MUSIC OF THE CIVIL WAR

What music was used for…

• It was used to…

• 1. Help recruit soldiers

• 2. Signal important times of the day at military bases

• 3. Communicate orders from commanding officers and signal troop movement

• 4. Boost the morale of the soldiers

Recruiting Soldiers

• Military bands played at recruitment rallies

• Their marching tunes inspired young men to enlist

Music in Military Camps • Many soldiers brought instruments

from home to camp to pass the time away

• Drums woke the soldiers up • Music signaled meal times • Music signaled morning roll call and

guard duty• At night, the song “Taps” was played

to signal lights out (Taps is also played at funerals)

On the battlefield…

• Musicians played battle commands from the commanding officers

• Military bands boosted the morale of the soldiers on the battlefield

• Soldiers sang while marching to keep up their spirits

Civil War Songs

• Confederate Songs

• God Save the South

• Dixie • The Bonnie Blue Flag

God save the South, God save the South,

Her altars and firesides, God save the South!

Now that the war is nigh, now that we arm to die, Chanting our battle cry,

"Freedom or death!" Chanting our battle cry,

"Freedom or death!"

DIXIE– I wish I was in the

land of cotton, – Old times there am

not forgotten; – Look away! Look

away! Look away! Dixie Land.

– In Dixie Land where I was born in,

– Early on one frosty mornin,

– Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land.

Bonnie Blue Flag • We are a band of brothers

and native to the soilFighting for our Liberty, With treasure, blood and toilAnd when our rights were threatened, the cry rose near and farHurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star!

• Chorus:Hurrah! Hurrah!For Southern rights, hurrah!Hurrah for the Bonnie Blue Flag that bears a single star.

Union Songs

• The Battle Hymn of Republic

• The Battle Cry of Freedom

• John Brown’s Body

The Battle Hymn of Republic– Mine eyes have seen the

glory of the coming of the Lord:

– He is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored;

– He hath loosed the fateful lightning of His terrible swift sword:

– His truth is marching on. • Glory, glory, hallelujah! • Glory, glory, hallelujah! • Glory, glory, hallelujah! • His truth is marching

on.

CIVIL WAR INSTRUMENTS

• DRUMS

Fife

• The fife is a high-pitched instrument, similar to a piccolo. It accompanied the drum.

Bugle

• The bugler had to learn about 50 different kinds of call for infantry and cavalry.

Other Instruments

• Soldiers played other instruments in their camps…

• Banjo, Fiddles, Guitars

Questions…

• What was music used for during the Civil War?

• What were some of the songs that we sung in the North and South?

• What kinds of instruments were used in the War?