BS: Electric Folk Music

Subject: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: GUEST,Windsor Knot
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 07:12 PM

Throughout the 1960's and 70s, a number of British musicians rediscovered traditional folk ballads, fusing the old melodies with rock, jazz, and blues styles to create a new genre dubbed "electric folk" or "British folk rock." This revival featured groups such as Steeleye Span, East of Eden, Fairport Convention, and Pentangle and individual performers like Shirley & Dolly Collins, and Richard Thompson.


Can we really call this mush folk music ?

While making music in multiple styles, they had one thing in common they were all based on traditional English song and dance material. These arrangements of old repertoire sound like torture to me, then again I am a puritan. Some had commercial success, peaking with Steeleye Span's album "All Around My Hat". Some performers continue it today. I personally don't look upon it as folk music.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Peace
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 07:20 PM

And it's a damned good thing no one's forcing you to.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Peace
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 07:22 PM

Please let me add that I admire your name on Mudcat. But only if it's a double windsor. If it isn't, then no Mercedes for you at Christmas.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: artbrooks
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 07:37 PM

Oh goodie - let's all get together and define "folk music"....

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Folkiedave
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 07:52 PM

Why did no-one think of that before?

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: bankley
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 07:56 PM

I don't like folk music that uses any instruments at all, including vocals, foot tapping, or clapping, snapping, popping or any other body noises

that leaves Marcel Marceau......





......but he was French and drove a Renault

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: pdq
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:02 PM

One business manager said Marcel Marceau drove a hard bargain.

Is that made by Renault?

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Amos
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:05 PM

No--the Harde Barginne was the world's first com-pletely silent car. In fact it had no motor at all. But it had little oscillators here and there that would shake the car enough to make it look like it was going down the road.


A

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Peace
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:06 PM

In "Silent Movie" he had the only speaking part. Nothing to do with eclectic folk music, but there ya have it.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Peace
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:10 PM

I'm goin' down that road feelin' bad
Spare tire is flat and I'm so sad
Worst case of crabs I ever had
Goin' down that road feelin' bad

Just wanted to inject a little bit of music here. It's done to the tune of "Silent Night" in C# (or Db). It doesn't scan worth a shit to the tune of "Silent Night", but I like the melody.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: pdq
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:12 PM

Electric folk music can very informative.

Everything I know about Chicago came from reading Steve Goodman.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Bobert
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:18 PM

I plug in and it...

...sounds great!!!

Folkers for electricity unite!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Don Firth
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:23 PM

Electric folk music!??

Shocking!!

Don Firth

Well, someone had to do it!

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: pdq
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:29 PM

That is more profound coming from someone who has his wires crossed.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Peace
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:33 PM

"someone who has his wires crossed."

He'd be brought up short.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: pdq
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:35 PM

That is why an electric folkie must be well-grounded.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Peace
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:35 PM

Watt?

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: pdq
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:56 PM

Looks like you have to be pretty fast on the pickup tonight, eh?

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 08:57 PM

Ohmygod! There's no law about this! Currently, there's so much resistance, it's revolting!

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Peace
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:01 PM

True. And I have yet to detect a reverse bias on this thread. That's a good thing. No rockers trying to pass as folkies.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: artbrooks
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:04 PM

Ohm...ohm...

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Jeri
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:10 PM

I'm kind of amused by the "So what if it's been around for 40 years--I just decided to get pissed off NOW!" reaction.

(I'm waiting for someone else to top me getting all of Ohm's Law in one post. I don't think it's gonna happen.)

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: M.Ted
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:29 PM

Why would anyone pretend to be a folkie?

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Peace
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:33 PM

That was good, Jeri.

@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@

"Why would anyone pretend to be a folkie?"

OK. Ya got me there.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: pdq
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:43 PM

"Why would anyone pretend to be a folkie?"

Perhaps to mitigate alimoney payments?

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Azizi
Date: 24 Apr 08 - 09:50 PM

electric folk music

What a shocking concept!

But, then again, more power to the people!

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: jonm
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 03:21 AM

Are we talking about the ratio of the potential difference in musical tastes to the current folk scene resulting in a resistance to change?

... or is that Ohm's Law?


Obviously, the ratio of sliced carrot to sliced cabbage is Cole's Law...

