Musical Americana: Stephen Foster, Minstrelsy, and the Birth of Popular Music

[@avaonalee]

Your channel is an absolute gold mine. Thank you so much for all the time and energy you put into making these masterpieces 🫡

[@vf7vico]

Bravo for this enlightening overview of the complex compositional background to some of the country's most memorable old songs. Your work in general, but especially your recent deep dives (of Foster, of Ives...) are wonderfully engaging lessons in music history. Can't wait for your next one!

[@loganfruchtman953]

Foster is a very underrated composer and had a deep impact on American music. He reminds me a lot of Franz Schubert not just the similarity of music and song’s and possibly a huge influence on Foster. Both Schubert and Foster died young and were very shy and had to adapt their songs to the ever changing society and culture

[@RadAntelope]

Appreciate your attempted to grapple with and confront the difficult social and racial history of American culture while trying to keep an eye on the larger narrative about American art and music. Everything in our country is tainted by our shameful history, music included, but we absolutely pay attention and learn about it. Nice video. I love the guests!

[@DenisPuscaOfficial]

Thank you very much! Could you imagine making a video about Joachim Raff? I think that that would be very intresting!😊

[@mr.milehi9883]

I've never known about Foster before your video. I really am fascinated with songwriters and g, this is amazing. It's far beyond the scope of your normal classical stuff you did incredible research here. And it makes me proud to be a subscriber to your channel, Thomas thank you.

[@loganfruchtman953]

Foster is both classical music and pop music

[@kjcs_1896]

Dang, didn't know I have been hearing his songs for years now. This has been informative. On another note, I was wondering if you are going to redo the Scriabin video. I think four minutes is not enough to describe him. Keep up the good work!

[@swymaj02]

same

[@bohnulus]

really came away with something. Mr fosters name and legacy. thank you

[@twinblades-thewilltokeeplo6084]

So he's like Billy Joel.

[@that_oneguy_yt6329]

Wow, didn't see this got uploaded... I'll have to watch it as soon as I can! While I'm commenting, could you do a video on Charles Koechlin? I've been fascinated by his music recently

[@johnzielinski9951]

Thank you for a brilliant documentary. I learned a great deal about a composer I had only scant knowledge of. The statue belongs in a museum, obviously, along with other artifacts of questionable perspective - with an explanation of its history. As important as it us to affirm the good parts of our history, it's equally important not to forget the bad.

[@pablo6733]

Excellent!

[@ivankolobov9502]

Gonna be a good watch. Btw, have you considered a Barber video?

[@jmweed1861]

I wrote my Master's Thesis on "Stephen Foster and the Rise of Popular Music in America "....

[@davidwhite2949]

Cool subject, look forward to diving into this!

[@JasonNaas]

I've always been fascinated by Stephen Foster. I live within walking distance of his "old Cincinnati home", haha. I don't think it's quite fair to look back with today's eyes and ask, "Should he have been an activist?" - he was trying to make a buck.

[@finnaboing]

wow I wasn't expecting a new video this soon but I am by no means complaining

[@zoicnihil5236]

now that you have kyle gann's contact how about a video on robert ashley or other members of the once group? there are no videos about ashley on youtube and he deserves so much better!

[@chrisnoizez1663]

wow!

[@idrisbalavakos]

Do PDQ Bach next

[@michaweinst3774]

That would make a good April Fools video

[@pengpang1640]

Stephen Foster may be the trunk of the tree of American music, but Henry Russell was the roots.

[@Tolstoy111]

I always thought Swanee River was written by Ed Norton

[@dolinaj1]

Your presentations are superb, but why no African-American scholar to contribute to the discussion in this video?

[@BrendaBoykin-qz5dj]

🌟🌹💐🌹🌟

[@robertslimm9319]

I love Stephen Foster's music - it is true Americana. Why do people think we're so much superior today? Try getting past the mysogyny of much of the rap music, or the promotion of drug and alcohol abuse in so much of more modern popular music. Why can't we just enjoy it for its own musicality?

[@Tolstoy111]

Gottschalk would also be a great subject.

[@DaleWiltEvans]

Would be a better video without the isms. Try to understand contextually and with real perception instead of in a detached objective, academic correctness.