Stephen Foster
Stephen Foster was one of the most prolific song writers of his time, contributing more than 200 songs during his twenty-year career. His first attempt, when he was fourteen was a forgettable composition called the “Tioga Waltz”, a melody for three flutes which debuted at a school exhibition. His first published piece appeared only three years later in 1844. It was called “Open Thy Lattice, Love,” and it was rather typical of the sentimental tunes of the time. Still, it was a good effort for a seventeen-year- old composer.
But, it was minstrel music for which Foster will always be remembered. The songs of Southern black slaves in the pre-Civil War days evoked nostalgic themes, like the plantation era that was already fated to pass into history. His first successful piece “Oh, Susanna” became popular throughout the world, and is still widely sung. “Camptown Races” followed with similar success. The most successful song written by an American to that date was Stephen Foster’s “Old Folks at Home”, which appeared in 1851. Some of you may recall it as “Way Down Upon the Swanee River,” since it was also referred to by that title as well. In any case, an item in the Musical Worldof New York stressed the unprecedented sales. At a time when half of all the sheet music published was a total failure, and a sale of 5,000 copies was considered highly successful, “Old Folks at Home” sold nearly 100,000 copies. “Old Kentucky Home” which came out two years later, capitalized on the reputation that Foster was making for himself, and was also a huge seller.
Now what is interesting about the success of Stephen Foster is that he himself was ambivalent about it. Sometimes he hid his identity with pseudonyms, sometimes he requested that his name be withheld from the cover to the sheet music, and other times he insisted that his name be displayed. Out of the context of the times, none of this seems to make sense, but when we contrast the musical world of high society with that of the common people, it becomes clear. Stephen Foster’s success came from writing “plantation songs” for popular entertainment. The music was easy to remember, very repetitious, and available to everyone in the popular music halls. But the music that was considered serious and appropriate for society events was quite different. Foster proved that he could write such music, and perhaps had some secret desire to succeed on those terms, but that type of music didn’t enjoy the widespread popularity of the plantation melodies that we still recognize today. Most school children have heard “Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair” and “Beautiful Dreamer,” but none would recognize the saccharine ballads and hymns that were considered by a genteel few his “better music.”
Vocabulary
prolific– ïë³äíèé
attempt– ñïðîáà
effort–çóñèëëÿ
slaves – ðàáè
fate – äîëÿ
recall – çãàäóâàòè
unprecedented – áåçïðåöåäåíòíèé
ambivalent – àìá³âàëåíòíèé
withheld – óòðèìàíîãî
widespread – øèðîêî ïîøèðåíèé
saccharine – ñàõàðèí
genteel–áëàãîðîäíèé
Task 2. Choose the correct answer
1. What kind of music is associated with Stephen Foster?
a. sentimental tunes
b. plantation songs
c. hymns for churches
d. serious society music
2. Which piece was the most successful song written by an American?
a. “Open Thy Lattice, Love.”
b. “Oh, Susanna.”
c. “Old Folks at Home.”
d. “Beautiful Dreamer.”
3. Why did Stephen Foster withhold his name from the cover to some of his sheet music?
a. He was too young to publish music at that time.
b. His name was not yet very well known.
c. He knew that some songs would not be approved by high society.
d. He reserved his name for his most popular music.
4. What best describes Stephen Foster’s most popular songs?
a. easy to remember
b. written for the piano
c. appropriate for society events
d. very serious
5. What do we know about Stephen Foster?
a. He wrote many songs during his career.
b. Only a few of his songs were popular.
c. He was not successful in his lifetime.
d. He wrote most of his music for children.
Task 3. Put the questions to the underlined words:
1. His first attempt, when he was fourteen was a forgettable composition called the “Tioga Waltz”, a melody for three flutes which debuted at a school exhibition. 2. The most successful song written by an American to that date was Stephen Foster’s “Old Folks at Home”, which appeared in 1851.
Task 4. Answer the following questions:
1. How many songs did Stephen Foster write?
2. When did his first published piece appear?
3. What is his first successful piece?
4. What is interesting about the success of Stephen Foster?
5. Why did Stephen Foster’s “plantation songs” have success?
Task 5. Retell the text