Music was an integral component of daily life for the entire plantation community. The soundscape of Mount Vernon in the 18th century was a vibrant blend of transatlantic components, of European melodies and African polyrhythms, from formally composed tunes reproduced skillfully on a superbly made harpsichord to the informal twang of the jaw harp or spontaneous resonance of the fiddle, to the complex percussion and melodic accompaniment of a host of handmade African instruments, and of voices singing harmoniously in diverse styles and languages.īy the twilight of his life in 1799, George Washington had successfully developed Mount Vernon from a modest plantation into an 8,000-acre agricultural and commercial enterprise that comprised five farms, a gristmill and distillery complex, and a profitable fishery along the Potomac riverfront, worked by a community of 317 enslaved persons. Plantations such as Mount Vernon take on heightened significance as sites of cultural exchange that ultimately led to the innovation of new traditions, new foodways and cuisines, and new distinctly American forms of music, all forged in a power dynamic shaped by enslavement. Jazz, gospel, blues, country, rock and roll, hip hop-each of the major genres of American popular music of the past century was built upon a musical foundation rooted in these historical interactions. It is a rich tapestry of contributions from the peoples and cultures that comingled throughout the colonies during the colonial era. The composition of America’s musical DNA lies in its melting pot heritage.
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