Discovering American folk music

Series: Discovering Music Series

Duration: 22

Genre: Educational | Historical | Music

Year Published: 1969

Creator: Wilets Bernard

Format: 16mm

Color: Color

Sound: sound

Description: Reviews the two main influences - African and English - on the development of American folk music. Traces the history of one ballad from its original British version through its journey across America to its emergence in the American West as the cowboy song: The streets of Laredo, and later in a Black blues version: The St. James Infirmary., Introduces the viewer to American folk music, emphasizing the great influence which British and African folk music have had upon it. Traces the evolution of several British folk ballads and lyrical songs through several Americanized adaptations, noting that sometimes only words were changed to fit the American setting while at other times, tempo, rhythm, and style were also modified. Points out the African contribution, notably to the Negro spiritual, group singing, clapping, and rhythm. Offers examples of the music involved, the use of musical instruments, and of the fact that folk music is indeed a reflection of the people and the social setting.

Complete Record: Reviews the two main influences - African and English - on the development of American folk music. Traces the history of one ballad from its original British version through its journey across America to its emergence in the American West as the cowboy song: The streets of Laredo, and later in a Black blues version: The St. James Infirmary., Reviews the two main influences, African and English, on the development of American folk music. Traces the history of one ballad from its original British version, through its journey across America, to its emergence in the American West as the cowboy song, The streets of Laredo, and later in a Black blues version entitled The St. James Infirmary. , Introduces the viewer to American folk music, emphasizing the great influence which British and African folk music have had upon it. Traces the evolution of several British folk ballads and lyrical songs through several Americanized adaptations, noting that sometimes only words were changed to fit the American setting while at other times, tempo, rhythm, and style were also modified. Points out the African contribution, notably to the Negro spiritual, group singing, clapping, and rhythm. Offers examples of the music involved, the use of musical instruments, and of the fact that folk music is indeed a reflection of the people and the social setting., NOTE: Two (or more) records have been merged together to create this data.