Music

"A tradition of Indigenous women singer-songwriters"

"The Timeline of African American Music represents decades of scholarship conducted and led by Dr. Portia K. Maultsby, a pioneer in the study of African American music, as well as the contributions of numerous scholars. From the earliest folk traditions to present-day popular music, the timeline is a detailed view of the evolution of African American musical genres that span the past 400 years. This celebration of African American musical traditions reveals the unique characteristics of each genre and style, while also offering in-depth studies of pioneering musicians who created some of America’s most timeless artistic expressions."

Description: "Follows members of the Spirituals Project Choir, an interracial, multigenerational choir committed to the preservation and performance of African-American spirituals. As these diverse men and women share their stories of transformation, viewers will learn how the experience of shared songs can help heal a nation still wounded by racism."

In this ~21:00 video, Musician Rhiannon Giddens speaks to the history of the banjo noting connections to "old time" music and the Piedmont region

A companion to James P. Leary's Polkabilly: How the Goose Island Ramblers Redefined American Folk Music - link to interviews and performances (originally available via Compact Disk)

"Sacred Harp is a uniquely American tradition that brings communities together to sing four-part hymns and anthems. It is a proudly inclusive and democratic part of our shared cultural heritage."

Description: "Talking Feet is the first documentary to feature flatfoot, buck, hoedown, and rural tap dancing, the styles of solo Southern dancing which are a companion to traditional old-time music and on which modern clog dancing is based. Featuring 24 traditional dancers videotaped on location in West Virginia, Kentucky, Virginia, and North Carolina."

Description: of this companion website for "Speaking for Ourselves: Conversations on Life, Music, and Autism, by Michael B. Bakan with contributions from Mara Chasar, Graeme Gibson, Elizabeth J. Grace, Zena Hamelson, Dotan Nitzberg, Gordon Peterson, Maureen Pytlik, Donald Rindale, Amy Sequenzia, and Addison Silar. This site features audio and video examples referenced in the text that illuminate key themes, topics, and issues of individual chapters."

Take an "audio tour" via music samples featured on this interactive map. The description states: "The Christmas, Chanukah, and Kwanzaa holiday traditions feature an incredibly diverse range of musical accompaniment. This sampling from the Smithsonian Folkways collection includes 56 songs from 24 nations."