SOUNDTRACK 250: THE MUSIC THAT MAKES AMERICA SING.
This article examines the significant contributions of Jewish composers and lyricists to American music, highlighting how their work has shaped the nation’s cultural identity by expressing themes of longing, belonging, protest, and reinvention. It traces Jewish involvement across diverse genres and...
| Published in: | Moment Magazine Vol. 52; no. 3/4; pp. 34 - 52 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
| Format: | Arts/Entertainment Review |
| Published: |
Moment Magazine
Summer2026
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=hlh&AN=194278468&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: hlh uiTerm: 194278468 longDbName: Humanities International Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: jinfo: jid: 00990280 2QG jtl: Moment Magazine issn: 00990280 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Summer2026 vid: 52 iid: 3/4 pid: 2523 pub: Moment Magazine artinfo: ui: 194278468 ppf: 34 ppct: 18 formats: fmt: – @attributes: type: T – @attributes: type: P size: 2.5MB tig: atl: SOUNDTRACK 250: THE MUSIC THAT MAKES AMERICA SING. aug: au: Alterman, Joe Bardi, Jennifer Bolz, Diane M. Breger, Sarah Cooper, Marilyn Sidran, Ben Benko, Julie Janeczko, Jeff Graber, Naomi Eden, Mark Bar-Josef, Nurit Horwitz, Murray Frohlinger, Alexandra Levy, Joe Riccardi, Ricky Stein, Mike Eisner, Jane Heschel, Susannah Cottin, Letty Vera, Billy su: Jewish music Cultural identity Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989 Music publishing Broadway theatrical productions Social justice African American music Emigration & immigration sug: subj: Jewish music Cultural identity Berlin, Irving, 1888-1989 Music publishing Broadway theatrical productions Social justice African American music Emigration & immigration ab: This article examines the significant contributions of Jewish composers and lyricists to American music, highlighting how their work has shaped the nation’s cultural identity by expressing themes of longing, belonging, protest, and reinvention. It traces Jewish involvement across diverse genres and eras—from early 20th-century Tin Pan Alley and Broadway to iconic songs like Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America,” Billie Holiday’s “Strange Fruit” (written by Jewish lyricist Abel Meeropol), and Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim’s “Somewhere” from *West Side Story*. The article also explores how these songs reflect broader American experiences, including immigration, social justice, and the pursuit of the American Dream, often intersecting with African American musical traditions and struggles. Through detailed discussions of emblematic songs, the piece illustrates how Jewish artists helped define what it means to be American while negotiating their own cultural identities. pubtype: Periodical doctype: Arts/Entertainment Review src: R language: English refInfo: copyright: @attributes: flag: Y custom: Copyright of Moment Magazine is the property of Moment Magazine and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. item: Moment Magazine holder: Moment Magazine dt: @attributes: year: 2026 holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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