The music of the Appalachians is a living tradition that tells the story of a people and their journey. From the rolling hills of Ireland and the rugged highlands of Scotland to the misty mountains of Appalachia, this music has traveled across time and space, evolving and enriching the cultural tapestry of America.
The Appalachian region of the United States, stretching from the southern tier of New York to northern Alabama and Georgia, is renowned for its rich musical traditions. This distinctive sound, often associated with bluegrass, folk, and old-time music, owes much of its origin to the Irish and Scottish settlers who immigrated to America in the 18th and 19th centuries. Their musical heritage, combined with the diverse influences encountered in the New World, gave birth to what we now recognise as Appalachian music.
After learning of JD Vance's roots in the Hillybilly hills of Kentucky, I was fascinated by people who grew up in these isolated but close-knit communities.
As was posted in our comments yesterday,
But we still know our neighbors. And when one needs help, then you help. If someone is sick in the holler, then you pitch in to help until they get back on their feet. If someone has a problem, then you listen. When someone claims you as a friend, then you're loyal. And if you make a promise, then you'd better make good on it.
There aren't any mansions In a holler. In fact, most houses in a holler are modest ones. And almost everyone has a barn, and a couple of other outbuildings. Some have chickens and cows and goats and a couple of horses. And they all have at least one dog that runs to the road and barks at every car that passes by.
Most people in a holler have a front porch. And they actually sit on it. They shell peas and string green beans and peel apples on the porch. And people stop by and sit on the porch with you. And in the dusky evenings, they come with fiddles and flat top guitars and five-string banjos. And, good Lord in heaven.....what music they make! Sometimes the music drifts up and down the holler and it's so pretty it just makes you want to cry! But instead of crying, you find yourself humming along.
When I was a teenager, my older brother and I belonged to a folk club and were heavily involved with the music of the time, largely that of Bob Dylan and Donovan. Later, my brother went on to play in a jug band. They sang stories that were often fun and amusing. their instruments were crazy and they all had so much fun making merry with melody, humour and toe tapping old fashioned simple joy.
Jug bands, which originated in the early 20th century, added a unique dimension to the musical landscape of the Appalachians.
Jug bands originated in the African American communities of Louisville, Kentucky, and other parts of the American South. These bands were typically composed of musicians playing a mix of conventional and makeshift instruments. The "jug" itself, usually a large ceramic or glass container, was blown into to produce a bass sound. Other instruments in a jug band might include guitars, banjos, harmonicas, washboards, kazoos, and fiddles.
But the birth of the music of the Appalacian Mountains goes back further than the jug band.
The early Irish and Scottish immigrants brought with them a deep musical tradition rooted in the folk songs, ballads, and instrumental music of their homelands. The fiddle, a cornerstone of both Irish and Scottish music, became a central instrument in Appalachian music. In Ireland and Scotland, the fiddle was used to play a variety of traditional tunes, including reels, jigs, hornpipes, and strathspeys. These lively dance tunes were essential to social gatherings and community celebrations.
As these Celtic immigrants settled in the Appalachian region, they carried their instruments and musical traditions with them. The rugged, mountainous terrain of Appalachia, reminiscent of the landscapes of Ireland and Scotland, provided a familiar environment for these settlers. Isolated from larger urban centres, they preserved their cultural practices, including their music, with little outside influence for many years.
The immigrants' traditional music blended with the musical styles of other settlers, including English, Welsh, and German influences. Additionally, the interaction with African American communities, who contributed rhythms, banjo techniques, and spirituals, played a significant role in shaping Appalachian music.
The banjo, an instrument of African origin, became a defining feature of Appalachian music. Its incorporation into the existing Celtic musical framework created a distinctive, rhythmic style. The combination of the fiddle and banjo, along with other instruments like the dulcimer and guitar, gave rise to a unique sound characterised by its driving rhythms and intricate melodies.
Ballads, narrative songs that tell stories, were another important element of the Irish and Scottish musical legacy. These ballads, often recounting tales of love, adventure, and historical events, were passed down orally from generation to generation. In Appalachia, the ballad tradition flourished, with many songs retaining their original melodies and themes while others adapted to reflect the experiences of life in the New World.
In the early 20th century, Appalachian music evolved further with the emergence of bluegrass. Pioneered by musicians like Bill Monroe, bluegrass incorporated elements of traditional Appalachian music with influences from jazz and blues.
This is a long one - something to save to listen to later perhaps....
The Ozark Mountains share many musical roots with the Appalachian region, and the music of the Ozarks has been heavily influenced by similar cultural and historical factors. Both regions were settled by Irish, Scottish, and English immigrants who brought their traditional music with them. Over time, these traditions evolved and blended with other influences, creating distinct but related musical styles.
I personally have long loved the Ozark Mountain Daredevils. But the version of this song by Steve Earl shows the Scottish influence and I still rate it as one of my favourite songs.
Like the Appalachian region, the Ozarks were settled by a significant number of Irish, Scottish, and English immigrants. These settlers brought with them a rich tradition of folk music, including ballads, dance tunes, and instrumental music. The fiddle was a central instrument in both regions, and traditional dance forms like reels, jigs, and hornpipes were popular.
The geographical isolation of both the Appalachian and Ozark regions helped preserve these musical traditions. In the Ozarks, as in Appalachia, communities were often remote and self-sufficient, which allowed their musical traditions to continue relatively unchanged for many years. This isolation helped maintain a strong connection to the music of the settlers' homelands.
So where does this leave us? With music today that is devoid of rhythm, lyrical magic, ballad telling and toe tapping delight. I somehow feel that we have lost the soul of the song, the beauty of the beat and the ability to capture the heart of the nation. Or has it? Perhaps music is the very thing that tells us where we are at as countries, as communities, as societies?
When modern music is loud, abrasive, painful to the ears and so full of anger, hate and crudity, maybe it simply illustrates how far we have fallen as a People?
Maybe the devil came down on us all and we need a Johnny to fight him off..... because the governments around the world today are master fiddlers and they cannot and must not win this duel.
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