American Music America has made a distinctive contribution to modern music, much of which had its origin there. During the last century, cowboys seated round the camp-fire at night created their own songs and dances accompanied by simple instruments like the guitar and the mouth-organ. At the same time, black slaves sang as they worked on the plantations of the South. These worksongs, known as spirit- uals, expressed their simple, but fervent faith in God and their desire for freedom. Spirituals hold an important position in the music of our century. Itis in these songs that the influence of European religious hymns is particularly evident. ‘Towards the end of the last century, a new rhythm called rag-time developed into jazz, the most ty- pical American music. Jazz developed in New Orleans. It was greatly influenced by original African music and religious and country meloi ‘At first jazz was played at funerals and wedding parties, but soon it became popular as music for simple entertainment. The most traditional type of jazz.is called the blues and expresses melancholy. Its songs are mostly about slavery, misery, and love. After the 1929 economic crisis, many jazz players moved to other parts of the USA, particularly to the north, and jazz spread throughout the States. ‘There are different styles of jaz, each called after the towns where the music was originated and played. Nowadays, jazz is popular all over the world and it is still a very vital kind of music, too. Popular songs, dance music and even rock ’n’ roll as well as pop music come from, or are influenced by, the ‘music that was born in New Orleans about 80 years ago.