Music in the 1920s and 30s spread through new technologies, such as network radio and audio recording, that helped make musicians into national or international stars.

Though many listened to the radio, people also heard unique live performances, and whether it was heard in a bar or from across the country, the sounds of music contributed to a rich time of experimentation. 

In a new book "The Musical Human," Michael Spitzer writes about how music is basic to human nature, and not just a domain of geniuses who perform for an audience. 

There may be a culture with no word for music where dances and songs are so tightly interwoven into the lives of the people they don’t think about it.

David Byrne, in "How Music Works," makes an analogous point about the Japanese, who before they had a word for art, made an art form out of daily rituals.

Citing a number of writers, he theorizes that music education has overemphasized appreciation, and strayed from teaching musical skills that can support the development of parts of our brains that do creative problem solving.

Byrne also feels that with an over-emphasis on the division between musician and listener, we have under-valued popular music, and further alienated ourselves from an important outlet for positive self-expression.

Popular music and its interaction with history continues to be our theme in videos and conversations with Lloyd Kaplan and Tom Shaker at Mohr Library.

As we've heard in the last program, the twenties and thirties were a wild time for the interaction between audience and performer. On Tuesday, Oct. 26, at 6:30, they'll be talking about music of the 30s, including American folk music along with other forms.

Editor’s Note: Jon Anderson serves as the Marian J. Mohr Memorial Library Director. Watch for his column weekly in the Johnston Sun Rise.