Website
Other

Pdm: The Music of the American Civil War

For Students 9th - 10th
A compilation of music from the Civil War era, including patriotic songs, songs of the homefront, as well as battlefield songs. Hear the songs and read the lyrics from "The Civil War Songbook."
Primary
Library of Congress

Loc: Band Music From the Civil War Era

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore band music from the Civil War Period at The Library of Congress website.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: America Singing: Nineteenth Century Song Sheets

For Students 9th - 10th
Song sheets, which containedonly lyrics, were a popular form of printed music. The Library of Congress holds over 4,000 of these from the 1800s that can be viewed online.
Website
Civil War Home

Home of the American Civil War: The Lyrics and Origin of Dixie

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides you with the lyrics to the song, Dixie. Also provides a link that explains the origins of the popular Civil War song.
Website
Library of Congress

Loc: Lyrical Legacy: 400 Years of American Song and Poetry

For Students 9th - 10th
Explore eighteen American songs and poems each represented by an original primary source document, along with historical background information and, in many cases, sound recordings and alternate versions.
Article
Other

Popular Songs During the Civil War

For Students 9th - 10th
This website outlines the popular forms of music during the Civil War, which included the songs of the minstrel shows like "Dixie," "Blue Tailed Fly," and "Old Dan Tucker."
Website
Other

David Holt: The Roots of Mountain Music

For Students 9th - 10th
This is a short history of the major influences that have combined to create mountain music, one of which is minstrel music. Provides a good decription of minstrel music in general. Includes names and descriptions of specific songs,...
Primary
Brown University

Brown University Library: African American Sheet Music: James Bland

For Students 9th - 10th
This website is an excellent source for information on James Bland and his music. Includes images of his sheet music, complete with notes and links to related information on African-American music and popular music from the post-Civil...
Handout
Other

Stephen Collins Foster: American Dreams

For Students 9th - 10th
This site provides a wealth of information about the American songwriter, Stephen Foster. This link leads you to the biographical information which is divided into five sections: beginnings, his life's work, the legend, the problems, and...