1. FOLK MUSIC

2. Folk music origins Music brought to America by immigrants The out-dated idea of America as a melting pot holds true for music – American folk music is the mixing together of music from different cultures Organized by section Northeast – Appalachian folk, sea chantey’s, and railroad music Southeast – gospel, spirituals, Cajun dixie style Southwest – country and mariachi, cowboy songs Northwest – country, native American, railroad music

3. Northeast folk Appalachian folk Appalachia describes cultural region from southern part of New York following the Appalachian mountain range to mid-Alabama and and Mississippi Blue collar workers – farmers, railroad workers, coalminers Brought over from England, Scotland, and Ireland Instruments – banjo, guitar, fretted dulcimer, and fiddle Listening: Barbara Allen Sixteen Tons Erie Canal Sea Chantey’s Sung and brought over by sailor’s in harbors in New England Sung to pass the time while working on the ship Listening: Drunken Sailor

5. Southeast African-American Spirituals – roots in slavery and emancipation; used to keep up the spirits of slaves. Instrumentation – mostly vocal music because slaves could not afford to buy instruments Listening: Wade in the Water Follow the Drinking Gourd Gospel – genre of Christian music sung by African-Americans; roots in spirituals Listening: Climbin’ Higher Mountains Oh Happy Day

7. Southwest Includes Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Oklahoma Music of the farmers and ranchers Instrumentation – banjo, guitar, harmonica, fiddle Listening: Home on the Range Yellow Rose Of Texas Los Machetes

9. Northwest Northwest includes from Washington to Illinois region Instrumentation – fiddle, guitar, banjo, harmonica Listening: Big Rock Candy Mountains I’ll Fly Away You Are My Sunshine Native American Influence Big Chief Henry’s Indian String Band

11. Other Notable Performers Stephen Foster Born in Pennsylvania; known as the father of American folk music; Oh! Suzanna; Beautiful Dreamer; Camptown RacesCamptown Races John Phillip Sousa Composer of military and patriotic marches Stars and Stripes Forever; George and Ira Gershwin Brothers from Brooklyn, New York; married classical styles with folk music of United States Rhapsody in Blue Porgy and Bess Scott Joplin African-American pianist and composer; known as Rag-time king Maple Leaf Rag

13. Modern folk Revival during the 1960s Singer-songwriter playing an acoustic guitar became popular Important Performers – Joan Baez, Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger The Times are A Changin’ – Bob Dylan We Shall Overcome – Pete Seeger This Land is Your Land – Woody Guthrie The Night they Drove Ol’ Dixie Down – Joan Baez

14. ‘Folk’ today Folk today have started to fuse with other genre’s and sometimes become known as ‘acoustic’ music Instrumentation – banjo, guitars, bass, drums, and vocals – sometimes fiddles or string section Some known performers with a folk sound Lumineers – Flowers in your hair Mumford and Sons- I Will Wait John Mayer’s new album – Paradise Valley