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Work and Music

Work inspires music and music inspires work. With the celebration of Labor Day, this Spotlight focuses on the ways in which work and music inspire one another to produce more fulfilling work and more meaningful music. Enjoy videos and objects drawn from across the Smithsonian, and get creative with how you incorporate music into your own daily work life.

  • "The Battle of the Sewing Machines"
  • Work Songs (Program #16)
  • Work Table Piano
  • The Factory Girl's Song
  • Propeller Indiana’s Hand Bell
  • Whistle While You Work; Bluddle-Uddle-Um-Dum (The Washing Song)
  • Drum
  • Harmony Creates Tranquility
  • Shepherd's trumpet
  • 32c John Henry single
  • Joe Glazer Discusses Music in the American Labor Movement Interview Video
  • Pandereta
  • Carry Me and I'll Drum It Through
  • Textile
  • Hunting horn
  • Ships, sea songs and shanties, collected by W. B. Whall ... the songs harmonised by R. H. Whall ... illustrations by Veronica Whall
  • Music on Flight Deck
  • Hunting Charm
  • Patent model for music type
  • Rattle used to accompany whalers' chants
  • Musical Rattle Whale Bone
  • “Casey Jones”
  • John Henry's Funeral
  • Cisco Houston - "Pat Works on the Railroad" Official Audio
  • Bancroft Viola
  • Cradle Will Rock Team
  • Reale Violin
  • Marc Blitzstein
  • Modern Music
  • Teatro Campesino Poster
  • Woody Guthrie
  • One Hundred Good Fortunes
  • Mike Seeger - "John Henry" Official Audio
  • Birch Bark Scroll, Song For Hunting Charm Medicine
  • Mississippi John Hurt
  • Joe Hill

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