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: GUEST, Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 03:36 AM

Oh no! What is folk, once mho

But it still gets me hot under the collar and I cannot resist posting, so I suppose I have a negative thermal coefficient of resistance, and my resistance also reduces with frequency so I suppose I must have a complex reactance.

Windsor Knot's dislike of the form may be a matter of personal preference but it is not related to whether the songs or tunes in question are folk. "Folk" is defined (look up the 1954 definition) by origin and not by present manner of performance.

Many here will regard me as a member of the folk gestapo for my adherence by the definition, but those who have seen me play, with the rhythmic guitar accompaniments I frequently use and/or the electric mandolin (modified to include humbucking pickups, and used with distortion pedal) will know that do push the form a bit. The liberty so to alter manner of performance (IMHO) is why folk as a music form does not cease to be relevant.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Bryn Pugh
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 04:53 AM

I was going to post to this, but can't raise even a spark of enthusiasm.

Objection to evolution must surely be impedance, maun't it ?

Ohm I god, I know, that's awful . . .

Put the 1954 definition through a condenser, and see if WK's hypothesis holds water.

As farad I'm concerned., 'Catters are insulated from comment on whether such is mush or not.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Amergin
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 05:32 AM

I have herd punk bands do covers of trad songs...many times they were better than any acoustic version I have heard....these punkers learned them off of the albums of people like the Clancy Brothers, Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, Pete Seeger and other legendary artists....One time I even heard a punk cover of a Joe Hill song....they lend a new interpretation of the music and the lyrics...and a sense of rough working class power that is sometimes missing when it is unplugged.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: GUEST, Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 06:04 AM

Of course noise is just unwanted signal.

And since you mention working class, that of course excludes Henry!

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 06:56 AM

But of course what those lads in 1968 added was a nice middle class Muswell Hill/Totteridge electric approach to folk music - and still do.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Bobert
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 07:40 AM

Cigar Box Geeter + Fender Blues Junior Amp = Heaven on Earth!!!

Sho nuff...

B;~)

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: topical tom
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 08:01 AM

I'm not sure that I like the current trend in folk music.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: GUEST,Windsor Knot
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 08:12 AM

As a traditionalist I tend to like my music as it was intended to be heard. I like traditional English folk music performed with the use of traditional instruments and vocals. It's music that was rarely written for profit. It's music that has endured and been passed down by oral tradition. You don't have to be a great musician to be a folk singer.

My understanding is that the term folk music gained usage in the 18th century to refer to peasants or non-literate people. 'Folk music' in the strict, original sense of the term covers only that music which arises from the speech and circumstances of the common people of a culture.

All I meant was my preference is for culture is 18th century rural England. I also respect that there is some great new material in the 21st century by musicians expressing the condition of life today. This music and song is created by the common people in the process of expressing themselves, it can still be done in the traditional sense.


Music transmitted by word of mouth though a community will, in time, develop many variants, because this kind of transmission cannot produce word-for-word and note-for-note accuracy. Indeed, many traditional folk singers are quite creative and deliberately modify the material they learn without the use of electric instruments and decimate the original folk tradition.

On a lighter note, Louis Armstrong once said, "All music is folk music, I ain't never heard a horse sing". He hadn't visited some of the clubs I've been !

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Azizi
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 08:15 AM

It's Electric!!

Electric Slide

It's Electric!

You can't see it
It's electric!
You gotta feel it
It's electric!
Ooh, it's shakin'
It's electric!

Jiggle-a-mesa-cara
She's a pumpin' like a matic
She's a movin' like electric
She sure got the boogie

You gotta know it
It's electric
Boogie woogie, woogie!
Now you can't hold it
It's electric
Boogie woogie, woogie!
But you know it's there,
Yeah here there everywhere

I've got to move,
I'm going on a party ride
I've got to groove, groove, groove,
And from this music I just can't hide.

