Our Banner in the Sky by Frederic Edwin Church, 1861.
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Writ in Burnished Rows of SteelWrit in Burnished Rows of Steel: A Musical History of the American Civil War Era is a series by the River Cities Humanities Association. It features articles focusing on the Civil War Era & its music, detailing each song's history and searching for its social implications.
It launched in January 2016. |
About the Project & Contributors
Writ in Burnished Rows of Steel: A Musical History of the American Civil War Era was first conceived as an idea in 2015. It strives to bring to life triumph, sorrow, and freedom as expressed by the Americans of the mid-19th century. It will highlight not merely each song’s history but its deeper meaning in a social, historical context. To not do so would be an injustice for as we will discover, “…war amounts to much more than flag waving and the singing of battle hymns”.
Regarding content, it covers numerous songs/composers ranging from c. 1850-70 in no particular order. This will include the era’s most well-known works, i.e. “Battle Cry of Freedom” and “The Bonnie Blue Flag”, and its lesser-known works, i.e. “The Picture on the Wall” and “Sherman Marched Down to the Sea”. The series is an ongoing one with no fixed end -- rather, it intermingles with unrelated articles. All series articles will be made available in a single space on this page.
WBRS is authored chiefly by Austin R. Justice. A 2015 Lincoln Forum & Colloquium Student Scholar, Austin is an aspiring historian with specialties in the Civil War Era and classics. He brings both a deep passion for and keen academic interest in early American music. Other contributors will be added/subtracted as per our RCHA Fellowship Program.
Regarding content, it covers numerous songs/composers ranging from c. 1850-70 in no particular order. This will include the era’s most well-known works, i.e. “Battle Cry of Freedom” and “The Bonnie Blue Flag”, and its lesser-known works, i.e. “The Picture on the Wall” and “Sherman Marched Down to the Sea”. The series is an ongoing one with no fixed end -- rather, it intermingles with unrelated articles. All series articles will be made available in a single space on this page.
WBRS is authored chiefly by Austin R. Justice. A 2015 Lincoln Forum & Colloquium Student Scholar, Austin is an aspiring historian with specialties in the Civil War Era and classics. He brings both a deep passion for and keen academic interest in early American music. Other contributors will be added/subtracted as per our RCHA Fellowship Program.