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Miami

Music by Egbert Van Alstyne
Copyright 1910

 

To listen to a high quality MP3 version click here.

 

The city of Miami was created from a mangrove swamp in the early 20th century when a group of wealthy railroad industry tycoons decided to build a playground for leisure. Beautiful beachfront homes were built and yacht races took place in Biscayne Bay. Miami Beach became the winter home for millionaires who engaged in fishing expeditions, teas and pig roasts. Elegant Art Deco hotels were built and eventually people from all over America were attracted to Miami.

The composition “Miami” is subtitled A Southern Idyll and is a beautiful work for solo piano which reflects the early days of life in Miami. An idyll is a work that describes a scene of peace and contentment, certainly the atmosphere of Miami at the turn of the century.

Credit: QuickTime audio file arranged and performed by Jeff Donovick for the Florida Center for Instructional Technology. Cover scan courtesy of the USF Libraries Digitization Center.

Exploring Florida: A Social Studies Resource for Students and Teachers
Produced by the Florida Center for Instructional Technology,
College of Education, University of South Florida © 2006.