this way the history and culture of America not only expanded via music but also was exported to every part of the globe.

Nonetheless with the passage of time, American music not only expanded and commercialized but also extended to the process of minstrel shows, which once being restricted to the ethnic minorities of immigrant groups were marked to the entire nation. Therefore, different communities of Europe started introducing their own musical style and incorporated their culture and history in their songs. For instance, some Irish Ballads started getting popular among singers and musicians who did not belong to the Irish community. Similarly, Italian, Spanish and Jewish composers and performers highlighted the important elements of their culture and made them a part of music. So in this way the European communities introduced their culture to the American music and made their music a part of the American music. Likewise, the African-American culture opened doors towards a series of distinctive songs styles that include the spiritual, ragtime, blues and later the rhythm and blues, which were passionately suited to the white American artists and audiences.

Ragtime and Showboat

Ragtime and Showboat are considered as the break-through moments of the history of musical theatre. These musical forms are recognized as the bookends of the American Music of the 10 th C, as both these have developed into a different and beautiful style at the same time treated racial discrimination in the American society, as their most important cultural aspect. Though many other forms of music were introduced at that time but Showboat and Ragtime had a distinctive impression that was more influential due to their characterization and historical cultural themes performed by the artists. However, Showboat was introduced first in the musical theatre and the Showboat performers also performed a few songs at that time. While Ragtime came after Showboat at the end of the 20 th C. Nonetheless, it captured the attention of the audiences more then any other musical form as it recalled all the past magnificent musical themes and was fabricated into a more sophisticated level. Therefore, Ragtime is considered as the most glorious and impressive musical theme of the 20 th C.

Ragtime

Basically Ragtime means off the beat that refers to ragged, where it is related to rag a piece of music to play with its rhythms to make them more jazzier. Ragtime is one of the most popular African American music that was introduced at the time when the various communities of Europe was expanding their cultural influence via music in all over America . The songs and music of Ragtime are more encyclopedic then the modern music as they at the same time have a beautiful melodic style with rock touch as well as marinating its sophistication. Out of its 2 'dozen songs, around 17 songs would be the most memorable to the music lovers. Ragtime music also portrays American culture and the social problems specifically racism when the world was at the edge of the World War I. Where his music covers from the introduction to the end and then the after effects of the international relations and the state politics that resulted into massive social disorder at that time. Furthermore, whatever stories are portrayed in his music mainly focuses on the conditions and the social discrimination in African America. These may be related to either the immigrant Jews, the Wealthy WASP or the dispossessed African Americans but the popularity he earned is equal in all regards.

Therefore, the music of ragtime not only expresses the social and political aspects of America during the 20 th C but also has much more to tell. Basically with the end of the America Civil War, freedom was given to the slaves but not complete economic and political freedom. However, many former slaves helped these slaves to express against the racial discrimination. As they were emotionally and socially suppressed by the whites and did not got any place in the state politics and any other administrative affairs they expressed their emotions via music that was the most impressive means enchanted with sophistication while at the same time having a rocky style. Basically the low-class black Americans started to play music and perform dances telling the stories of the social culture of that era. Though they were socially and politically discriminated among the whites but they did not easily accepted their music even from the time of slavery due to the beautiful melodious and magnificent style. For instance whenever any music concert was to be organized or any minstrel show was entertained; the blacks were not accepted on the stage with their musical instruments. However, they started getting recognition in the late 19 th C, which was due to the Rag style music that was first introduced by a very