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Exploring American Folk Music: Ethnic, Grassroots, and Regional Traditions in the United States
Exploring American Folk Ethnic, Grassroots, and Regional Traditions in the United States reflects the fascinating diversity of regional and grassroots music in the United States. The book covers the diverse strains of American folk music―Latin, Native American, African, French-Canadian, British, and Cajun―and offers a chronology of the development of folk music in the United States.
The book is divided into discrete chapters covering topics as seemingly disparate as sacred harp singing, conjunto music, the folk revival, blues, and ballad singing. It is among the few textbooks in American music that recognizes the importance and contributions of Native Americans as well as those who live, sing, and perform music along our borderlands, from the French-speaking citizens in northern Vermont to the extensive Hispanic population living north of the Rio Grande River, recognizing and reflecting the increasing importance of the varied Latino traditions that have informed our folk music since the founding of the United States. Another chapter includes detailed information about the roots of hip-hop, and this updated edition of the book features a new chapter on urban folk music, exploring traditions in our cities, with a case study focusing on Washington, D.C. Exploring American Folk Music also introduces you to such important figures in American music as Bob Wills, Lydia Mendoza, Bob Dylan, and Muddy Waters, who helped shape what America sounds like in the twenty-first century. It also features new sections at the end of each chapter with up-to-date recommendations for “Suggested Listening,” “Suggested Reading,” and “Suggested Viewing.”
The book is divided into discrete chapters covering topics as seemingly disparate as sacred harp singing, conjunto music, the folk revival, blues, and ballad singing. It is among the few textbooks in American music that recognizes the importance and contributions of Native Americans as well as those who live, sing, and perform music along our borderlands, from the French-speaking citizens in northern Vermont to the extensive Hispanic population living north of the Rio Grande River, recognizing and reflecting the increasing importance of the varied Latino traditions that have informed our folk music since the founding of the United States. Another chapter includes detailed information about the roots of hip-hop, and this updated edition of the book features a new chapter on urban folk music, exploring traditions in our cities, with a case study focusing on Washington, D.C. Exploring American Folk Music also introduces you to such important figures in American music as Bob Wills, Lydia Mendoza, Bob Dylan, and Muddy Waters, who helped shape what America sounds like in the twenty-first century. It also features new sections at the end of each chapter with up-to-date recommendations for “Suggested Listening,” “Suggested Reading,” and “Suggested Viewing.”
- GenresMusicHistoryNonfiction
336 pages, Hardcover
First published March 23, 2012
12 people are currently reading
112 people want to read
About the author
Kip Lornell
27 books3 followersKip Lornell is an ethnomusicologist and a professor at George Washington University. He is the author of many books about music in American culture.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 8, 2021
It was kind of dry but then again I knew it had been used as a text book so there's that.
January 1, 2024
Pretty good overview of regional American "folk music." There is a lot of information in this book, details about variations, outside influences, and relationships between cultural exploration. A nice apt is a discussion of various "popular" forms of music which fit into the overall category of "folk music."
January 29, 2015
Exploring American Folk Music: Ethnic, Grassroots, and Regional Traditions in the United States
Written by: Kip Lornell
Narrated by: Michael Rene Zuzel
Length: 15 hrs and 18 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:11-12-14
Publisher: University Press Audiobooks
Audible.com
This is a long, long listen which I managed to complete by just listening to a chapter at a time.
I must say, it's not as I expected, I thought I might get to hear lots of musical examples, and maybe a few interviews with musicians. This was not to be, it is an academic teaching aid for serious students, albeit, written in an easy to understand way, no academic jargon here thank goodness.
Despite it being a good listen, If I were a music student, I would find it very difficult to learn without hard copy for reference. I need indexes, glossaries and references, this category of audio book is, to my mind, well suited to whyspersync.
To summarise, for the those who simply want to know more about American Folk music, this audiobook is your fully comprehensive guide, you really couldn't wish for more information. For the serious student? In my opinion it is, quite simply, a wonderful companion to the text. However, we are told that everyone has their own preferred learning style, what doesn't suit me may be just perfect for others.
The value of the impeccably researched information contained within the 15+ hours of listening merits nothing less than 5 stars.
Narrator
Michael Renee Zuzel has a pleasant easy to listen to voice, he made this huge task seem effortless. He is brisk enough to hold the listeners attention. To my ear, sound quality and production are excellent.
This audiobook was gifted to me in the hopeful expectation of this review
Written by: Kip Lornell
Narrated by: Michael Rene Zuzel
Length: 15 hrs and 18 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release Date:11-12-14
Publisher: University Press Audiobooks
Audible.com
This is a long, long listen which I managed to complete by just listening to a chapter at a time.
I must say, it's not as I expected, I thought I might get to hear lots of musical examples, and maybe a few interviews with musicians. This was not to be, it is an academic teaching aid for serious students, albeit, written in an easy to understand way, no academic jargon here thank goodness.
Despite it being a good listen, If I were a music student, I would find it very difficult to learn without hard copy for reference. I need indexes, glossaries and references, this category of audio book is, to my mind, well suited to whyspersync.
To summarise, for the those who simply want to know more about American Folk music, this audiobook is your fully comprehensive guide, you really couldn't wish for more information. For the serious student? In my opinion it is, quite simply, a wonderful companion to the text. However, we are told that everyone has their own preferred learning style, what doesn't suit me may be just perfect for others.
The value of the impeccably researched information contained within the 15+ hours of listening merits nothing less than 5 stars.
Narrator
Michael Renee Zuzel has a pleasant easy to listen to voice, he made this huge task seem effortless. He is brisk enough to hold the listeners attention. To my ear, sound quality and production are excellent.
This audiobook was gifted to me in the hopeful expectation of this review
April 24, 2015
“Exploring American Folk Music” was a wonderful listen and a great audiobook for music lovers, and more specifically American folk music lovers. I think it’s safe to say that American folk music is a melting pot of wonderful and diverse musical influence from all over the world.
Overall, this audiobook was superb. I would definitely recommend listening to this one.
About the narrator: Michael Rene Zuzel did an outstanding job narrating this book. It was just right. Not too fast or too slow. He spoke clearly with a steady pace and he showed interest in the subject with his own upbeat cadence which was suitable for the content. I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook.
Audiobook gifted in exchange for review.
Overall, this audiobook was superb. I would definitely recommend listening to this one.
About the narrator: Michael Rene Zuzel did an outstanding job narrating this book. It was just right. Not too fast or too slow. He spoke clearly with a steady pace and he showed interest in the subject with his own upbeat cadence which was suitable for the content. I thoroughly enjoyed this audiobook.
Audiobook gifted in exchange for review.
April 26, 2017
I read this book for a college credit class "History of Folk Music".
This book was very interesting and was filled with facts and pictures regarding American Folk Music.
I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in music.
This book was very interesting and was filled with facts and pictures regarding American Folk Music.
I would recommend it to anyone who has an interest in music.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews