1. Appalachian Music and Culture
By Caroline Daniell
MUS 1234

2. How to Define Appalachian Music
The Region of the Appalachian Mountains include:

Georgia

Tennessee

South Carolina

North Carolina

Kentucky

West Virginia

Virginia

Pennsylvania

Parts of Ohio and Maryland
(underlined = region of focus of this ppt) http://www.geology.iupui.edu/Researc
h/BioMineralLab/Ocoee/overview.html

3. How to Define Appalachian Music
Influences included:

Celtic ballads

Anglo-Saxon

African American Music

Gospel

4. Fun Fact!
The formation of the
Appalachian Mountains
appealed to poorer people
looking for cheaper,
unwanted land such as the
accordion-like steep ridges,
full of foliage entanglements
like mountain laurel, and
therefore difficult to
transverse, alongside
valleys and 'hollers' full of
generally agriculturally
useless soil.

5. History of Appalachian Culture and
Music
Immigrants from England, Scotland, Ireland,
Germany, and Wales attempted to recreate
the instruments of their homelands.
Some exact copies, some approximations.
Difficult terrain kept inhabitants somewhat
isolated which kept music and culture highly
preserved for many generations.
Cumberland gap discovered in 1750 that led
to fertile Kentucky bluegrass country enabling
music and culture to also flourish.

6. History of Appalachian Culture and
Music Cont'd
Two Periods

Traditional Music- Early 18th century-
1900,Ballads and Dance, from Anglo-Celtic
Immigrants, today's version known as
Bluegrass

“Old Time Music”- 1900-1930, blends of
traditional with parlour and vaudeville, African-
American styles, and Minstrel Show tunes

7. Traditional Music

Based on Anglo-Celtic folk ballads and
instrumental dance tunes

Many times sung unaccompanied

Tonal, nasal quality, like the accents of these
regions also do

Celtic variations to reflect American locations,
contexts, and occupations with American
Christian influence

8. Bluegrass versus Old Time Music

OT songs are about whiskey and food.

BG songs are about God, mother and the girl who did me
wrong.

If the girlfriend isn’t murdered by the third verse, it ain’t
Bluegrass

OT bands have nonsense names like “Hoss Hair Pullers”
“Fruit Jar Drinkers” and “Skillet Lickers”. BG bands have
serious gender-specific name like “Bluegrass Boys,” “Foggy
Mountain Boys,” and “Clinch Mountain Boys”
http://bluegrasswest.com/wordpress

9. Bluegrass Versus Old Time Music
Cont'd

The most common OT keys are major and modal (i.e. minor).
BG uses major, mixolydian, Dorian and minor keys

A BG band has between 1 and 3 singers who are singing
about an octave above their natural vocal range. Some OT
bands have no singers at all.

A BG band has a vocal orchestrator who arranges duet, trio
and quartet harmonies.

In an OT band, anyone who feels like it can sing or make
comments during the performance.

All BG tunes & songs last 3 minutes. OT tunes & songs
sometimes last all night.

10. Legends of Appalachian Music
Bill Monroe

Father of Bluegrass-invented the style and
name

Formed the Blue Grass Boys in 1940's

Bluegrass Hall of Honor and received a
Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the
National Medal of the Arts

Check out an awesome tune by Bill and the
Blue Grass Boys! Blue Moon of Kentucky

11. Legends of Appalachian Music
The Carter Family

Recorded over 300 old-time
ballads, traditional tunes, country
songs, and gospel hymns

Original members were Mother
Maybelle Addington Carter(guitar
and sang harmony), Sara
Dougherty(dulcimer, alto lead)
Alviln Pleasant(A.P.) Carter(fiddle My Favorite Carter
and sang bass) Family Tune:
Will the Circle be

Originated in mountains of Virginia Unbroken
and eventually landed in the Grand
Ole Opry in Knoxville, Tennessee

12. Legends of Appalachian Music
Ralph Stanley

Born in Stratton, VA

Banjo player,
clawhammer style

Formed Stanley Brothers
with his brother Carter http://www.last.fm/music/Ralph+St
anley

Focused on Gospel-like until
Carter's death in 1966, then
Ralph sang grieving and haunting melodies
such as Man of Constant Sorrow

13. Legends of Appalachian Music
Earl Scruggs

Born into a very musical
family in North Carolina

Played unique style
of Banjo, with 3 fingers,
since age 10

Invited to play in BlueGrass Boys with Bill
Monroe and on the Grand Ole Opry

Joined with Lester Flatts to form Foggy
Mountain Boys

Recently passed away March 28, 2012

14. Instruments used in Appalachian
Music

Guitar

Mandolin *Notice limited percussion
instruments*

Fiddle

Banjo

Dulcimer

Spoons

Bass

15. Guitar

Often primary instrument

Sets melody of song

Single or Multiple used

Strummed and Picked

Body sometimes used
as percussion or
'count in'

16. Fiddle

AKA Violin in classical music

Bowed and
sometimes Plucked

4 or 5 Strings

17. Dulcimer

Also known as: Appalachian dulcimer, lap
dulcimer, mountain dulcimer, dulcimore,
dulcymore, harmony, harmonium, and hog
fiddle

Played on lap

Multiple variations

Strummed and
picked

18. Banjo

Essentially a cross
between a snare drum
and a guitar

6 strings

High tones

Unique three finger
picking style
My Uncle!

19. Spoons and Household Instruments

Spoons-played between hands and thigh

Washboard-strummed

Jug- blown like
a flute

Percussion sources

20. Mandolin

Smaller, 12 string instrument

Played high on chest

Higher tones

Unique Picking style

21. Bass
Standing Bass used in Appalachian music

Plucked, not Bowed

Sets back beat
instead of percussion

22. Dancing Styles to Appalachian Music

Based on Celtic dancing styles

Follow the music

A form of percussion for the music
− Clogging
− Flatfooting
− Buckdancing
− Square dancing

23. Clogging

Based on Celtic dancing

Clogging is a rhythmic, percussive dancing
style that goes with Appalachian music. Can
be done individually or in a group or square
dance (as seen in video below). The dancers
respond the the caller as he announces the
next moves. Clogging

24. Flatfooting
One of the styles of dance that involves a lot of
irregular steps and shuffle with no hopping or
springing found in clogging
Check out this example!
Flat Footing

25. Why did I chose Appalachian Music?
This type of music was the music of my
homeland and ancestors. My family is from
the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina.
I grew up listening and participating in
Bluegrass Jam sessions with my father and
Uncle and their band, attending festivals. I
even got a chance to meet Ralph Stanley!This
music is near and dear to my heart.
I hope you have enjoyed the history and
experience of Appalachian Music, both
Bluegrass and Old Time.
− Caroline Daniell

26. References

http://appalachianculturalmusic.org/

http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/appalach.htm

http://www.arministry.org/AppalachianCulturePP.pdf

http://www.blueridgeheritage.com/heritage/music

http://www.museumofappalachia.org/Mountain_Music_at_the
_Museum_of_Appalachia.htm

http://www.leecagledulcimers.com/id62.html

http://bluegrasswest.com/wordpress/?p=56

http://www.southernmusic.net/carterfamily.htm

27. References Cont'd

http://www.biography.com/people/earl-
scruggs-20638979

http://www.billmonroe.com/

http://www.oldtimeherald.org/archive/back_iss
ues/volume-6/6-8/dance.html