Federal Music Project

"Midsummer Night Symphonies", Southern California Federal Music Project, WPA, ca. 1937

The Federal Music Project (FMP), part of the Federal government of the United States New Deal program Federal One, employed musicians, conductors and composers during the Great Depression. People in the music world had been particularly hard-hit by the era's economic downturn. In addition to performing thousands of concerts, offering music classes, organizing the Composers Forum Laboratory, hosting music festivals and creating 34 new orchestras, employees of the FMP researched American traditional music and folk songs, a practice now called ethnomusicology. In the latter domain the Federal Music Project did notable studies on cowboy, Creole and "Negro" music. The FMP's director—for the majority of its brief life—was Nikolai Sokoloff. During the Great Depression, many people visited these symphonies to forget about the economic hardship of the time.

1935-1939

The Federal Music Project began in July 1935, and ended in 1939. The Federal Music Project was followed by the WPA Music Program, and this lasted 1939-1943. People that were into music before the Federal Music Program were distraught, by the Great Depression. The Great Depression played a tremendous role on why the Federal Music Program is here today. The purpose of the Federal Music Project was to give different types of musicians an occupation, during the Great Depression, and it was also to teach others about music, and create entertainment and educate people about the wondrous music that these musicians created. Some of these musicians included: singers, music teachers, and instrumentalists. Pieces from the Federal Music Project included many orchestras (symphony orchestras, dance orchestras) it also included string quartet, the teaching of music, and piano. Vocalists and singers also played a great role in the Federal Music Project. There were singers, and vocal quartets, and soloists. Grand opera had key pieces as well. Dr. Nikolai Sokoloff was the director of the Federal Music Project. Before the Federal Music Project Dr. Sokoloff was originally the conductor for the original Cleveland Orchestra. In addition to Dr. Sokoloff there were five Regional Directors, twenty three State Directors, and five Administrative staff.

WPA Federal Music Project of New York City "Theatre of Music" 1935-1941

The Federal Music Project was created for the Works Progress Administration. It is also known as the WPA. The project helped to break away from the debates of the United States Congress, and it created something for people to do, during the hardships. These musical concerts were either a very low cost, or they were free. It created lessons for adults who are underprivileged, and it created a musical program for children. The creation of music was more popular, and the appreciation for music arose. The amateur musicians became better, and there were more musical participants. The project formed new orchestras, singers, dancers, vocal groups, and vocal producers. The music project supplied performers and teachers of music an occupation. It also created many new orchestral pieces of music. This project was the first where Federal money was used on culture. The Federal Music Project helped people use their time for relaxation more innovative. The Federal Music Project was for the use of everyone, and it didn’t single anyone out. Even though the project was thought to be this picturesque, ideal, and perfect plan, there were still many challenging facets that occurred during its time. One of the more general obstacles the Federal Music Project had to go through was the types of culture going into the project. The project caught on so much in the 1930s that most schools had their own music program.

In 1936, the Works Progress Administration also began to add on to the Federal Music Project. The WPA’s didn’t center towards original music. In 1937 Charles Seeger developed into assistant director of the project. After he became assistant director, many varieties of music became available. Seeger’s ambition was for everyone to take interest in music, and become a part of it.

In 1939, the Federal Music Project’s finances declined, by Congress. This wasn’t the only decline in finances; many other projects like the Federal Music Project were reduced. In 1939 the Federal Music Project was renamed. Its new name was the WPA Music Program. This didn’t last long though. A year later the Federal Music Project/WPA Music Program was terminated.

References

• "The U.S. Work Projects Administration Federal Music Project ." The Library of Congress. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Sept. 2009
• THE U. S. WORK PROJECTS ADMINISTRATION Library of Congress. Music Division. . Library of Congress Web. Library of Congress, 1999. Web. 26 Sept. 2009
• Federal Music Project Poster. N.d. Library of Congress. Library of Congress.Web. 26 Sept. 2009
• "FEDERAL MUSIC PROJECT (FMP)." Novelguide. Oakwood Publishing Company, 2009.Web. 29 Sept. 2009
• "Introduction." The WPA. Bienes Center for the Literary Arts" Findlay, James A., and Margaret Bing, n.d. Web. 29 Sept. 2009

Further reading

• Galván, Gary. American Music 26, Number 4 (Winter 2008). ISSN 514-538 

External links

• Encyclopedia of Oklahoma History and Culture - Federal Music Project