In the past decade ragtime has experienced a rebirth recent studies of early twentieth century modernity have appropriately reoriented their attention to the a we use cookies to enhance your experience on our websiteby continuing to use our website you are agreeing to our use of cookies. The product of our souls ragtime race and the birth of the manhattan musical marketplace david gilbert the product of our souls the history of black entertainment in the city to remind readers of african americans struggles to enter the manhattan musical marketplace before the 1920s he began his first column by writing at . The product of our souls ragtime race and the birth of the manhattan musical marketplace david gilbert unc press books may 18 2015 social science 312 pages 0 reviews in 1912 james reese europe made history by conducting his 125 member clef club orchestra at carnegie hall the first concert by an african american ensemble at the . Gilbert shows how europe and others used the rhythmic sounds of ragtime blues and jazz to construct new representations of black identity challenging many of the nations preconceived ideas about race culture and modernity and setting off a musical craze in the process. The product of our souls ragtime race and the birth of the manhattan musical marketplace david gilbert format book published chapel hill the university of north carolina press 2015 description xiv 291 pages 25 cm notes includes bibliographical references and index contents