While classical music had been flourishing in Europe for centuries—creating symphonies, operas, concerti, and cantatas—the United States of America was still struggling in the mid-19th century to gain its musical footing.
One American composer with a simple farming background shaped music of his day by writing the most famous military tunes of the Civil War, popular sentimental ballads in the post-Civil War period, and many serious classical works. His name is all but forgotten today by everyone except Civil War historians. This musician was George Frederick Root (1820–1895).
