Verbreitung und Nachahmung der Musik der Afro-Amerikaner in Österreich um 1900
Research about the reception of Afro-American music in Austria during the late 19th and early 20th centuries brings to light specific Austrian dimensions, traceable in the imitation of Afro-American music by local musicians. Both enthusiasm and rejection greeted the then new and unusual music from America. The visual impression created by Afro- Americans during their performances shaped opinion and can be found in newspaper articles. The Afro-American music itself could be compared only to the current European popular music (or even classical music). Accordingly local newspapers depicted Afro-Americans primarily in reference to their dances, appearance and the comic effect of their performances. Sources show that, around 1903, Austrians found the Cakewalk of particular interest. Its reception as music and dance can be documented starting from the many performances by itinerant Afro-American musicians to imitations by local musicians in bourgeois theaters (e. g. of Graz and Vienna) and "compositional" works by Austrian musicians. The Austrian compositions, or sometimes arrangements of original American compositions, were performed at local theaters or were intended for private homes. Selected examples of Austrian music demonstrate which elements of Afro-American music, at the turn of the century, were considered representative of Afro-American music or "music from America".