Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Image by: Sejan Yun 
Phil at work 

Gems of Bluegrass #1128 - Bill Monroe's western infuence

Series: Gems of Bluegrass
From: Philip Nusbaum
Length: 00:05:36

After Bill Monroe and brother Charlie parted ways in the late 1930s, Bill started searching for new musical combinations that would catch on. He mined his family background for some ideas, and for others, allowed himself to be affected by American popular culture and music from regions other than the southeast. For regular users, piece for July 9-15, 2011. Others use anytime. Read the full description.

Phil2-web_small

Gems of Bluegrass are 5 - 8 minutes drop-in modules that look at bluegrass / old time history, aesthetics and culture. Each Gem consists of multiple song clips with commentary over music beds. For an insightful weekly 1-hour bluegrass show that includes Gems of Bluegrass, see the Bluegrass Review, available from PRX. Contact Phil Nusbaum at pnusbaum@bitstram.net to download the show from www.bluegrassreview.com.

To hear the full audio, sign up for a free PRX account or log in.

Also in the Gems of Bluegrass series

Caption: Phil w/ 2012 Seitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman

Gems #1224 "Bill Monroe tributes. For regular users, piece for June 9-15, 2012. Others use anyti... (00:07:44)
From: Philip Nusbaum

Today it is commonplace to acknowledge the extent of Bill Monroe’s contribution to bluegrass music: The instruments used, their function in a band, and the way singing is ...
Caption: Phil w/2012 Zeitgeist, Credit: Karen Van norman

Gems of Bluegrass #1223 Anthems (00:08:03)
From: Philip Nusbaum

Bill Monroe’s band was called the Bluegrass Boys after his home state of Kentucky. It was considered part of country music, and bands that adopted Monroe’s style were ...
Caption: Phil with 2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman

Gems of Bluegrass #1222 "Early Bluegrass and Loss" (00:05:15)
From: Philip Nusbaum

We know that bluegrass music is blue. The most obvious examples are the seemingly limitless number of songs about lovers breaking up. But in bluegrass, especially the old ...
Caption: Phil w/ 2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman

Gems of Bluegrass # 1221 "Bluegrass is Jazzy. But What Does that mean?" For regular users, May 19... (00:07:23)
From: Philip Nusbaum

In the early twentieth Century jazz and country music both had bad reputations among members of the music establishment. For one thing, with a lack of proper sheet music, ...
Caption: Phil w/2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman

Gems #1220 Is Bluegrass Folk (00:06:21)
From: Philip Nusbaum

If you think that folk music means singer with guitar, then bluegrass is not really folk. But before you slam the door on the idea of bluegrass being folk, consider that to ...
Caption: Phil w/ 2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman

Gems of Bluegrass #1219 Constructions, Deconstructions and Reinventions (00:10:53)
From: Philip Nusbaum

A recent Gem of Bluegrass addressed the recontexting of bluegrass songs. Take a bluegrass song or bluegrass approach and combine it with ideas from outside bluegrass, and you ...
Caption: Phil Nusbaum w/2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman

Gems of Bluegrass 1218 Hidden Challenges of Playing Bluegrass (00:07:27)
From: Philip Nusbaum

When you play bluegrass or any type of old time music, you rely on your ear. Sure, some of the music written down, but if you rely solely on written music, you deprive ...
Caption: Phil w/ 2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman

Gems of Bluegrass #1217 Bluegrass paradigm Change (00:08:28)
From: Philip Nusbaum

One of the great things about bluegrass is that it is always changing, always evolving. The 60’s was an era with a lot of change, and it may be happening again.
Caption: Phil w/2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman

Gems of Bluegrass #1216 Recontexting (00:09:33)
From: Philip Nusbaum

We know that bluegrass evolves over time. But what causes the evolution? Usually we think it’s caused by the little changes made by players. But where do players get these ...
Caption: Phil w/ 2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van norman

Gems #1215 Bluegrass and the House of the Rising Sun For regular users, piece for April 7-13, 2... (00:08:34)
From: Philip Nusbaum

The House of the Rising Sun. It’s an old time song that’s been kept alive by a lot of singers. Why do singers like it? It might be that it sings of a life gone wrong in no ...

Piece Description

Gems of Bluegrass are 5 - 8 minutes drop-in modules that look at bluegrass / old time history, aesthetics and culture. Each Gem consists of multiple song clips with commentary over music beds. For an insightful weekly 1-hour bluegrass show that includes Gems of Bluegrass, see the Bluegrass Review, available from PRX. Contact Phil Nusbaum at pnusbaum@bitstram.net to download the show from www.bluegrassreview.com.

Transcript

Time Changes Everything Bob Wills Fades Love Catfish
Sitting On Top of the World Bill Monroe 1936 - 1994 MCA
Soldier’s Joy Skillet Lickers Old Time Fiddle Tunes and Songs from North Georgia Soldier’s Joy
Goodbye Old Pal Bill Monroe 1936 - 1994 MCA
When the Cactus is in Bloom Bill Monroe 1950 – 1958 Bear Family
Read the full transcript

Timing and Cues

in: music
out: UA
time 5:36

Intro and Outro

INTRO:

After Bill Monroe and brother Charlie parted ways in the late 1930s, Bill started searching for new musical combinations that would catch on. He mined his family background for some ideas, and for others, allowed himself to be affected by American popular culture and music from regions other than the southeast.

OUTRO:

play some additional music with a western motif, such as from the Ross Nickerson banjo repertoire.

Related Website

www.bluegrassreview.com