Are you comin' with me?
Come let me take you on a party ride
And I'll teach you, teach you, teach you
I'll teach you the electric slide

Some say it's mystic
It's electric
Boogie woogie, woogie
You can't resist it
It's electric
Boogie woogie, woogie
You can't do without it
It's electric
Boogie woogie, woogie
Jiggle-a-mesa-cara she's a pumpin' like a matic
She's movin' like electric
She sure got the boogie

Don't wanna lose it
It's electric
Boogie woogie, woogie
But you can't choose it
It's electric
Boogie woogie, woogie
But you know it's there,
Yeah here there everywhere

I've got to move,
Come let me take you on a party ride
And I'll teach you, teach you, teach you
I'll teach you the electric slide

Some say it's mystic
It's electric
Boogie woogie, woogie
You can't resist it
It's electric
Boogie woogie, woogie
You can't do without it
It's electric
Boogie woogie, woogie
Jiggle-a-mesa-cara she's a pumpin' like a matic
She's movin' like electric
She sure got the boogie

Don't wanna lose it
It's electric
Boogie woogie, woogie
But you can't choose it
It's electric
Boogie woogie, woogie
But you know it's there,
Yeah here there everywhere





-snip-

Here's just a bit of informational grounding, for folks who don't know this song/dance:

Since the 1990s, "The Electric Slide" record by Marcia Griffith {though the title of her record is "The Electric Boogie"} is almost always played at African American wedding receptions, and other social events. When the first notes of this record are heard, many African American females of all ages, jump up, and hurry on to the dance floor to join in this line dance. Usually fewer numbers of Black men will also join in this line dance. Given its positive reception among African American females, this dance has colloquially and even affectionately been called the "Black women's national anthmn". In that sense, The Electric Slide has certainly reached the status of a "folk dance", if not a "folk song".

I think it's fitting that the Electric Slide is aline dance. The multiple, horizontal line dance can be done to other songs, but it's most often done to this particular song. Most people don't know the lyrics to the Electric Slide except for the refrain "It's electric! Boogie Oogie Oogie Oogie!" Note that it's the dance that is considered affectionately, and not the song itself. Perhaps because The Electric Slide record is so ubiquitously played at social functions, quite a few people-including me-are not that fond of the song as we are of the dance.

For those interested in information about this dance, here's a link to its wikipedia page:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric_Slide

And here's two links to Youtube videos of The Electric Slide. The first video is the commercial video featuring Marcia Griffith {who between 1974 and 1981 was a member of the I-Threes, a background group, which supported Bob Marley & the Wailers-talk about a folk music legend}. The second video demonstrates how The Electric Slide is usually performed at African American social functions:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fPjS6DSeDo8&feature=related
Marcia Griffiths - Electric Boogie

**
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vAwpTva9ERk&feature=related
Step / Line Dance - "Electric Slide"

**
Fwiw, this "Black dance" was created by a White guy named Ron Silver. But we African Americans took that dance and ran with it, or at least boogied on down the line with it. And since electricity is found everywhere, it was only a matter of time that this "dance craze" would spread to non-African American communities. Here's a short video of The Electric Slide being performed in a slightly different way {the kick} by Asian dancers:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmjYmnxH9-E&feature=related

Well, they're certainly plugged into the circuit! I'm glad this easy to perform dance has gotten so much milage. But is this folk music? Maybe it depends on which folk you ask.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Azizi
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 08:20 AM

Here's a shocking development regarding The Electric Slide:

The Electric Slide dance is copyrighted and the inventor of that dance, Ron Sliver, is suing people left & right for copyright infringement. Check out this link to a website that is, ironically {given the theme of this thread} named "Wired": http://blog.wired.com/music/2007/02/electric_slide_.html

Here's an excerpt from that article:

Richard Silver claims that he invented the Electric Slide dance for a disco club in 1976. But rather than being the guy that just says, "Hey, I invented that dance!"... he's the guy saying, "Hey, I invented that dance and you owe me money for performing it!" Thirty years after creating his piece of choreographed genius, Silver is fighting anyone he finds doing the dance wrong... or publicly performing the dance without his consent.

Silver is using Digital Millenium Copyright Act (DMCA) complaints to request that any Electric Slide videos he finds on YouTube be removed. Additionally, he is seeking compensation from The Ellen DeGeneres Show for a performance of the dance on her show in February 2006.

He is very serious about the dance, both as a copyrighted work and as an important work of art for future generations".
-snip-

What Sliver doesn't "get" is that once a song or dance becomes part of the folk tradition, there's no stopping folks from changing its lyrics and changing how it is performed. That's part of the folk tradition.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Azizi
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 08:37 AM

Hello, GUEST,Windsor Knot.

