Learn about the various styles of music from the 19th century. From romanticism to nationalism, this website goes into detail about the history of 19th century music.

A wonderful collection of sheet music from the Library of Congress. Search this site to find the primary source documents of music published in America from 1870 through 1885. The site is separated into many different topics with an...

This site uses historically significant documents to paint a picture of family life in 19th century Ohio. Music plays a large role in this picture.

What was life like for a western pioneer? Students take a journey through westward expansion using music to understand the experience of the pioneers. As they listen to lyrics and analyze the different types of music that was being sung...

Fordham University provides college-level reading on how the Nationalism of the 19th Century affected the music of the 20th, especially Classical music. These composers lived most of their lives in the 1800's, but are often classified...

A instructional activity unit on the people and movements that fought to abolish slavery. Looks at the Triangular Trade, and at the Underground Railroad and famous abolitionists. Includes a play about emancipation, a black history rap...

The Moldenhauer Archives at the Library of Congress contain approximately 3,500 items documenting the history of Western music from the medieval period through the modern era.

Song sheets, which containedonly lyrics, were a popular form of printed music. The Library of Congress holds over 4,000 of these from the 1800s that can be viewed online.

This site contains the lyrics to a popular nineteenth century folk song. A MIDI file of the song is also available to download.

The guitar in America began as an instrument used in popular music in the city and then branched out to minstrel shows, ragtime, and even jazz. Read about the history of this ubiquitous instrument and how it took on its American character.

This University of Pittsburgh site provides a wealth of information about American songwriter Stephen Foster. This link discusses his professional career with various other links within the text about minstrel shows, etc. Return to the...

This is an encyclopedia article which defines the period of Romanticism from the late 18th to the mid-19th century. It describes the characteristics of Romanticism in general and in literature, visual arts, and music.

As part of a larger look at the American musical, this brief look at the popularity of the operetta in the last part of the 19th century discusses why it was so popular with the middle class. Included is a short video that discusses...

Find out about Ned Harrigan and Tony Hart, a British musical duo, who brought musical comedies to the New York state.

Features an extensive collection of lithographs that portrays everyday life in the 19th century and attitudes about race and ethnicity. These prints play a major role in helping us understand America's past. Subjects covered include...

This article and audio report [9:05] covers the origins of American cowboy folk songs. Uses popups. Also includes a brief video clip of a 19th century folk song being performed.

Wikipedia offers detailed information on polka, a type of music and dance originating in Bohemia. Includes samples, artists, and more.

Defining Celtic music, this site breaks down its history into Ancient Times, the 19th century and then by the 1970s and 1990s. Includes links to other sites about Celtic music.

Site compares and contrasts a farming village of 1845 to that of the present day. Students can make their own video online using clips, narrative, and music supplied by the museum.

This resource provides a brief biography of Edvard Grieg, an international Scandanavian composer of the 19th century. Information is also given on his most famous work, "the Cello Sonata in A minor opus 36."

This page presents the lyrics to a famous folk song of the nineteenth century.

The town of Pulaski, Wisconsin claims to have more musicians per capita than anywhere in the U.S. Learn about Pulaski, a town that thrives on polka music in this video segment from EGG: the arts show.

Notes on the story, characters, music, and choreography of "The Nutcracker" ballet.

From circuses and 'freak shows' to broadsides and novels, from pleasure gardens and music halls to chapbooks and penny dreadfuls, Georgian and Victorian Britain offered the public a rich range of affordable entertainments. Read more...