Music of Montana

Montana is a state of the United States. While only the 41st state to enter the union (1889) and only 44th in population (4 Western and 2 Eastern states have fewer people), the state is very diverse in its European-descended population; Cornish, Irish, Scottish, Welsh, French-Canadian, Norwegian, Faroese, Finnish, Slovak, Serbian, Luxembourgish, Northern and Southern Italian, Ashkenazi Jewish, Cajun, Swiss German, and Basque are just some of the ethnicities/nationalities of Europeans who settled in the territory, and then state. The Native American population of the state is also, both traditionally and in modern times, extremely diverse, with more than two dozen ethnic groups (belonging to multiple ethnolinguistic groups) represented. Due to its migration patterns and place in the American West, Montana has a very long history of pioneer folk music and cowboy songs and poetry. The state also has a tradition of baroque, classical, and romantic era music: two prominent musical institutions, both classical, are the Great Falls Symphony Orchestra, which was established in 1958, and the Bozeman Symphony Orchestra, which was established in 1963. The Helena Symphony was founded in 1955 and known to be one of the premier symphonies of Montana and the Northwest as a whole.

Montana has two official state songs: "Montana" and "Montana Melody".

Montana is home to several Native American Reservations and traditionally to more than two dozen distinct tribes, each with their own forms of music. These include the Blackfoot, Crow, Flathead, Cheyenne, Chippewa-Cree, Gros Ventre, Assiniboine, and Sioux. An example of the modern synthesis of popular and traditional Native music in Montana is Jack Gladstone, a folk musician and lecturer/presenter who embraces Native themes, and who has collaborated with fellow Montana musician Rob Quist.

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