This best-selling survey text describes American music as a collection of distinct strains of music--including popular, folk, sacred, classical, blues, jazz, and rock music - that have evolved into a musical panorama reflecting the nation's unique character. By comparing and contrasting America's musical styles across regions and time periods, Kingman delivers a clear vision of American music that encompasses the historical sources of all American music, the ways in which diverse styles have influenced each other, and the cultural contributions of America's innovative and original composers.