I see that you posted a serious comment about folk music gone electric. If you hadn'tt added "BS" to your thread title, your thread would have landed above the line with other serious music/folk culture threads. But as it happened {by mistake?}, you added that BS category, and as is customary here, people started posting more frivolous, play on words comments about this topic.

We're having fun, but I hope that you don't think it's at your expense. In the midst of our light hearted posts, there's some serious points still being made-even here, below the line.

Best wishes,

Azizi

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: GUEST,Windsor Knot
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 08:56 AM

Thanks Azizi.
Yes really I should have went above the line. As to the comments of others, no problem, when their jesting their not fighting, so I am happy for that.

Again thanks

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Jeri
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 09:03 AM

Azizi, the Knot would have possibly met with more flaming above the line.

It has all happened here, repeatedly, over and over, and the puns were something different, a sideways diversion.

I was trying to be cute with my Ohm's Law punning, but it was convenient that I could put it into my opinion. It's a stupid topic, and no amount of whinging about one's personal bête noire is going to get the population of the world to even agree about what music is called, and even if the world agreed, you really couldn't enforce a law.

Fundamentally, it's all music. We won't agree on definitions more than that, and even the definition of 'music' is debatable. If you don't like a style or a particular arrangement, it's personal. Deal with it.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Bobert
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 09:37 AM

Well, I thought it was cute, Jeri...

As for "folk music", one's man's "folk" is another's "noise"... There are so many forms of folk music that for folks (pun intended) to use terms like "real folk music" is narrow minded... Fold music is a big tent and "amplification" is ***not*** teh enemy...

Traditional instruments??? Who get to define them??? How long does an instrument have to be around to get that officiail designation???

B~

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 09:38 AM

Reading this thread is a bit of a weird experience. It's a bit like receiving a communication from someone who's been thawed out after about 35 years in cryogenic storage! Spooky!!

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: GUEST,Windsor Knot
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 09:55 AM

Surprised no one has mentioned The Wurzels !

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: bankley
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 12:17 PM

"If we could talk about music, there would be no need to play it"
                              
                                                 Igor Stravinsky

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 01:12 PM

I think this topic and ANY that smack of "what is folk" actually DO belong below the line.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: wysiwyg
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 01:14 PM

....as does ANY music topic that goes flamey or troll-ish. Just consign 'em to the BSment and keep the Music Section on topic and positive. Knock the exceptions down here with no comment, and then close 'em or let 'em rip.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Peace
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 01:19 PM

I let one rip just last night. Nothin' left but the elastic band. Spaw would have been proud--nay, envious.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Azizi
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 02:41 PM

Newbie members and non-regular guests may not know that spaw is known for the quality of his farts as well as for other more-shall we say-note worthy things.

**

As to whether this thread should be above the line or way down here in the boondocks, it is where it is. I personally like to combine a serious discussion of music/folk cultural information with lighthearted play on words and other banter whether the thread be above the line or below the line. That's one of the reasons why I posted the lyrics to and some information about The Electric Slide. But main reason why I posted those lyrics & that information was because that song contains the word "electric".

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Peace
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 02:57 PM

ELECTRIC? Thought it was Eclectic.

Hell, no, I won't go. Hell, no, I won't go.

ELECTRIC FOLK MUSIC? Are you all CRAZY?

(I'm working on an arrangement of "Wild Mountain Thyme" with drums, bass and two electric guitars. It will rock. And audiences will sing along.)

Windsor Knot: I have been farting around here. I think you are right to hold your view of traditional music. I think I'm right, too. I love music and that's that. Obviously, so do you. Welcome to the 'cat.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Jeri
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 03:13 PM

"I have been farting around here." You gotta be running out of underwear!

I have a hard time taking any 'what is folk' argument seriously. It's like trying to prove the dominance of blond over brunette, paper over plastic, and in Peace's case, boxers over briefs. Never goes anywhere. Just pisses people off until they think you're a jerk, then they go do whatever they want anyway. I did this before. If I want people who don't already think I'm a jerk to think I'm a jerk, I'll pick something I really care about to display my jerkness. Thankyuh.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: GUEST,Windsor Knot
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 03:21 PM

Jeri, welcome to mudcat ! it happens me all the time. Once you learn to ignore these dinosaurs that feel their view is all that counts, it's fine.

