Stephan+Foster

I wanted to learn more about some of the people who were influencing the works that we are now covering in this new section of literature so i found some interesting information on Stephan Foster that i would like to discuss.

He is said to be one of america's most influential songwriters. He was born in Lawrenceville, Pennsylvania and ironically shares his birthday (july 4, 1836) with America itself. Stephan Foster always showed an interest in music, but never had the knowledge or experience to make anything of it. He had little formal training in this field also. Foster was a self-taught individual, and people who are self taught can be some of the most knowledgable and passionate people about the things they learned on their own which gives me reason to think that this learning he did on his own helped him become who he did. Biographies say that Foster had a love for Ethiopian style and minstrel songs. He also enjoyed Irish, German, and Italian works as well and incorporated them into his creations. He published his first song at the age of eighteen call "Open They Lattice, Love." This song was set to George P. Morris's poem. Foster composed and lyrcised his own music.

He apparently always faced financial trouble is his life. But again, i think becuase he was young and driven, that made him better at what he did. He also seperated with his wife later in his life. His health began to deterierate and alcholism became a problem. Although Stephan Foster lived a rough life outside his musical career, these hardships in the real world made his works more raw and emotional and, in my opinion better, than they would have been if he didn't live the way he did. 1204150931