<p>The 1930s to 1940s saw an
upsurge in nationalism and the quest to define American identity. The federal
government sponsored and sanctioned a specific nationalist narrative within the
programs of the Works Progress Administration, later renamed Works Projects
Administration. Very little attention has been paid to the Federal Music
Project (FMP) yet this program was an integral part of constructing American
identity both nationally and regionally. In conjunction with popular music, and
at times in opposition to it, the FMP formed the “soundtrack” of American life.
</p>
<p>Although the messages were not
as overt as those in other programs, such as the Federal Writers’ Project or
Federal Theatre Project, the Federal Music Project played a large part in
disseminating American ideals and identity, primarily through classical music,
and to a lesser extent, popular, folk, and indigenous forms of music. The
Federal Music Project strove to uncover, and at times create, America’s
“genuine” musical heritage. The ideals of the New Deal took root in the musical
expression of the FMP and impacted the development of American identity both
musically and socially. It was not merely a relief program for those on its
rolls; it was intended as an education program for the nation. Amid the push
and pull of politics, war, and class conflict, American musicians forged and
defined a unique style of music that was accepted by the American public.</p>
The dissertation focuses on the FMP activities in
the Midwest, or Region IV. Focusing on the Midwest as a region demonstrates how
the FMP was interpreted and practiced and allows for a conversation with other
the reginal studies of the FMP. Three case studies of Indiana, Illinois, and
Michigan provide a more detailed analysis of the activities and contributions
of each state, and thus the region, offering depth over breadth. Each of these
states had dedicated and active symphonies, teaching projects, community
outreach, radio broadcasting, and music therapy projects.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:purdue.edu/oai:figshare.com:article/9943028 |
| Date | 17 October 2019 |
| Creators | Renee D Gaarder (7467362) |
| Source Sets | Purdue University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, Thesis |
| Rights | CC BY 4.0 |
| Relation | https://figshare.com/articles/Made_in_America_The_Federal_Music_Project_in_the_Midwest/9943028 |
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