The chautauqua movement was a truly American phenomenon, providing education and entertainment for millions of people and employing thousands of musicians in the process. While scholars have previously explored various facets of the chautauqua movement, this is the first book to trace the place of music in the movement from its inception through its decline.
Drawing upon the rich collections of ephemera left by several chautauqua bureaus, this study profiles several famous musicians and introduces the reader to lesser-known musical acts that traveled the chautauqua circuits. In addition, it explores music’s role in defining the chautauqua movement as “high culture,” legitimizing the movement in the eyes of community leaders and setting it apart from vaudeville and other competing amusements. Finally, it addresses music’s role in establishing chautauqua’s identity as an American institution, specifically in the years surrounding World War I.

Paige Lush teaches music history and American music and directs the concert band at McHenry County College in Crystal Lake, Illinois. She lives in Marengo, Illinois.

Paige Lush
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 240
Bibliographic Info: 29 photos, 3 maps, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2013
pISBN: 978-0-7864-7315-1
eISBN: 978-1-4766-0619-4
Imprint: McFarland

Table of Contents


Preface 1

Introduction 5

I. The Chautauqua Movement: An Overview 9

II. Chautauqua Musicians 25

III. Musical Selection in Chautauqua 60

IV. Musical Programming in Chautauqua 93

V. Music Defines Chautauqua as an Educational and Cultural Institution 123

VI. Music Defines Chautauqua as American 141

VII. Music in Chautauqua’s Decline 174

Epilogue 193

Appendices:

A. Itinerary: Standard Chautauqua Bureau, 1904 195

B. Redpath-New ­York–­New England Itinerary, 1925 195

C. List of Known Chautauqua Musical Acts 196

Chapter Notes 209

Bibliography 219

Index 227

“a solid resource…recommended”—Choice.