Who was Stephen Foster?

• A. A 19th-century politician
• B. An extremely popular and successful 19th-century songwriter who helped bring the parlor song into prominence and was the first American to earn a living as a professional songwriter
• C. A brass band conductor
• D. A minstrel performer

Answer: (B)

Understanding Stephen Foster's place in 19th-century American music and the rise of the parlor song is about recognizing how a composer helped bring home-based singing into widespread use and made songwriting a viable profession. Foster, active in the mid-1800s, wrote tunes that became household staples—pieces that could be played on the piano and sung with family and friends. His success showed that a songwriter could earn a living from publishing songs, a relatively new and significant achievement at the time, and his work helped elevate the parlor song from regional tunes to national favorites. He wasn't a politician, nor primarily a brass band conductor, and while his music appeared in minstrel contexts, he did not perform as a minstrel performer himself. The best description, therefore, is of a highly popular and influential songwriter who popularized the parlor song and pioneered professional songwriting in America.