Sweet Thing: The History and Musical Structure of a Shared American Vernacular Form.

Nicholas Stoia's book, "Sweet Thing: The History and Musical Structure of a Shared American Vernacular Form," explores the concept of the "Sweet Thing" scheme in American music. Stoia argues that this scheme, which can be traced back to the 16th century, is a shared musical structure utilized by a wide range of American songs. The book delves into the historical and stylistic aspects of this scheme, drawing from both printed music and audio recordings. Stoia's research challenges the notion of racially separated music cultures and highlights the interconnectedness of Black and white musical traditions. The book also examines the relationship between secular and sacred music and provides examples and transcriptions to illustrate the "Sweet Thing" scheme. Overall, "Sweet Thing" offers a fresh perspective on American vernacular music and its historical and cultural significance. [Extracted from the article]