Music and Dance

Contributors: Thomas (the cooliest person in the universe)

Abstract: In Colonial America, many of the old traditions from Europe were brought over to start a new society. In time, America would become a pluralistic society, composed of different peoples and cultures. These people brought with them many different traditions and rituals. One tradition every culture brought with them was music and dance. Music and dance has always been a popular tradition for all cultures. Music and dance was crucial to America’s evolution. It had a large impact on people’s lives no matter what religion, culture, or race they may be. The following paper explores one of America’s most favorite pastimes and how it was expressed in the Colonial era.

Some of the key points of my paper were;

* English settlers' song, dance, and instruments

* Native Americans' song, dance, and instruments

* African song and dance

* Traditions

Music and dance was a very popular pastime to all cultures and races and had a fairly large impact on Colonial America. Lives have been changed, cultures have been altered for better or worse, and traditions have been influenced. For all races and places, music has been one of the oldest and most popular traditions, but not all of them minipulated it in the same way. People all over the world enjoy, and some even worship, music. The English insisted on specific songs, instruments, and dances the Africans and Indians used whatever they had or could find and or think of. Most of our modern songs and dances were influenced by music of the colonial era. We wouldn’t have the dances we have today either, fancy, freestyle, hip-hop, etc. It’s now a fact that colonial music was important to our lives. It is interesting to wonder whether music and dance in Colonial America has had any impact on music and dance today.

Interviews:

None, but I saw some dances and heard some songs at the Great Hope Plantation in Williamsburg.

Images and Resources:

WWW.GOOGLE.COM

Bibliography:

1. # www.wikipedia.org
2. two Social Dances of the American (book)
3. three Colonial Home Life (book)