Publication Date
4-3-2025
Document Type
Article
Keywords
Music, American Revolution, French Revolution, Military Music, Revolutionary Songs, Military, Ça ira, La Marseillaise.
Abstract
Throughout the American and French revolutions, music was present within the military and in the lives of the civilians. Music was heavily integrated into the Continental Army for organizational purposes with the help of John Hiwell, Inspector and Superintendent of Music in the Army. Signals played by drummers and fifers were used such as reveille, retreat, and tattoo in order to help organize the lives of the soldiers. During the French Revolution, singing was a common means to express political beliefs. Two of the most popular tunes that were sung were Ça ira and La Marseillaise. In addition to revolutionary songs, opéra comique amd comédie héroïque, or rescue opera, was an influential means of political expression in France such as Cherubini’s opera, Lodoiska. Throughout both the American and French revolutions, music had the power to organize, comfort, entertain, and unify individuals in the midst of war.
Volume
16
Issue
1
Article Number
3
First Page
27
Last Page
44
DOI
10.15385/jmo.2025.16.1.3
Recommended Citation
Renner, Allison
(2025)
"The Unifying, Comforting, and Organizational Power of Music in the American and French Revolutions,"
Musical Offerings: Vol. 16:
No.
1, Article 3.
DOI: 10.15385/jmo.2025.16.1.3
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.cedarville.edu/musicalofferings/vol16/iss1/3
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
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