PART 1: Discuss an aspect of the Dueck chapter on Music in Ethnic North America. PART 2: Inspired by Sadie Buck’s story, describe a music community and one or more music scenes that have been signif

African American Music Influence in North America

Student Name

Institutional Affiliation

Course Name

Instructor Name

Date

Part 1: Analysis of the Dueck Chapter on Music in Ethnic North America

Introduction

Music is more than artistic expression; it is a powerful tool for conveying culture and politics. In "Music in Ethnic North America," Dueck explores how music reflects and shapes cultural and social processes. The chapter uses Queen Elizabeth II’s 2002 visit to Canada to demonstrate how performances can both assimilate and subvert, mediating social contradictions. Similarly, in personal experiences like gospel music, music serves as a unifying force, preserving cultural memories and fostering communal cohesion.

In the chapter written by Dueck, ‘Music in Ethnic North America’, the author looks at the multifaceted aspect of music, ethnicity, and politics when it comes to performances (Dueck, 2020). Details of an event held in Winnipeg during the visit of Queen Elizabeth II in 2002 are also explained to show how music depicts the culture of Canada. It involved shows by several ethnic groups, including Aboriginal peoples, which was unlike the United States’ “melting pot” culture of Canada. This multiculturalism opened societal cleavages as some indigenous people boycotted and wanted to participate in the organization and the demand for self-determination (Dueck, 2020). In this chapter, the author shows how music can be a basis for political protest and cultural representation.

Part 2: Personal Connection to Music and Community

Related to the narration given by Sadie Buck I think about music as much as I think about my life and the gospel music culture that I grew up with. Among gospel music, a musical tradition developed from the African American church, it has been helpful in the formation of both individual and group relationships. In my childhood, Sundays were more than just prayers; they were sociologically rich cultural occasions with significant emphasis on singing (Dueck, 2020). The songs of the choir, the beat of songs of the congregation, and the soothing aspect of the music all added a comfort and unity feeling to the scene.

Apart from being effective in rallying the community, these musicals entertained the community and at the same time allowed for catharsis and even spiritual needs. The twist and shout style of gospel music played out as a call-and-response styled segment, which allowed for an energetic and engaging interaction between the congregation and the choir by affirming one’s faith and that of the other, thereby creating an association between the congregation and the choir. This music has affected me in a significant manner, having changed my outlook on life and what constitutes community as well as spirituality.

For me, the gospel music scene has immense symbolic importance because it is not just a component of entertainment but an essential part of the social and spiritual life of the community. This paper argues that gospel music, a genre of music popularized in the African American church, acts as a primary method through which a culture preserves certain aspects and shares them across generational lines. As Sadie Buck expounds, music within a given community serves as a cultural identity marker, a rallying tool used in bringing people together, and as a binding force. The counts are that gospel music has always produced an aspect of assembling people for not only worship but also comforting, encouragement, and fellowship (Dueck, 2020). This is analogous to how music is used across different ethnic groups of North America for identification and, on certain occasions, protestation. Gospel music, therefore, continues to be relevant in healing or soul searching as well as in promoting the unity of the community and upholding its virtues.

Conclusion

In conclusion, one can deem that the relationships between music, culture, and community are essential in the representation of ethnic music in North America as well as in the author’s experience within the gospel music community. From socially conscious expressions of multiculturalism to routine musicking that sustains communal relations, music continues to function as a defining and evolving force in social and cultural existence.

References

Dueck, B. (2020). Music of Ethnic North America. In Excursions in World Music (pp. 430-460). Routledge.