When they have nothing to offer, they go on a senseless rant, for some unknown reason it's usually about that guy who used to be in Star Trek. If I see a thread I am not interested in, I don't post to it.

Thanks for your input to this thread.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: WFDU - Ron Olesko
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 04:38 PM

"As a traditionalist I tend to like my music as it was intended to be heard."

Does anyone really think that electric instruments would have been ignored if they were available 200 or even 100 years ago?   People use what they have available.   Music is meant to be heard by the way the individual makes it, not by the way the listener wants to hear it. If you don't like it, leave it alone for someone else. No one really cares.

Plug in or plug out.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: GUEST, Richard Bridge
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 06:27 PM

The idea that learning what "folk" means is somehow frivolous and unnecessary frankly shocks me.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: artbrooks
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 06:31 PM

Jeri, I think your point is well taken: if Peace had been wearing boxers, he may have blown his shoes and socks off, but his drawers would still be intact.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Azizi
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 09:15 PM

Watt? This current topic has the potential to be positively
re-volting. *

What we need is another power source...a song that is. And I've got just the one for you:

The Electric Company Theme Song>/b>

HEY YOU GUYS!

We're gonna turn it on.
We're gonna bring you the power
We're gonna light up the dark of night like the brightest day in a whole new way
We're gonna turn it on we're gonna bring you the power
It's coming down the lines, strong as they can be
Through the courtesy of The Electric Company
The Electric Company.

The Electric Company!

http://www.bussongs.com/songs/electric_company_tv_show_theme.php

-snip-

Electric Company TV Show aired on PBS 1971 to 1976, and then re-runs were shown in some areas until the mid 1980s. Here's some information about The Electric Company television program:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Electric_Company

And here's a link to that show's theme song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_j0vcc70Ig
Electric Company You've Got the Power

-snip-

*Watt is re-volting to me is all this talk about weather electric folk music is positive or negative. Folk can continue to talk about what Peace wears or doesn't wear if they wanna. My sense is he's fine with either one or the other, or neither for that matter.

:o)

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Azizi
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 09:23 PM

I see the error of my ways {at least with regard to my use of that font command]

But I guess I was supposed to be bold. But I hope what I said didn't shock any body.

And if I did-shock some body that is, then we'd better hurry up and call a first-responder to the scene-or call a moderator to the screen or scream or do something.

Or maybe it's not that heavy duty any way and we should not get over heated but should just calm down and chant "Ohm! Ohm! Ohm!"

Yep. That's the line I'm gonna take.

I said it.
I meant it.
And I'm here to represent it.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Peace
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 10:14 PM

Regarding underwear: are boxers the ones with no legs or the ones with legs?

I was kidding about farting. It's hard for me to tell when I have because there's no odor. Well, when there is, it's a kinda petunia smell--the pink ones.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Peace
Date: 25 Apr 08 - 10:26 PM

The question of 'what is folk?' is always a bone of contention here. I can't really be arsed to argue it either way. I do however understand that people who prefer the song as close to the original as it can be done are worried, and rightfully so. Music is important. So is tradition. And as more and more music is either ignored or changed, that tradition gets lost. We have seen that clearly when searching the i'net for songs that were popular but one hundred years ago. Some are gone forever--fewer than one might think as long as Jim Dixon is looking, but too many for all that. I wish I had an answer.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Azizi
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 12:31 AM

Let me flip the switch, so to speak, and get serious.

If I was asked which type of music I liked best-music that was accompanied by electric instruments or music that was not, I probably choose electrically accompanied music, since that is the music I'm most familiar with. But I'm glad that there are recordings & live performances of traditional music {that is to say, non-electrically accompanied folk music} from my heritages that I can enjoy and learn from, and that there also are recordings and live performances of music from my heritages that are performed with electrical instruments as accompaniment.

For instance, I love the accapella performances of Sweet Honey In The Rock, and The Fairfield Four. Here's a link to a video of the Fairfield Four singing with no accompaniment but their foot stomps, hand claps, and body slaps {pattin juba}:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=P3lxCuJa8JA&feature=related
Po Lazarus - Fairfield Four

**

West African music is also part of my traditional folk music heritage. I love being able to learn about traditional African music, singing and dancing through videos such as this one:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=xuqy804ogco&feature=related
Shango Dance

**

And I love the sound of this electified balafon {the zylophone} and other electric instruments & singing in this now classic video:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=PmWTLDlj6SQ

Cameroon - African Music Legends - Manu Dibango Soul Makossa
[As extra added treat, check out the comments for a discussion about original music, music evolving to new forms, and the pros & cons of "sampling" musician's music, in particular R&B singer Michael Jackson taking parts of Soul Makossa for his "Wanna Be Startin Somethin'" hit record, as well as other recording artist sampling this record}.

