Includes bibliographical references (p. 135-136) and index (p. [137]-143). A land without musical tradition- in search of roots: psalms and hymn singing, folk music, Afro-American music, popular songs, art music with foreign models -- Businessman and musical genius: Charles Ives -- Popular music as a national style: gospel song, blues, ragtime, jazz, and tin pan alley -- An American in New York: George Gershwin -- The romantics at heart: Carl Ruggles, Walter Piston, Virgil Thomson, Roy Harris and Samuel Barber -- Baked by Nadia Boulanger: Aaron Copland -- A Frenchman in New York: Edgard Varáese -- Gambling with sounds and silence: John Cage -- Some modernist front-runners: Henry Cowell, Roger Sessions, Harry Partch, Elliott Carter, Milton Babbitt, Earle Brown and George Crumb -- The minimalists: La Monte Young, Terry Riley, Steve Reich, Philip Glass and John Adams -- Three Latin American Masters: H. Villa-Lobos, Carlos Chavez and Mauricio Kagel.