A study of selected essays and songs of Charles Ives as expressions of progressive idealism
Date
1985
Authors
Gaudet, Michael Ronald
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Abstract
The present study is an investigation of the political and social beliefs of Charles Ives (1874-1954). Ives was sympathetic to the ideals and aims of the Progressives, a reform movement prominent in American political life between the 1890's and '1920. Progressives were typically middle-class, idealistic citizens who approached social and political reform with limitless optimism. The ultimate test of their faith in progress came with America's entry into World War I and the subsequent debate over the League of Nations question. Chapter I examines the origins of Progressivism and shows how ,Ives's family background, his study of the Transcendentalists, and his approach to religion and business made him receptive to Progressive causes. Chapter II is an examination of Ives's reactions to the important political questions of the period 1908-1920. A discussion of his essays of this time, with special reference to "Stand By the President and the People" (1917) and "The Majority" (1919-1920), reveals his reverence for democratic ideals and his sense of assurance in the spiritual progress of mankind.
Ives's compositional approach favours representation over adherence to traditional form. His favourite device is the quotation of pre-existing melodies as symbolic references to American values and as the thematic, motivic, and harmonic basis of his works. The thesis concludes in Chapter III with an analysis of a selection of songs by Ives which present, in musical form , his idealistic views on religion, World War l , and the voice of the individual in government.