Americas Songs Set

America's Songs tells the stories behind the most beloved popular songs of the last century. We all have songs that have a special meaning in our lives; hearing them evokes a special time or place. Little wonder that these special songs have become enduring classics. Nothing brings the roarin '20s to life like Tea for Two or I'm just Wild About Harry; the Great Depression is evoked in all of its pain and misery in songs like Brother Can You Spare a Dime?; God Bless America revives the powerful hope that American democracy promised to the world during the dark days of World War II; Young at Heart evokes the postwar optimism of the '50s. And then there are the countless songs of love, new romance, and heartbreak: As Time Goes By, Always, Am I Blue...the list is endless. Along with telling the stories behind these songs, America's Songs suggests, simply and succinctly, what makes a song great. The book illuminates the way each great song melds words and music - sentiment and melody - into a seamless whole. America's Songs also traces the fascinating but mysterious process of collaboration, the give-and-take between two craftsmen, a composer and a lyricist, as they combined their talents to create a song. For anyone interested in the history of the songs that America loves, America'sSongs will make for fascinating reading.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A celebration of American history through the music that helped to shape a nation, by Pulitzer Prize winner Jon Meacham and music superstar Tim McGraw “Jon Meacham and Tim McGraw form an irresistible duo—connecting us to music as an unsung force in our nation's history.”—Doris Kearns Goodwin Through all the years of strife and triumph, America has been shaped not just by our elected leaders and our formal politics but also by our music—by the lyrics, performers, and instrumentals that have helped to carry us through the dark days and to celebrate the bright ones. From “The Star-Spangled Banner” to “Born in the U.S.A.,” Jon Meacham and Tim McGraw take readers on a moving and insightful journey through eras in American history and the songs and performers that inspired us. Meacham chronicles our history, exploring the stories behind the songs, and Tim McGraw reflects on them as an artist and performer. Their perspectives combine to create a unique view of the role music has played in uniting and shaping a nation. Beginning with the battle hymns of the revolution, and taking us through songs from the defining events of the Civil War, the fight for women’s suffrage, the two world wars, the Great Depression, the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, and into the twenty-first century, Meacham and McGraw explore the songs that defined generations, and the cultural and political climates that produced them. Readers will discover the power of music in the lives of figures such as Harriet Tubman, Franklin Roosevelt, Eleanor Roosevelt, and Martin Luther King, Jr., and will learn more about some of our most beloved musicians and performers, including Marian Anderson, Elvis Presley, Sam Cooke, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, Duke Ellington, Carole King, Bruce Springsteen, and more. Songs of America explores both famous songs and lesser-known ones, expanding our understanding of the scope of American music and lending deeper meaning to the historical context of such songs as “My Country, ’Tis of Thee,” “God Bless America,” “Over There,” “We Shall Overcome,” and “Blowin’ in the Wind.” As Quincy Jones says, Meacham and McGraw have “convened a concert in Songs of America,” one that reminds us of who we are, where we’ve been, and what we, at our best, can be.

This symbolic set explores some of the United States' most recognizable and celebrated patriotic songs. Each volume considers the origin of a song's music and lyrics, examining the historical and social circumstances from which it emerged and tracing its evolution into the iconic song that it is today. Positioned at the intersection of history and the arts, this set reveals how world events can shape a piece of music, what studying music can tell us about the past, and how songs can come to define a nation. Supplemented by sidebars, fun facts, full-color photographs, and timelines, each book also highlights the people who shaped the song, as well as some of its most memorable performances in contemporary society. Features include: Song lyrics and easy-to-read sheet music that engage readers and help them understand and play the songs. Fun facts featuring key information about the song's beginnings, journey to fame, and contemporary use. Students will learn how these songs have helped shape America's values, ideas, and traditions.

Educational and entertaining, these classic Wee Sing book and CD titles are now tailored for the most modern Wee Sing fans. Each 64-page book and one-hour audio CD are contained in reusable blister packages.

America’s Songs II: Songs from the 1890's to the Post-War Years continues to tell the stories behind popular songs in our country’s history, serving as a sequel to the bestselling America’s Songs: Stories Behind the Songs of Broadway, Hollywood, and Tin Pan Alley. Beginning in 1890 and ending in post-war America, America's Songs II is a testament to the richness of popular music in the first half of the 20th century. This volume builds on the unique features of the first volume, delving deeper into the nature of the collaboration between well-known songwriters of the time but also shedding light on some of the early performers to turn songs into hits. The book’s structure – a collection of short easy-to-read essays – allows the author to provide historical context to certain songs, but also to demonstrate how individual songs facilitated the popularity of specific genres, including ragtime, jazz, and blues, which subsequently reshaped the landscape of American popular music. America’s Songs II: Songs from the 1890's to the Post-War Years will appeal to American popular music enthusiasts but will also serve as an ideal reference guide for students or as a supplement in American music courses.

The American Collection celebrates the greatest American composers from the 19th to 20th centuries. Composers including Samuel Barber, Scott Joplin, Burt Bacharach and Phillip Glass are beautifully presented for solo Piano, allowing you to play your way to the heart of American culture. A specially-written foreword places the music in historical and national context and includes biographical details of many of the featured composers. Alongside this, Spotify integration allows you to listen as you learn, and uncover the America's immense contribution to the international world of music. The arrangements are intended for the intermediate to advanced pianist. Songlist: - Alfie [Burt Bacharach] - I'll Never Fall In Love Again [Burt Bacharach] - Not Goin' Home Anymore (Butch Cassidy And The Sundance Kid) [Burt Bacharach] - What The World Needs Now Is Love [Burt Bacharach] - Adagio For Strings [Samuel Barber] - Alexander's Ragtime Band [Irving Berlin] - Caprice No.2 [George W. Chadwick] - The Simpsons (Theme) [Danny Elfman] - Prelude To A Kiss [Ellington, Duke] - Satin Doll [Duke Ellington] - Meditation Op.61 [Arthur Foote] - Dance From Akhnaten [Philip Glass] - The Hours [Philip Glass] - Chinatown [Jerry Goldsmith] - The Mummy (The Sand Volcano) [Jerry Goldsmith] - The White Peacock (Roman Sketches) [Charles Griffes] - The Entertainer [Scott Joplin] - Fig Leaf Rag [Scott Joplin] - Heliotrope Bouquet [Scott Joplin] - Maple Leaf Rag [Scott Joplin] - Weeping Willow Rag [Scott Joplin] - Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man [Jerome Kern] - Smoke Gets In Your Eyes [Jerome Kern] - The Way You Look Tonight [Jerome Kern] - To A Wild Rose (10 Woodland Sketches) [Edward MacDowell] - At An Old Trysting Place (10 Woodland Sketches) [Edward MacDowell] - From Uncle Remus (10 Woodland Sketches) [Edward MacDowell] - The Pink Panther (Theme) [Henry Mancini] - Funeral March Op.9 [Thomas Knowles Paine] - La Sauterelle Op.49 No.2 [Horatio Parker] - The Liberty Bell [John Philip Sousa] - Semper Fidelis [John Philip Sousa] - Stars And Stripes Forever [John Philip Sousa] - Shenandoah [Traditional] - The Yellow Rose Of Texas [Traditional] - E.T. Theme [John Williams] - Schindler's List [John Williams]