Final answer:
Post-Civil War musical innovations in the African American community encompassed the creation and evolution of work songs, spirituals, blues, and jazz. These forms of music served as a medium for cultural expression, community building, and resistance. They laid the groundwork for future American music genres and had a lasting impact on both American culture and the international music scene.
Step-by-step explanation:
Post-Civil War Musical Innovations in the African American Community
Following the Civil War, African American music underwent a significant transformation, showcasing creativity and resistance. During this era, work songs, spirituals, and new instrumental techniques, such as syncopated rhythms and bent or blue notes, were developed from the folk traditions of the African American community. These musical forms were a response to slavery and post-emancipation societal conditions and served as expressions of community, emotions, and resistance.
In Charleston, South Carolina, African Americans created a communal space through music, engaging in countryside dances that served as a means of cultural preservation. Despite restrictive laws post-Stono Rebellion, they continued to assert their cultural identity through these dances. African American musicians in regions like Harlem contributed to the dynamic cultural shifts of the 20th century by developing blues and jazz, genres that eventually gained international recognition.
The turn of the century witnessed the evolution of musical theatre from African American performers. The breakthrough show In Dahomey became the first full-length, all-black musical on a major Broadway stage, signaling the commercial acceptance and success of African American talent and heralding the development of blues and jazz music. Furthermore, lined-out hymn singing became a unique form of African American musical expression, blending West African and European elements.
American music has been significantly influenced by the fusion of European and African musical traditions. The 19th-century works of Stephen Foster exemplify this blend, drawing from African American musical styles and European classical music. African American music continues to evolve and influence mainstream music to this day.