Presentation for final project.

1. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
An Overview of
Appalachian Musical
History and Style.
Created by:
Donna Hentsch
July 24, 2012
SOURCE: http://article.wn.com/

2. LOCATION OF THE
APPALACHIAN REGION
 1500 Miles from Maine
to Georgia
 Area called “Back
Country” in Colonial
times
 Residents share culture
and music
SOURCE: http://www.mikalac.com/map/map2.html

3. APPALACHIAN HISTORY
 17th Century settlers came to the Appalachian Region from:
 England
 Scotland
 Ireland
 Wales

4. APPALACHIAN LIFE
 Life was hard in the Appalachian Region
 Settlers to the area are called “Mountain People”
 Mountain People are hardy and self-reliant due to
their remote locations and isolation

5. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
 Mountain People live in tight-knit communities
 Mountain People are very religious and like to sing,
dance and worship in groups
 Musical traditions are passed
down to younger generations
SOURCE:
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.20
0152683/default.html

6. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
STYLE
 Appalachian music has Anglo Celtic roots
 Popular classic songs are sung without
accompaniment of an instrument
 Some examples are: “Barbara Allen,” “Fair
Ellender,” and “Lord Thomas”

7. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
INSTRUMENTATION
 Fiddle
 Irish Pipe
 Appalachian Dulcimer
 Banjo
 Guitar SOURCE: http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/as-i-wait-for-
the-postman-to

8. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
INFLUENCES
 Appalachian music was highly influenced by:
 German Immigrants
 Polish Immigrants
 Czech Immigrants
 African American music

9. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
STYLE
 Appalachian music uses “Call and Response” style as seen
in African American slave music
 Verse-and-refrain style popular for religious singing
 Banjo playing style called “Rocking the Bow”

10. APPALACHIAN MUSIC IN
THE 1800’S
 Less cultural isolation due to mobility, radio
and phonographs
 Mountain People’s music incorporates
sounds heard on the radio/records into
their own music
SOURCE:
http://ikawtube.com/2011/09/look-
whats-coming-in-phonograph-records/

11. APPALACHIAN MUSIC IN
THE 1900’S
 Music of the Mountain People seen to be
very English in heritage
 Mountain People’s music also commonly
defined as “pure American folk music”
SOURCE:
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natli
b.ihas.200152683/default.html

12. APPALACHIAN MUSIC IN
THE 1900’S
 Appalachian music influence is seen today in: the following
styles of American music:
 Blues
 Jazz
 Bluegrass
 Country
 Gospel
SOURCE:
 Pop http://www.musicclout.com/contents/article-78-
defining-your-style.aspx

13. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
EXAMPLE 1
This is a wonderful short movie about the history of
Appalachian music. The first link is to Part 1 and the second
link is to Part 2.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cVMi3MH0uRU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bmAt22J-
pbc&feature=relmfu

14. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
EXAMPLE 2
Flat Mountain Girls
This musical example is of an Appalachian group called the Flat
Mountain Girls:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PLdXR5o3e_o&feature=re
lated

15. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
EXAMPLE 3
Whitetop Mountain Band
This example is an Appalachian group called the Whitetop Mountain
Band, singing the song “Sally Anne.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lSIF9s17yW8&feature=rela
ted

16. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
EXAMPLE 4
Tribute to Appalachian Music History
This is an excellent short movie about Appalachian music history:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLOapUS7t2U&feature=r
elated

17. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
EXAMPLE 5
Spank the Plank
This is an example of traditional Appalachian dance known as
“spank the plank.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X4HjuL0_VNw&feature=relate
d

18. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
EXAMPLE 6
Wayfaring Stranger, Strolling Down Memory Lane
Ginnie Grubb sings a traditional Appalachian favorite called
Wayfaring Stranger, Strolling Down Memory Lane.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KV3GOr_AMRY

19. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
EXAMPLE 7
Oldtime Porch Music and Flatfoot Dancing
This is an example of classical Appalachian music with foot
stomping dancing.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkHeMYn2OxI&feature=relate
d

20. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
EXAMPLE 8
Hobart Smith
This is an example of classical Appalachian music performed by an
old-time Appalachian musician by the name of Hobart Smith
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dCSdfZFTHE

21. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
EXAMPLE 9
Fiddle and Tin Whistle Example
This is an example of a traditional Appalachian song with fiddle and
tin whistle.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROOzXdJ7SlY

22. APPALACHIAN MUSIC
EXAMPLE 10
Ada Powers
This is an interview with Ada Powers about the first Appalachian
string band:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1wDEOfx_00&feature=related

23. WORKS CITED
Barnhill, William A., photographer, c1920.
http://lcweb2.loc.gov/diglib/ihas/loc.natlib.ihas.200152683/def
ault.html
Curtis, Anne, http://ikawtube.com/2011/09/look-whats-
coming-in-phonograph-records/
Ed, Easy, http://www.nodepression.com/profiles/blogs/as-i-
wait-for-the-postman-to
Mikalac, Norman, http://www.mikalac.com/map/map2.html

24. WORKS CITED
Photo, http://article.wn.com/0.jpg
The McGraw Hill Company,
http://spotlightonmusic.macmillanmh.com/n/teachers/articles
/folk-and-traditional-styles/appalachian-folk-music
Music Clout, http://www.musicclout.com/contents/article-78-
defining-your-style.aspx
Various YouTube videos with full links in slides