CHAPTER 2 | SONG, DANCE, AND HOME MUSIC MAKING 51
In early America, the word “amateur,” rather than referring to someone less
skilled than a professional, meant one who pursued music simply for love of it,
as the Latin root amare (to love) suggests. The most illustrious member of that
company was Thomas Jefferson, author of the Declaration of Independence
and third U.S. president. Jefferson played the violin through much of his life,
owned and maintained harpsichords, and collected a large library of music from
which he and others performed. Among the music that Jefferson copied out in
his own hand is the tune “Money Musk.” In a 1778 letter to an acquaintance in
Paris, he called music “the favorite passion of my soul” and told of his aspirationsdate: 1700s
performers: Rodney Miller, fi ddle; Steve
Woodruff, button accordion; Randy Miller,
piano; Sandy Bradley, guitar; George Wilson,
bass
genre: country dance tune
meter: duple
form: three repeated 4-bar strains: aabbccListening Guide 2.2 “Money Musk” ANONYMOUStiming section comments0:00 introduction Two bars of music set the tempo and prepare the dancers.
0:02 fi rst statement
aa
0:10 bb
0:18 cc
0:26 second statement
0:49 third statement
1:13 fourth statement
1:37 statements 5–10 The fi fth statement modulates to a new key, a fourth higher, raising
the energy level; subsequent statements stay in the new key.WHAT TO LISTEN FOR- each statement of tune follows three-strain
structure (with repeat of each strain) - fi ddler slightly varies each statement
- backup musicians provide harmony and
rhythmic zest - key change near halfway point injects new
energy
Listen & Refl ect
- The seasoned contra dance musicians heard here are accustomed to repeating a tune
many times in the course of a dance. How do the players inject variety into the ten state-
ments of the complete “Money Musk” tune? - What effect might their variations have on dancers, as opposed to listeners?
CD 1.7172028_02_044-062_r3_ko.indd 51 23/01/13 8:13 PM