IOWA’s MUSIC - EXPRESSIONS OF COMMUNITY

Iowa is a state of small towns

--Metropolitan centers function as clusters of small towns

Local Identities in Iowa Communities

• Danish in ElkHorn
• Norwegian in Decorah
• German in Western Iowa
• Mennonites (5 varieties), southeastern Iowa
• Dutch in Pella
• German in Kalona and Manning
• Hispanic in West Liberty and Storm Lake
• Southeast Asian in Ames
• Meskwaki in Tema
• The Sioux near Sioux City
• African-Americans in Waterloo, Council Bluffs and cities

SCANDINAVIAN TRADITIONS IN IOWA

Early 19 th Century - Immigrants from Scandinavia and Northern Europe began arriving in the U.S. Unlike other Europeans, settled in rural farming areas of Midwest

--Shortly after Iowa became a state in 1846, major waves of emigration from Scandinavian countries

--Began to peak by turn of the century

-- Scandinavians primarily Danish and Norwegian

--Retained Old World social, religious patterns and music contexts

--“Old time” music in immigrant communities became a multi-ethnic shared tradition with commonalities among English, German, Swedish, Norwegian, Polish, Danish and other Central and Northern European groups.

--Some musical changes include:

• less melodic ornamentation
• greater reliance on chordal accompaniment,
• faster tempos
• a broader instrumentation

Danish Musical Traditions in Iowa

--largest concentration of Danish in the U.S. is in Elkhorn, Iowa region

Rich tradition of old-time fiddle and folk music is played primarily by older Danes

--small diatonic accordion, guitar, mouth organ, and fiddle

--played at home, informally and for Danish national Day in June

--house parties, barn dances, hoedowns

Dwight Lamb – Danish Iowan fiddler/button accordion player has been playing for over 50 years in local and national venues

Repertory reflects settlement patterns within the state-

--includes old-time tunes of fiddlers from American’s southeastern states, the Ozarks, and French Canada.

--plays reels, jigs and hornpipes and waltzes, polkas and schottisches (brought recently by European immigrants

--double-stops, slides and alterations in bowing strokes and pressure to provide embellishments

Ex: “Redwing” – well-known tune about Iowa written in 1907

Norwegian Music Traditions

Between 1825-1925, of the approximately 800,000 Norwegians who emigrated to the U.S., the majority settled in the Midwest.

--In Iowa, mostly in the northeastern part of state (Decorah region)

--fostered traditional fiddle and dance music in the area

--Established singing societies, and organizations of Norwegians who shared common rural settlement of origin (bygde) , language dialect and musical traditions. These organizations maintained Old Country traditions. Gave prizes for excellence in fiddling, dancing, costume, singing, etc.

With advent of World War I, suspicion concerning “hyphenated” Americans resulted in decline of celebrating traditions.

--War accelerated process of Americanization through intense propaganda for national unity.

--Economic hardships of 1930’s made participation in ‘community’ activities difficult

--Outbreak of WWII brought further decline

--Sons of Norway organizations promoted Norwegian American culture.

Emigrant Ballads (concerned with nostalgia for homeland sung on both sides of Atlantic):

--Song texts published from 1880s to 1920’s in Norway and in American Norwegian language newspapers

--Some mourn hardships of transatlantic journey and loneliness of pioneer life; others emphasize triumphs over difficulties.

--Some describe emigration as a regrettable mistake; others full of hope for new life.

--Norway depicted as place of natural beauty, as well as place of servitude.

--Some ballads portray romantic notions about U.S.

Ex: Schottische I/14 – a lively dance popular in the Decorah area

• * * * *

Ex: Highlandville Waltz (Norwegian dance tune)

CHORUS (Sing along):

MENNONITES –

5 different religious varieties in southeastern Iowa

--Old Order Amish Mennonites, the Beachy Amish Mennonites, the Conservative Mennonites, the “Old” Mennonites, and the General Conference Mennonites

--range from the most conservative to the most liberal

Deep roots in a musical tradition of four-part a cappella singing—gospel music, etc.

Ex: “Be Thou My Vision”—both text and melody are from Ancient Ireland and they sing in the style of monastic orders—accurate, flawless harmonies and precise timing.

Mississippi River Culture

 The Mississippi is 2500 miles long (from Minnesota to Gulf of Mexico)

--at one point is 4 miles wide.

Steamboats employed Black musicians—although segregated in terms of passengers.

Davenport, Iowa – River culture museum