Appalachian Folk music

Subject: Appalachian Folk music
From: stacey
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 02:19 PM

Hey, I am doing a project for college on Appalachian Folk music. I was wondering if anyone can help me wiht info, an interview if you are an artist, or with recommendations of artists I should listen to. Thanks a lot.

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: Bert
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 02:29 PM

Try Appalshop

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: hotspur
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 02:36 PM

"Singing Cowboys and Musical Mountaineers" by Bill C. Malone--is a great overview of Southern folk music, including a lot on Appalachian musicians and singers. Also look for collections by Cecil Sharp, he collected Child and British ballads found in the Appalachians. AS for musicians, I believe the Carter family are considered to be from the Appalachians, but I could be wrong about this. Good luck!

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: folk1234
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 02:48 PM

Stacey; Try Augusta Heritage at Davis elkins College, elkins WVA. (www.augustaheritage.com)

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: Lynn Koch
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 03:10 PM

Don't forget to check standard collections by Carl Sandburg and the Lomaxes.

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: Bruce O.
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 03:27 PM

'The Frank C Brown Collection of North Carolina Folklore', which is in either 5 or 7 volumes. 'South Carolina Ballads'. Davis, 'Traditional, & More Traditional Ballads of Virginia'. Bruce Rosenberg, 'Folksongs of Virginia', (checklist of xollwxrrdd but unpublished songs in Alderman Lib., U. of Va.

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: RWilhelm
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 03:37 PM

Jean Ritchie's book _Folk Songs of the Southern Appalachians_ has some good song info.

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: Susan A-R
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 09:14 PM

John Jacob Niles did a collection of ballads there, also, I believe that there's an outfit called Pipestem in West Verginia. Anyone else know of it? I used to know a musician named Jim Costa in Hinton West Virtinia. He played banjo, fiddle flat top guitar, and knew a lot of the old timers. He collected songs, and was/and still is, I hear, a terriffic guy. (He also appears in the band in "Matawan" There is also a lot of wonderful stuff in the database here about people/songs of the region. Try plugging in "coal mining" or "Nimrod Workman" (I haven't actually done this, but I'm sure there's stuff of his in there. Also, the Highlander Center in Tennessee may have info. Also, might be able to get info from John McCutchin. He used to work with an outfit known as "Appleshop" in Whitesberg KY. (I'll give this more thought. I spent about 8 months in that part of the world at a critical age, and it has shaped a lot of who I am.)

Susan, now in Vermont.

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: catspaw49
Date: 18 Mar 99 - 10:06 PM

First, Susan...Tell me more about what and when.

stacey...Appalachian music locked me into this whole scene to begin with. It's already been suggested to you for background reading, but the Lomax info is great, but when you are talking specific, PLEASE read John Jacob Niles. Every other resource named is good, but let me enhance a few.Don West built the Appalachian South Folklife Center in Pipestem and the festivals held there are some of the best. Don is gone now, but what he left lives on, a true treasure.

I would be remiss in not mentioning Homer Ledford (another Berea College boy) who knows more about this subject than should be legal...he's also a fine instrument maker and has built over 6000 (YES, 6000) Appalachian Dulcimers. Should you meet the Ledford's, if Homer wears you out, let Colista serve you up ANY food.

Speaking of schools, they have a lot of info to access at Berea College, Alice Lloyd College, the Hindman Settlement School and many others.

Already mentioned is Jean Ritchie with several books on the mountains and dulcimers. Get hold of some Jean (or sister Edna) recordings, pick up ANY of the books mentioned here...listen and read...and you're on your way. I just mentioned recently in this forum about being on the program at Hindman one weekend where Jean was the featured artist. I was "sittin' in the wings" listening to Jean do "Dear Companion" for the umpteenth hundred time in my life, and was totally struck by the fact it sounded new and fresh and pure. Such is the power of the Ritchie family "voice"...they all seem to have it...and music from the heart, from the mountains.

If you want, send me private message or e-mail for more info. Where are you in school at? How'd you get this topic?

catspaw

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: Elliott
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 12:18 AM

I believe that Ferrum College in Ferrum, Virginia also has a collection on Appalachian folkways.

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: Night Owl
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 01:25 AM

Wonder if you've discovered Hazel Dickens & Alice Girard recordings? Also Jean and Lee Schilling were/are a wealth of music and knowledge. I believe they still have a website and operate a Dulcimer shop. The last I knew they lived in Cosby, Tennessee.

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 01:33 AM

Yeah, the Schillings still have a big dulcimer fest every year too in Cosby.

catspaw

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 02:23 AM

While you're reading, take a look at Jean Ritchie's Singing Family of the Cumberlands. Cecil Sharp's English Folksongs from the Southern Appalachians is also essential reading. You might even look for the two-volume LP set I produced from field recordings called The Traditional Music of Beech Mountain, North Carolina, still available from Folk-Legacy Records in Sharon, Connecticut, as "custom cassettes," with booklets containing introductory notes and lyrics of all the songs and ballads. We have a web site, too. To reach it, simply click here. You'll find other examples of traditional Appalachian music in the "custom" section. Catspaw's suggestion of Jean Ritchie's sister Edna is there, from tapes I made of her in Viper, Kentucky, in the early 1960s. You'll find Frank Proffitt's recordings there, too. All of these come with notes on the songs and complete lyrics.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: catspaw49
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 02:59 AM

I'm sorry Sandy...I should have said you guys are the resource. Seriously, I am sorry.

catspaw

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 01:21 PM

Hey there, Catspaw:

You certainly don't have to apologize to me for anything! I enjoy your contributions to the 'Cat a lot, even when you're serious! Now can I get you to send me a catalog of your dulcimers?

Give my best to Cletus when you go to visit him, poor rascal.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: CarterNut
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 10:55 PM

Go to MSN.com and check out their web communities. You will find a large section on the Carter Family. For true Appalachian Mountain music, the Carter Family of Maces Spring,Virginia, would be a good start. Their are interviews from various family members about songs, family, etc. The daughter of Sara and A.P. Carter, Janette, still holds Oldtime and Bluegrass shows at the homeplace. I am an Appalachian oldtime traditional singer and musician myself. Be glad to help if needed.

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: Susan A-R
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 11:00 PM

Hi Catspaw. Check out the Mudcat Marriage link to find out the whole enchilada re. my appalachian experiences (bet that one will baffle some of those folks looking for Mudcat Marriage counseling)

Susan

Subject: RE: Appalachian Folk music
From: bseed(charleskratz)
Date: 19 Mar 99 - 11:10 PM

"Doc Watson and Clarence Ashley" --the original Folkways recordings-- is another great direction you might take. A two cd set with almost 50 songs by them and a few others, collected by Ralph Rinzler. --seed