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Thanks for staying subscribed to my podcast and I hope you enjoy listening. In this episode I discuss Civil War era music and some ways teachers can use Civil War music in their classrooms.
Feedback on the show? email me at podcast@teachthecivilwar.com
Music is by the Excelsior Brigade Fifes and Drums and is used with permission.
SHOW LINKS:
Acoustic Shadows of the Blue and Gray
Library of Congress Links
Civil War Sheet Music Collection
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In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I thought I’d do a quick post on 4 Irish-related Civil War Items.
#4 – Civil War Steeplechase by Edwin Forbes: This sketch is from March 17, 1863 and shows a “Saint Patrick’s Day celebration, Army of the Potomac, American Civil War. Irish Brigade holds a steeplechase race”
#3 – The Irish Brigade: One of the most famous brigades of fighting men during the Civil War, the Irish Brigade was known for it’s bravery and gallantry during battle. Led by Thomas Francis Meagher, the Irish Brigade would go into battle shouting, “faugh a ballagh” which means “clear the way”!
#2 – The Irish Brigade Monument in Gettysburg: One of the most popular monuments on the battlefield because of the life size Irish wolf hound that adorns the monument and symbolizes loyalty. Dedicated on July 2, 1888, the monument with it’s Celtic Cross, honors the brave deeds of the Irish Brigade and their struggles in the Wheatfield. Of the over 500 men that went into battle on July 2, 1863, about 200 would become casualties. Here is our good friend Civil War Sallie checking out the monument.
and
#1 – David Kincaid: According to his Haunted Field Music website, David Kincaid is both a musician and historian who “presents a compelling combination of the songs and history of the Irish in the American Civil War. I have had a pleasure to listen to David perform many times over the years and each time is a true pleasure. He is a wonderful artist and does a wonderful job of portraying the Irish soldier during the Civil War. Check out his The Irish American’s Song and The Irish Volunteer CDs
Happy St. Patrick’s Day Everyone
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Various types of music played key roles throughout the Civil War from the fife and drum to the bugle calls which rallied the soldiers and directed them on the parade ground and in battle. There were sentimental and patriotic songs which soldiers sung in camp in order to pass the time while remembering the homes they left behind.
There are numerous activities which will expose students to some of the most popular sounds of battle and songs of camp life, thereby bringing the emotions of the period to the forefront. The following example provides combines the use of low tech audio CDs with the high tech Internet.
First, the teacher can purchase any number of Civil War music CDs. Groups such as the 97th Regimental String Band, Acoustic Shadows of the Blue and Gray and David Kincaid provide an excellent collection of some of the most popular songs of the period while Camp Chase Fifes and Drums is a nationally known fife and drum group with three CDs from which to choose. Some of these websites even provide sample clips from some of their more popular songs.
If you have access to iTunes, then you can search for Civil War era music. If you search for 119th NYSV within iTunes, you should get a list of songs from the 119th New York Field Music. These songs provide not only some of the more popular marching tunes of the period but also some of the camp duties musicians would have been required to play.
Second, search the Internet for the lyrics to several popular songs. The website Poetry and Music of the War Between the States has lyrics to many period songs. Then you can divide the class into several different groups, perhaps one Union and one Confederate, and assign each group a particular song. Each group can learn to sing their song and discuss the words as they relate to the context of war.
Next, provide the entire class with the words to “Home, Sweet Home.” This is a tune which both sides of the war would have known and sung. Students can then talk about the commonalties among all soldiers, such as missing the comforts of home and the companionship of loves ones.
Finally, do a YouTube search for Camp Chase fifes or even Civil war fife and drum and you will get a great collection of videos of Civil War reenactors playing period songs on fifes and drums. Below is a sample of Camp Chase Fifes and Drums playing Frog in the Well and Old Zip Coon:
Enjoy the music…
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