Query: App. music pre-Civil War

Subject: Query: App. music pre-Civil War
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 12:53 PM

Can anyone recommend a source of information about music in the Appalachian region prior to Civil War? A book, perhaps, that might include a traveler's descriptions. Diaries or letters to and from early pioneers would also be valuable. Thanks.

Subject: RE: Query: App. music pre-Civil War
From: Uncle Jaque
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 10:08 PM

Although I have a small collection of published music from 1800 through the War of Rebellion, i get the impression that you are looking for local, regional Folk music which seldom was written down or recorded, but passed on orally from one Generation to the next.

Alas, I probably can't help you much with that.

My suggestion to you would be to peruse the Library of Congress

US Library of Congress

and Smithsonian Institute

Smithsonian Institute

"Media" collections, many of which are on-line now.

Back in the 1930's, the Federal Government assigned WPA Workers to scout around in what was left of isolated rural Communities and collect the songs, stories and legends from any of the Residents who still remembered them, and record them for posterity.

Many of these songs were traced back to their roots in 18th Century (or earlier) England, Scotland, Ireland where many of the Appalachian Ancestors immigrated from, many of them prior to the American Revolution.

Over the years there were evolutions in lyrics and melody, but the connection was still quite recognizable.

Since then, others have ventured forth into the Hinterlands collecting songs with such recording technology as their time could afford. Many of these historical treasures were released in album form, most on "wax" LPs.

I'm not sure if they have ever been offered in more modern format, such as CD or digital files, but would not be surprised if they have.

At any rate - these primary repositories probably have the most extensive collection of just the sort of music that you are looking for.

Happy hunting!

Subject: RE: Query: App. music pre-Civil War
From: LadyJean
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 10:59 PM

You might try the University of Pittsburgh. They have a Stephen Collins Foster memorial library. They might have a folk collection.

Subject: RE: Query: App. music pre-Civil War
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 11:30 PM

Look at: Early American Secular Music and its European Sources, 1589-1839, index at: 1589-1839

Subject: RE: Query: App. music pre-Civil War
From: katlaughing
Date: 21 Jul 03 - 11:45 PM

This site might offer a link or two that would be helpful: Appalachian Culture: Music Sites.

I think I might have something in my genealogy links, but will have to look when I have more time.

Good luck!

kat

Subject: RE: Query: App. music pre-Civil War
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jul 03 - 10:35 AM

Thanks all. I expect the sites to be helpful and they'll make for interesting reading in any event.

Subject: RE: Query: App. music pre-Civil War
From: masato sakurai
Date: 22 Jul 03 - 11:37 AM

This may be too short.

Debby McClatchy, "Appalachian Traditional Music: A Short History" (Musical Traditions)

Subject: RE: Query: App. music pre-Civil War
From: GUEST,Kentucky Pat
Date: 22 Jul 03 - 10:33 PM

Slim, Here's a web site run by Colonial and Revolutionary War reenactors/musicians who do a column for a monthy newspaper for those who enjoy reenactments: www.members.aol.com/kitchiegal. They have midi files so you can listen to snippets of the tunes. They also have PDF files of the sheet music for the tunes. Lesley Nelson's folk music site is divided up into nations and eras so you'll be able to pick out the early tunes at www.contemplator.com.

Subject: RE: Query: App. music pre-Civil War
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Jul 03 - 11:30 AM

Thanks bigtime, Ky Pat. Site looks like it will be wicked helpful. Thanks. Can you recommend any texts reenactors draw from to decide what instruments ought to be played at an encampment. I'd be real interested in instruments that might have been used by the 5th Kentucky Mounted Infantry or other units drawn from the highlands. At this point, I'm more interested in pre-Civil War instruments than tunes. Trying to plug in some gaps in the history of the mountain dulcimer, for my own interest, and of the banjo in Appalachia, for a friend.

Subject: RE: Query: App. music pre-Civil War
From: GUEST,Ole Bull
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 11:57 AM

Have you seen the book by Cecelia Conway "African Banjo Echoes in Appalachia"? It covers that period, most specific to the Banjo. It is comprehensive in it's research but, I found, flawed in it's conclusions.

The best instruments for a Civil War reenactment are (proper period constructed types, of course) banjo, fiddle, guitar, fifes and flutes, accordian (lever-keyed, not keyboard), tambourine, triangle and bones, harmonica (kinda'). Leave the modern versions of these at home along with mandolins, bagpipes and dulcimers.

Subject: RE: Query: App. music pre-Civil War
From: Pinetop Slim
Date: 16 Oct 03 - 01:26 PM

Thanks, Ole. I've heard about the Conway book, but haven't yet found a copy. Curious, though -- why no dulcimers? It seems like the jump from scheitholt to dulcimer had been made by 1820 and it certainly was by 1860. Do you know where I might find photos of Civil War soldiers playing stringed instruments?

Subject: RE: Query: App. music pre-Civil War
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 17 Oct 03 - 01:24 AM

G'day Pinetop Slim,

This is half a world away from me ... but I'm interested in the important effects of portable / improvised musical instruments on Australian style. I know there have been earlier threads on this topic ... and there was a strong tendency to dismiss the larger instruments - especially Guitar, banjo and dulcimer on the grounds that the common soldier would not have had room to cary and store them - in the Civil War. Of course, if your dealing with more static populations before the turmoil of the war, you could find any of the instruments mentioned ... somewhere.

I did hear that the American Civil War gave a great boost to the mouth organ, because of its small size / portabilty ... and its simple playing - and plaintive sound. I suspect that, given the immense difficulty of photography in that period ("wet plate" process requires immediate preparation - then development, so photographers worked with a wagon-mounted darkrooms to prepare the plates and process before they dried - taking the image with them!) most photographs are formally planned, however they may appear ... and such casual affairs as music would be hard put to achieve that status (unless the photographer saw a market for something a bit lighter than carnage).

Incidentally, all the instruments mentioned, bar the dulcimer and mouthorgan, can be seen in music ads in Sydney (Australia) newspapers of the 1850s.

Regards,

Bob Bolton