Foster, Sousa and Joplin bridge the High/Low divide like no other 19th century American composers. Though Foster was really a pop composer.
They bridge it in such a perfect way. I can’t easily find their equivalents in european music.
I’ve always thought that it’s very unfortunate that “serious” american composing in the 19thc-early20thc took a while to root, become accepted and popular. You can count those guys on one hand (almost).
Because only a few people wrote, they were more open minded to other musical influences, they didn’t carry the chip on their shoulders that europeans did at the time, so they fully accepted bridge composers and styles.
I love the American Spirit.
Accepting, pioneering, open to changes.
Which is why I dislike it when americans refuse to assimilate this music.
It’s the ONLY musical history you have!!