And the Beat Goes On: An Introduction to Popular Music in America, 1840 to Today

A survey of the development of popular music from the 19th century to the present, this text combines a listening approach to music appreciation with a study of the history of American music, and the influences upon it. It is accompanied by a set of compact discs, a set of cassettes, and a demonstration cassette, all available separately. After a brief definition of American popular music, the author discusses the essential elements of music: rhythm, melody, harmony, texture and form, including an examination of both instrumentation and performing style. The book is divided into three overlapping eras, each marked by a revolution in sound, style or substance, Throughout his examination of these emerging styles, Campbell considers the music which influenced each revolution: traditional folk and blues music in the late 1800s; jazz and Latin music in the early 1900s; and African and country music from the 1950s.