**

As far as I'm concerned, it's all good, and I'm thankful that I don't have to make an absolute choice between one form of music making and another.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Azizi
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 01:15 AM

Speaking of non-electric folk music, here's a link to a fascinating website on traditional West African kora music:

http://www.kora-music.com/e/frame.htm

Here's an excerpt from that website:

"The Kora is a Westafrican harp of the family of bridge harps or harp-lutes

It's the highest developped string instrument of Africa. The construction of the instrument as well as the music are unique in the world...


The Kora has a centuries-old tradition and has been played at royal courts, where the musicians and griots belonged to the personnel...


The playing style resembles the fingerpicking blues guitar, the placement of the strings allows for the playing of chords and harmonies and fast melodic runs"

**

Here's a link to a brief YouTube video of one musicians playing the traditional kora & another musician playing the traditional balofon {wooden zylophone}

http://youtube.com/watch?v=RAmB5ENJ8Vs&feature=related
Kora meets Balafon - Two Mamadou Diabates

**

And here's a link to a YouTube video of the kora being played with a bass accompaniment:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=WjPq30bK5x0&feature=related
http://youtube.com/watch?v=WjPq30bK5x0&feature=related
Malian Kora Musician Mamadou Diabate's Ensemble-I

-snip-

That sound is absolutely beautiful! I've a question for those who view that video, isn't that kora electrified {meaning connected to electricity to amplify its sound?} Btw, the bass player in that video is Noah Jarrett, son of pianist Keith Jarrett.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: kendall
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 06:48 AM

Bottom line is: If I like it, it's good. If I don't, it sucks.

They say that music hath charm to soothe the savage breast, and that's true.
However, if what you are hearing, (in my case, electric guitars and drums) is noise to you, then out comes the savage BEAST.

Who said, "It's impossible to be pissed off while playing the banjo"?

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Jeri
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 07:16 AM

I'd argue that throughout the years, people have tried some weird stuff with traditional songs, from adding guitar accompaniment to doing 4-part harmony arrangements of sea shanties to fitting them into a rock style. The songs come out the other side no matter what. You learn a song from Steeleye Span or Fairport or Five Hand Reel and unless you walk around with a full rock ensemble, you're back to singing them acapella.

You get irritated or even righteously pissed off, but the song comes through.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: GUEST,Rich
Date: 26 Apr 08 - 05:14 PM

I think it's rather telling that you often hear a lot of material originally recorded in an electric format covered on acoustic instruments and vice-versa. Think of Rubber Soul or Music From Big Pink as a couple examples. Two completely electric albums that feel more acoustic than a good bit of acoustic recordings.

Rich

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 08:53 AM

In the UK it is common to harmonise shanties. I can offhand think of only one group of purists who insist that shanties were generally sung in unison and stick to that. Was it not Lloyd who said that shanties were generally not sung in harmony save on vessels with black crews? It this consistent with the view sometimes expressed that Africa has saved WASPS from English folk music?

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Azizi
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 10:05 AM

Was it not Lloyd who said that shanties were generally not sung in harmony save on vessels with black crews? It this consistent with the view sometimes expressed that Africa has saved WASPS from English folk music?
-Richard Bridge

Given the number of Africans who have merged into the English population over centuries [pre-20th century], couldn't another statement be made that Africa has significantly contributed to the text, performance structure, and style of traditional English folk music?

I'm just sayin...

Postscript:

Here's an archived Mudcat thread on that subject that might be of interest to some folks:   

thread.cfm?threadid=76372
"Black Britons & Folk Music?"

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Grab
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 10:52 AM

My previous post seems to have vanished. Anyway, previous to Ron's point...

As a traditionalist I tend to like my music as it was intended to be heard.

This is a bit of a problem for folk music, since many of our favourite tunes were designed to be played on the harp or lute!

