The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #53188 Message #819444
Posted By: Allan C.
05-Nov-02 - 06:56 PM
Thread Name: Review: Is Appalachian Folk Music= Bluegrass?
Subject: RE: Review: Is Appalachian Folk Music= Bluegrass?
I think an old quotation, reportedly originating in Appalachia, fits well here: "Folk music? Hell, when we was comin' up we just called it 'music'." Now that I look again at how the question is phrased, I can't help but think it is backward somehow. It seems to me that it might be more appropriate to ask whether bluegrass belongs in the realm of Appalachian folk music. At least that question might be partially answerable.
My thinking is that bluegrass is a musical style, born in Appalachia, that may be used to express a wide variety of music. In fact, I have heard some wonderful "bluegrassing" of some classical themes, for instance. Many traditional Appalachian songs and tunes have undergone similar treatment. At the same time there have been songs and tunes that were specifically created to be played in bluegrass style.
So, in effect, we have a chicken and egg question here with little doubt (in my mind) that it was an Appalachian chicken that laid the bluegrass egg.
An aside to Fingerbuster: Clearly the banjo has African origins; but I am certain that the addition of the fifth string was an American contrivance that was added in the mid nineteenth century. However, I have no documentation to substantiate this. Perhaps a separate thread would bring about further information.