New Exhibition Explores History Of Political Song

摘要

Long before the advent of the 30-sec-ond campaign ad, Americans used political songs to celebrate-and sear-the candidates they loved and those they loved to hate. "Voices, Votes, Victory: Presidential Campaign Songs," a new exhibition on view Oct. 8, 2008, through March 7, 2009, in the Music Division at the Library of Congress, explores the history of the political song in the U.S.rnThe political song can be found as far back as the era of the nation's first president, George Washington, who was celebrated in music after he took that office. But political singing took on a more contentious tone by the 1840s, as campaign songs began to be used to persuade potential voters and sometimes blast contenders for office.rn"Voices, Votes, Victory" features sheet music cover art, lyrics, and sound excerpts from campaign songs dating from 1798 to 1968. Among the exhibit items are a march celebrating George Washington, a song supporting Abraham Lincoln's first run for the presidency in 1860 and music heralding third-party agendas.