Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell (1774-1781), 95

Item

Title

Nicholas Cresswell, The Journal of Nicholas Cresswell (1774-1781), 95

Includes music itself or text of song

no

Identity of singers; solo/group

native american
solo

Voice/instrument

instrument
violin

Space/room

unclear

Ornamentation / improvisation

n/a

Geographical location

Newcomers Town

Excerpt

Heard an Indian play upon a Tin Violin and make tolerable good Musick.

Context

In this section Cresswell is traveling through the midwest, the "Indian Country." He describes many customs of the different indigenous towns.

Bias of author

Cresswell was an English man visiting America with the goal of acquiring land to live in the future, as stated in the first entry of his journal. His text is often concerned with agriculture and the possibilities of improving the land and farming methods in the US. His writing is usually condescending, pointing out what he sees as the "immorality" or "backwardness" of the territories he visits. This is particularly true in descriptions of enslaved African Americans or Native American people.

Item sets