Violin/fiddle? Only became a folk instrument in the 18th century, and only became well established in the 19th century. Baroque violins are a unique instrument in their own right.

Mandolin? Closest thing to a lute, and Neapolitan mandolins were around for the 18th and 19th centuries, but our modern flat-back mandolin dates from the start of the 20th century.

Bouzouki? The Irish zouk comes from the 1960s, as a slight deviation from the mandolin family instruments invented for mandolin orchestras early in the 20th century but since abandoned.

Guitar? Steel-string guitars didn't exist until the early 20th century, and the gut-string classical guitar only came to maturity in the 19th century.

Squeezeboxes? Invented in the early 19th century, and took the rest of the 19th century to figure out a few standard fingering patterns.

Bodhran? Big-frame skin drums have existed for centuries (maybe millenia), but the concept of a bodhran played on the lap with a tipper is a creation of the 1960s.

So all this does rather beg the question - how traditional are you really? Or more to the point, do you realise how *untraditional* your concept of "traditional" really is?

Graham.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: deadfrett
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 11:27 AM

....O.K... Put the microphones away..

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: GUEST,Shimrod
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 12:59 PM

"Bouzouki? The Irish zouk comes from the 1960s, as a slight deviation from the mandolin family instruments invented for mandolin orchestras early in the 20th century but since abandoned."

Funny! I could have sworn that bouzoukis were Greek!?

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: pdq
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 01:12 PM

Here is a great article about the...

                                                               bouzouki

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Azizi
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 02:19 PM

Speaking of "zouk", here's information about Caribbean zouk music:

"Zouk" is a style of rhythmic music originating from the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. It has its roots in compas music from Haiti, cadence music from Dominica, as popularised by Grammacks and Exile One. Zouk means "party" or "festival" in the local creole of French with English and African influences, all three of which contribute the sound. In Africa, it is popular in franco/luso countries, while on the African islands of Cape Verde they have developed their own type of zouk. In Europe it is particularly popular in France, and in North America the Canadian province of Quebec.

The zouk music style was invented in the early to mid-1980s when many different styles were fused, such as compas, balakadri, the Dominica based cadence and bal granmoun dances, mazurka and biguine, French and American pop, and kadans, gwo ka and other indigenous styles.

The leading band to emerge from this period was the band Kassav' who came from Guadeloupe and Martinique, they gave the style a pan-Caribbean sound by taking elements from compas, reggae and salsa, and became one of the most famous bands of the genre in the world. Kassav' was formed in 1979 by Pierre-Edouard Décimus, a long-time professional musician who worked with Freddy Marshall. Together, the two of them decided to take carnival music and make it a more modern and polished style. Their first album, Love and Ka Dance (1980), established the sound of zouk. They continued to grow more popular, both as a group and with several members' solo careers, finally peaking in 1985 with Yélélé, which featured the international hit "Zouk la sé sèl médickaman nou ni".

With this hit, zouk rapidly became the most widespread dance craze to hit Latin American in some time,[citation needed] and was wildly popular even as far afield as Europe and Asia.[citation needed] Zouk became known for wildly theatrical concerts featuring special effects spectacles, colorful costumes and outrageous antics"...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zouk

**

Here's a link to an online radio station that plays zouk music, reggae, dancehall reggae, kompa,salsa, African mix, and other genres of music:

http://www.zoukstation.com/eight.php

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Peace
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 03:34 PM

Regarding microphones: I expect traditionalists don't use them?

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: artbrooks
Date: 27 Apr 08 - 07:42 PM

Helps 'em sit up straight, Peace.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 04:29 PM

A curious thing. In the UK, "folk" music seems to be defined by how traditional the lyrics are, regardless of how they're performed. In the US, the definition seems to be more dependent upon the style of performance.

I guess electric folk music is the voice of the electric folk.

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 05:18 PM

You are far less likely to hear a voice sounding like a sheep or goat with an electric folk band - possible exception of course was Albion Country Band Mk 1!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 05:21 PM

Wesidents in folk clubs tend not to sing in electric folk bands, as they are more concerned with singing about bold captain do da and his gallant cwooo and the gway funnel line!!!

Subject: RE: BS: Electric Folk Music
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 28 Apr 08 - 11:53 PM

What? You mean they sing folk songs in folk clubs? Shock horror!