Bluegrass Anyone?

Cafe Society
1

I just did a search on “Bluegrass Music” on the Dope board and didn’t find squat. does anyone have a definitition of what this type of music IS exactly? From the music I’m hearing right now these people are EXCELLENT musicans. BTW I’m talking as a former jazz and symphony musician. (And yes I was a musical snob, until now) Any comments or opinions will be appreciated.

2

There have been several threads about Bluegrass in this forum in the recent past. There were some good discussions concerning the questions you ask. A quick search of the Cafe Society forum using the single word “Bluegrass” just turned up 61 hits.
Try your search again, and you should find plenty.
Also, the ATMB forum, FAQ’s, should have some tips about searching, if you’re not sure how to go about it.

Welcome to the SDMB! :slight_smile:

3

Try this thread.

4

Thanks for the link, rmbnxs. I missed it first time around.

As a person who appreciates bluegrass since 1959 or so, I agree that the Country Gentlemen were instrumental:) in popularizing the genre. How could anyone leave out Duffy’s voice and Tom Gray’s bass? And you could list 10 performers who played with the group and went on to bigger and better things.

5

Just a quick little nitpick on the linked thread. Bill Monroe is from the Western Kentucky coalfields (Rosine, just down the road from the place John Prine wrote about, Paradise.) not Appalachia.

RE: the criticism that all Bluegrass sounds the same.

So does techno.

So does heavy metal.

So does baroque.

So does punk.

So does rap.

… To an extent.

The key to appreciation of a genre (of music, or painting, or architecture, or literature, or any art form) is distinguishing the subtle differences between the various compositions and performers. In my book, dismissing a genre out of hand is the mark of a philistine (or a newspaper critic.)

6

I never claimed Monroe was from Appalachia. I was referring to the old-timey music on the O Brother, Where Art Thou? soundtrack generally, and the Carter Family in particular. Of course, not all the music on that CD is from Appalachia eitherÑbut much of it is.

7

Can you hear the Irish influence in some of the music from O Brother, Where Art Thou?

I can believe you when you say that your interests have been in more serious music. Very often bluegrass musicians, especially on backup, play with the symphony or on non-country recordings.