Making music in Los Angeles : transforming the popular / Catherine Parsons Smith.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Smith, Catherine Parsons, 1933-2009.

Contributor:

Class of 1897 Book Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Music--Social aspects--California--Los Angeles--History--20th century.

Music.

Music--Social aspects--California--Los Angeles--History--19th century.

Music--Social aspects.

History.

California--Los Angeles.

Physical Description:

xiv, 376 pages : illustrations ; 24 cm

Place of Publication:

Berkeley : University of California Press, [2007]

Summary:

In this fascinating social history of music in Los Angeles from the 1880s to 1940, Catherine Parsons Smith ventures into an often neglected period to discover that during America's Progressive Era, L.A. was a center for making music long before it became a major metropolis. She describes the thriving music scene over some sixty years, including opera, concert giving and promotion, and the struggles of individuals who pursued music as an ideal, a career, a trade, a business--or all those things at once. Smith demonstrates that music making was closely tied to broader Progressive Era issues, including political and economic developments, the new roles played by women, and issues of race, ethnicity, and class.

Contents:

Music making as popular practice

Music for the "people". "The largest and most enthusiastic audience that ever has assembled in the city" : the National Opera Company of 1887 ; "A precarious means of living" : early working musicians and some of their jobs ; "Popular prices will prevail" : competing and cooperating impresarios ; Amateurs, professionals, and symphonies : Harley Hamilton and Edna Foy ; "Our awe struck vision" : a prominent impresario reconsidered

Progressive-era musical idealism. The "true temple of art" : Philharmonic Auditorium and progressive ideology ; "Something of good for the future" : the People's Orchestra of 1912-1913 ; Producing Fairyland, 1915 ; Founding the Hollywood Bowl

From progressive to ultramodern. Old competitors, new opera companies in 1925 ; The new negro movement in Los Angeles ; Welcoming the ultramodern ; Second thoughts ; Calling the tune : the Los Angeles Federal Music Project.

Notes:

"Roth Family Foundation music in America imprint"--P. [i].

Includes bibliographical references (pages 325-344) and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Class of 1897 Book Fund.

ISBN:

9780520251397

0520251393

OCLC:

74987836