Participation Type
Paper
Presentation #1 Title
Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Creating Family Music Traditions in Southern West Virginia
Presentation #1 Abstract or Summary
Appalachia’s musical heritage comes from a rich blending of balladry, instruments, rhythms and oral traditions originating on multiple continents—yet those individual traditions have successfully intermingled to produce sounds that we now identify not only as regional, but American. Much of the music that was cataloged by scholars such as John Jacob Niles and Cecil Sharpe during the early 20th century had been passed down through generations of the same family. Indeed, “family” is a keyword when we think of the most famous performers of traditional music, from the Carters and Stanleys to the McCourys and the Cherryholmes. Many noted performers acknowledge that they grew up in musical families, singing at home, in churches, in school or for community events. But how is that tradition faring in 21st century Appalachia, with growing access to high-speed internet and commercialized music production? In West Virginia, a strong sense of appreciation for traditional music is being preserved by musicians in the southern counties. Perhaps more importantly, we are hearing the voices of a new generation of young musicians who are joining their parents to preserve and even create their own traditions. This paper profiles several families who are performing and recording together as they translate their love for traditional music into a passion for old forms and a vision of what the new Appalachian music may become.
At-A-Glance Bio- Presenter #1
Dana is an instructor of Women's Studies at Radford University, where she has also taught Appalachian Studies. She is a native and current resident of the historic town of Bramwell, West Virginia.
Will the Circle Be Unbroken: Creating Family Music Traditions in Southern West Virginia
Appalachia’s musical heritage comes from a rich blending of balladry, instruments, rhythms and oral traditions originating on multiple continents—yet those individual traditions have successfully intermingled to produce sounds that we now identify not only as regional, but American. Much of the music that was cataloged by scholars such as John Jacob Niles and Cecil Sharpe during the early 20th century had been passed down through generations of the same family. Indeed, “family” is a keyword when we think of the most famous performers of traditional music, from the Carters and Stanleys to the McCourys and the Cherryholmes. Many noted performers acknowledge that they grew up in musical families, singing at home, in churches, in school or for community events. But how is that tradition faring in 21st century Appalachia, with growing access to high-speed internet and commercialized music production? In West Virginia, a strong sense of appreciation for traditional music is being preserved by musicians in the southern counties. Perhaps more importantly, we are hearing the voices of a new generation of young musicians who are joining their parents to preserve and even create their own traditions. This paper profiles several families who are performing and recording together as they translate their love for traditional music into a passion for old forms and a vision of what the new Appalachian music may become.
