Friends University Early American Music: The Yankee Tunes Smith

Come join the ensemble “Jargon” on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. in Alumni Auditorium as they present “Singing America’s Early Music: The Yankee Tunesmiths”.

This lecture recital lays out the history of the Yankee Tunesmiths who were America’s first homegrown composers, or makers of tunes, known as “Tunesmiths.” These hardy, enthusiastic, self-reliant men defined American music from about 1770 to 1810. In most cases they were of modest means and occupations, with limited education, although a few were college graduates. A number of these men were prominent in politics and became leading citizens. Many of them, also, fought in the American Revolution. Steeped in the heritage of psalm-singing, they were talented self-taught composer-compilers and singing masters who traveled through the countryside giving music classes at taverns, churches and schools. These men built our first towns, schools, banks, stores, and helped establish the political structure of this nation and believed that music was essential to the needs of life.

This performance will be held in Alumni Auditorium in the Davis Building on Friends University Campus at 2100 W. University Ave., Wichita, Kan., and is free and open to the public.

For more information on this event or other Fine Arts events, please contact the Fine Arts Box Office at 316-295-5677 or finearts@friends.edu.

Friends University, a Christian University of Quaker heritage, equips students to honor God and serve others by integrating their intellectual, spiritual and professional lives.