Opera

[7thNYcav]

1847—American premiere of Verdi's opera "Ernani," at the Park Theatre in New York City;
They did have opera and other classical music in the US and an officer ( gentlemen) would have some knowledge of music beyond banjos
Sorry for sounding so bad but we do need to expand the types of music.

[KKS]

Re: Opera

"It will never do to be ignorant of the names and approximate ages of great composers, especially in large cities, where music is so highly appreciated and so common a theme. It will be decidedly condemnatory if you talk of the new opera 'Don Giovanni,' or Rossini's 'Trovatore,' or are ignorant who composed 'Fidelio,' and in what opera occur such common pieces as 'Ciascun lo dice,' or 'Il Segreto.' I do not say that these trifles are indispensable, and when a man has better knowledge to offer, especially with genius or 'cleverness' to back it, he will not only be pardoned for an ignorance of them, but can even take a high tone, and profess indifference or contempt of them. But at the same time, such ignorance stamps an ordinary man, and hinders conversation" (31-2).
--Martine's Hand-Book of Etiquette, and Guide to True Politeness, by Arthur Martine, 1866.

Thomas Hillgrove's A Complete Practical Guide to the Art of Dancing (1863) lists the instruments that should be played for private parties, balls, and other occasions.
One instrument: violin or pianoforte.
Two instruments: violin and piano, harp and violin, or violin and violincello.
And so on. There is no mention of guitars, dulcimers, banjos, etc.

Camp music is, of course, very different, whether from circumstances, necessity, the nature of army life, or other factors. It was very popular, but I would argue it should be portrayed as a departure from most "cultured" civilian music.

Kira Sanscrainte

[RyanBWeddle]

Re: Opera

"I once heard the Anvil Chorus sung in fair Italian to the accompaniment of an orchestra that only boasted one bit of brass, a battered cornet. There were
plenty of drums, and a neighboring battery furnished the anvil and sledges. Sometimes a shade of sadness would be cast over the rough assemblage as some favorite song would recall a noted singer who during the previous summer had found a soldier’s grave on the battlefield."

- from Lights & Shadows of Army Life, by Geo. F. Williams
The Century; a popular quarterly. / Volume 28, Issue 6 Oct 1884

This was from a section describing camp life on the 1862 Pennisula campaign. - RBW

[KKS]

Re: Opera

That's a really touching story. Here is another account of the same piece, though much lighter:

"[W]e cannot forego the opportunity of recording an incident in the career of a young man 'about town,' who, anxious to see life in all its phases; was induced to attend a public ball, the patrons of which were characterized more for their peculiarity of manners than their extraordinary refinement. On being solicited by an acquaintance, whom he respected for his kindness of heart and integrity rather than for his mental accomplishments, to dance with his daughter, he consented, and was accordingly introduced to a very beautiful young lady. Ere the dance commenced, and while the musicians were performing the “Anvil Chorus,” from “Trovatore,” the young lady asked:

“Do you know what that 'ere is?”

Supposing that she meant air, and wishing to give her an opportunity of making herself happy in the thought of imparting a valuable piece of information, in utter disregard of the principles of Mrs. Opie, he replied, “No.”

'Why,' said she, 'that's the Anvel Core-ri-ous.'

With an expletive more profane than polite, he suddenly found his admiration for the lady as much diminished by her ignorance, as it had before been exalted by her beauty" (112-13).
--The Art of Dancing, by Edward Ferrero, 1859.

Kira Sanscrainte