Gems of Bluegrass 820 Bluegrass Evolution: the Murder Ballad
From: Philip Nusbaum
Series: Gems of Bluegrass
Length: 06:03
Murder ballads have been strangely compelling for generations, but they evolve over time. Gem of Bluegrass 820 tells how.
Also in the Gems of Bluegrass series
Gems of Bluegrass # 1323. Everybody Wants to Be the Banjo. for regular users, piece for June 1-7...
(04:37)
From: Philip Nusbaum
A light-hearted look at people and other entities imitations fo the banjo.
Gems of Bluegrass 1319 "The First Generation of Bluegrass Artists". For regular users, program f...
(07:52)
From: Philip Nusbaum
Bluegrass music represents a string band evolution plus 1940s innovations by Bill Monroe, who led a group called the Bluegrass Boys. Bill pitched the music in high keys and ...
Gems of Bluegrass #1318. Rock Music as a Context for Bluegrass
(06:41)
From: Philip Nusbaum
The musical style of old time music and bluegrass come from Appalachia. The high singing, the accompaniments that are full of notes, are all a bluegrass calling cards. But ...
Gems #1316 Evolution of Hoboing to Homeless. For regular users, program for April 13-16, 2013. Ot...
(07:13)
From: Philip Nusbaum
To some, there is a great advantage to living outdoors. It’s an advantage you can’t put a price tag on. And maybe some romance too, as in the case of the old songs about ...
Gems #1315. Changing Visions of Youth
(06:31)
From: Philip Nusbaum
The bluegrass tradition’s depiction of young people is changing. A hundred years ago, songs about children often presented horrible things happening to them. But today, some ...
Gems of Bluegrass #1314 Peace in Bluegrass nation. For regular users, piece for Mar 30-Apr 5, 20...
(08:45)
From: Philip Nusbaum
Old Time Music and bluegrass enjoyed a burst of interest in the 1950s into 1960s. At that time, the media got interested, and the folk music establishment discovered that old ...
Gems of Bluegrass #1313. For regular users, program for March 23-29. Others use anytime
(06:27)
From: Philip Nusbaum
Bluegrass is considered old fashioned, and old time string bands even more so. After all, it is the old time string band that gave birth to the bluegrass band. But even ...
Gems of Bluegrass #1311. Bluegrass respects its heritage. For regular users, program for Mar 9-1...
(06:10)
From: Philip Nusbaum
Bluegrass fans say that one of the great things about the music is that it values its heritage. The fans like it when it sounds old, and they enjoy cheering for the same ...
Gems of Bluegrass #1310 Evolving Body and Soul. For regular users, piece for March 2-8, 2013; ot...
(06:04)
From: Philip Nusbaum
Singing and playing a bluegrass song involves being true to the song and being true to your own musical identity. A case in point is the song Body and Soul, a Virginia ...
Gems #1309
(06:33)
From: Philip Nusbaum
Bluegrass music is a combination of the Scots-Irish heritage of many of the first generation of bluegrass player, with the blues woven through the music. This Gem of ...
Related Pieces
Piece Description
Murder ballads have been strangely compelling for generations, but they evolve over time. Gem of Bluegrass 820 tells how.
Transcript
Wango LP John?s Country Quartet Pretty Polly
Rounder Stanley Bros Earliest Recordings: The Copmplete Rich-R-Tone 78s Little Glass of Wine
Marci Salyer Charmed and Dangerous I?ve Earned the Right to Write I Love You on Your Grave
Read the full transcript
Timing and Cues
Incue could be: Bluegrass story songs document momentous occasions like mine disasters, careers of criminals and grisly, inexplicable murders. Old style American murder ballads like Pretty Polly involve a young woman and her deranged lover. For some reason, to express his love for the woman, he finds it necessary to do her in.
When the piece is done, you could play an old ballad like Omie Wise or Tom Dooley. On the Bluegrass Review, a weekly 59-minute show available from PRX, I played Ralph Stanley's Mattie Groves, which involves the royal couple, unfaithfulness and gore.
Of 2 purchasers of this piece...
- 2 also bought:
- 2 also bought:
- 2 also bought:
The Day John Lennon Died (29:01) - 2 also bought:
- 2 also bought:
