Lecture Notes (September 9, 2009) Old time music Instruments used: guitar, banjo, fiddle Regional old-time string band traditions?popular in 60s and 70s Early to mid 20s, mostly from rural south, Virginia, NC, Kentucky, west Virginia, Georgia Vague origins of the songs, no one knows for sure where they came from Could be oral, could be passed down from European/Anglican origins, or African Child ballads?traced origins of folk ballads Cecil sharp Interest in music around turn of the century Present more commercial side of the music Musical traditions themselves remained?performed in homes, house parties, etc. Various celebrations of harvests, births, etc. Some public venues were used as well Fiddle and banjo contests that date back to the 18th century and continuing into 20th Competitions died down in the early 20th century Community?meeting other people, celebrations, traditions Identity Some concept of ?self? and ?other??comparisons to other people and everyone Location, musical likings and what they play, etc. Human agency?responsibility of the individual in enacting their own identity Vehicle to express one?s identity?language, music, art, objects (flags), etc. Ascription/affinity?we can create our own identities by saying that?s what we are or what we are not?or what identity they attach themselves to This whole identity matrix can be considered completely separate from music anyway ?we shall overcome? was adopted by several different identities There are multiple, multifarious identities; individuals can have several identities New Lost City Ramblers Social Class Has very old origins Folk/old-time music is poor, working, rural class, but others can be fans Revivals Elements of the traditions still living, therefore it?s more like REVITALIZING Revivals that are carried out within various cultures and without Old time revival? Mike seeger, new lost city ramblers, bruce molsky Urban northerners mostly, not poor white families Full-blown revival in 60s and 70s Product of the Vietnam counter-culture era Clash between politics and culture Mostly middle-class, simple, religious, etc. vs. left-wing radicals, youthful Tommy Jarrell Never competed in contests, played for the joy of music Way-station for anyone interested in learning about old-time music Skillet Lickers---Clayton something; fiddle player?accosted the audience -What are you people doing here? You don?t know anything about this music, I could play anything and you wouldn?t mind. You just like us because we?re old, etc. Mike Seeger, walking museum of this folk-music era Galax county, Virginia Sense of community Blues revival? Mostly white, middle-class, kids learning African American music South, Mississippi delta area, etc. Revivals occurring within communities Klezmer revival?eastern jewish European music Young American jews, descended from European jewish families Is that within, or without??? Within the culture area, but big differences can arise Old-time fiddle contests One discontinued in 1915, but was revitalized later Named-system revivals Often have an overt political or cultural agenda or motives Recreation of a past system, but also the recreation of something new Heritage Need specific factors to initiate a revival Historian/researcher types The lomaxes, mike seeger, etc. The elder statesmen/repository of traditional culture Hobart Smith Muddy Waters for blues Performance acolytes and band founders/leaders Mike Seeger, again?Pete Seeger Rearticulate acquired skills from prior knowledge and then disseminating it Has to be a need somewhere in society in order for revivals to occur ?something in the air? Race and Ethnicity Skin color?race?.nationality, geography, language, culture (inc. music)?ethnicity Origin of ethnic group goes to Spanish Inquisition?wanted converts to Christianity Racial lines are drawn more strictly than how they developed in reality
