The book opens with a general survey of the American musical landscape, examining the historical obstacles that hindered native composition, notably the lingering severity of Puritanism and the pervasive dominance of European, particularly German, traditions. Hughes addresses the persistent debate surrounding national identity in music, arguing that a true American school must emerge not from the artificial adoption of exotic folk idioms, such as negro spirituals or Indian melodies, but from the assimilation of diverse global elements into a unified, cosmopolitan expression. The volume then dedicates individual chapters to the foremost figures of the era, exploring their lives, aesthetics, and major contributions to orchestral, chamber, vocal, and piano literature. Among the innovators, Edward MacDowell stands out as a towering presence, celebrated for his profound scholarship, poetic impressionism, and monumental piano sonatas that successfully revive the austere grandeur of Beethoven.
Edgar Stillman Kelley is distinguished for his rare mastery of musical humor and brilliant orchestral virtuosity, manifested in works like his Chinese suite Aladdin, while Harvey Worthington Loomis is noted for his restless hunt for novelty and atmospheric pantomimes. Ethelbert Nevin achieves widespread popularity through his fervent, refined lyrics and pianistic gems that preserve an artistic conscience. John Philip Sousa revolutionizes march-music, imbuing it with a pride and psychological nuance that elevates the military tune to enduring art.
Subsequent sections examine the academics and colonists, including figures like John Knowles Paine, Dudley Buck, Horatio W. Parker, Frank van der Stucken, William Wallace Gilchrist, and George W. Chadwick, who uphold classical standards through symphonies, overtures, and large-scale sacred works. Throughout the study, Hughes champions the seriousness of native composition, advocating for a critical approach that neither indulges in abject modesty nor relies on unearned praise, ultimately demonstrating that American music has attained a substantial vitality and a promising future.
