The Rise of American Choral Music and The A Cappella “Bandwagon”

Traditional a cappella choirs have greatly influenced choral music during the twentieth century and some still flourish in isolated situations today. They wear choir robes; sing mostly unaccompanied, sacred music from memory; and tour. The way in which the movement captured the attention of choral directors for a period of ten years from about 1928 until 1938 (the beginning of World War II) is the subject of this article. For many years after the formation of colleges and universities in America, music did not become a part of the curriculum, although various extracurricular campus music groups and activities were popular. Music first made its way into campus life through vocal music and subsequently through informal instrumental music organizations. The justification for the presence of music in the curriculum and the matter whether or not credit should be allowed for study in applied music was the subject of vigorous debate among college faculties. We are forever indebted to those visionary musicians who persevered to raise the status of our present music offerings in colleges and universities. Numerous choral unions and choral societies existed in American