Melungeon musical traditions?

Subject: Melungeon musical traditions?
From: Ronn
Date: 01 Feb 99 - 11:46 AM

There is a fascinating article in the November/December 1998 issue of THE OXFORD AMERICAN about a group of people primarily from southern Appalachia called the Melungeons. The article, entitled "A Melungeon Gathering" by Chris Offutt, states that they are of Turkish-Jewish-Moorish- Spanish-Portugese-African-Anglo-Native American descent who were heavily shunned by more conventionally derived (read Northern European) pioneers. There is also a great deal of information about them on-line at www.bright.net/~kat/melung.htm.

I have not been able to find any information as to wheteher or not they have a distinct musical tradition. People of a background this diverse would undoubtedly make incredible music.

Due to heavy discrimination against them, many generations of Melungeons desired to hide their origins, so I guess it is possible that they did not seek to create distinct art forms. But I feel their had to be some forms that have been handed down, and music always seems to be an artform created even if no others are. There are also undoubtedly musicians who are (knowingly or not) of Melungeon descent. But do they make Melungeon music?

Does anybody have any thoughts on this?

Subject: RE: Melungeon musical traditions?
From: Ronn
Date: 03 Feb 99 - 11:40 PM

Someone? Anyone?

Subject: RE: Melungeon musical traditions?
From: Barbara
Date: 04 Feb 99 - 01:11 AM

I was hoping someone would speak to this, too, Ronn. If no one bites, you might want to try posting a more generic title like, oh, "mediterranean roots of appalachian songs?". Possibly people aren't reading this thread because they don't recognize the word 'Melungeon'. Might also try the ballad list people.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Melungeon musical traditions?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 04 Feb 99 - 08:57 AM

Barbara, who & what are the Ballad List People. Sounds like they dwell underground & sing minging songs (in the key of C minor, cause origanily they were sailors). Sorry, don't know about your Melungeon traditions. Thanks. Barry

Subject: RE: Melungeon musical traditions?
From: Barbara
Date: 04 Feb 99 - 01:01 PM

Barry et al, the group is a fairly scholarly discussion list based at the University of Indiana. To join, put "subscribe" in the body copy of a message to "[e-mail]", all without the quotes, of course.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Melungeon musical traditions?
From: Jerry Friedman
Date: 04 Feb 99 - 01:50 PM

I imagine you've tried A Melungeon Home Page. There's another article and a lot of links at Appalachian History: The Melungeons Online. (And I have that bump at the base of the skull the article mentions as a Melungeon or Turkish characteristic, which is giving me much food for thought.) I didn't see anything specifically about music, but maybe those are places to start looking.

Subject: RE: Melungeon musical traditions?
From: Barbara
Date: 04 Feb 99 - 05:30 PM

I'm sorry, that was only part of the information about the Ballad list. The address is right, but to subscribe, you should put " subscribe ballad-l firstname lastname " minus the quotes and plus your firstname, lastname in the body of the message.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Melungeon musical traditions?
From: The Shambles
Date: 04 Feb 99 - 05:53 PM

If Bill D is a curmudgeon I think that must make me a Melungeon? It sure sounds like the music that I make.

Subject: RE: Melungeon musical traditions?
From: Barry Finn
Date: 04 Feb 99 - 09:41 PM

Barbara, thanks for the list direction. Barry