Folkways Collection, Episode 4

Episode 4 talked a lot about how Smith's anthology has had a lot of influence on modern musicians. I think that this just goes to show that the music that was recorded will withstand time and is a very crucial element in defining just where certain musical styles come from today.
I enjoyed the music in this episode, particularly the Canon Jug Stomper's "Minglewood Blues". There was also a bit of music played towards the very end of the episode that was interesting. It was hard for me to distinguish the style because it seemed to have both blues and country influences...it was very rhythmic like the blues but also incorporated banjo. I thought this was particularly cool because it shows the integration of both musical genres and the influence they had on one another.

Folkways Collection, Episode 3

Moses Asch's drive for sheer authenticity is what I found most interesting in this episode. Folkways was an amazing label, one I'm surprised I've never heard of before. It's definitely one of a kind in the fact that the recordings reflected perfectly the time and culture of the music that was being made. Asch didn't care about the money that was brought in from the recordings, he cared about the simple fact that the music was getting out there, and that it would be preserved for future generations. He seemed to realize perfectly how important this music was in defining American culture at the time.
Asch was amazing because he realized that "the 'meat' of the records was in the music, not in the cover art". The presentation of the records meant nothing to him compared to preserving exactly the way the music was being played.
I sincerely wish that there was a modern day version of the Folkways label. I don't really believe that "authenticity" is a popular term in today's music industry.

Blog Summary for October 10th

I came into the library tonight expecting to spend about an hour going through the most recent blogs posted. However, since there has only been a few blogs posted in the past week by a select number of students, it only took me twenty minutes. I guess you kids don't really conform to the blogger addiction so prevelant among young adults...or maybe it's just because you don't spend countless hours blogging for a class. Go figure.
I do realize that I am accusing myself of this fault as well. With one previous blog before this one, I doubt I have any of you beat.
However, this blog thing is a lot more interesting than I intially thought. I found myself entertained by what my fellow students had to say (not that I'm not always entertained by what they have to say...you know what I mean). I can't imagine the amount of fun brain-stimulation that would come from everyone posting regularly. Maybe we should try it.
Anyway, on with the summary.
A few students commented about in-class performances and their reactions to them.
Steph was great with the positive feedback and really provides motivation to all.
Greenstar talked about their performance of The Whitstein Brother's Weary Days. My initial reaction to this was "wow... i wish i would've been there to hear that...i wonder how that worked...all three original band members were deaf?!" Thank goodness I read Brady's blog summary. Greenstar performed the song in American Sign Language. Now that makes a little more sense. I think I saved myself some embarrasment there.
Ruby X had some interesting things to say about the gap between the rich and the poor in today's society. America is a material nation, where not having the most up-to-date and expensive technology can certainly put you at a severe disadvantage that is easily visable to the outside world.
I as well feel very lucky to be attending college.
This led me to think about the old time blues and country recordings we have been listening to on Pandora and in class. The recordings obviously have such poor quality because of the lack of advanced technology at that time. They were still generations away from the perfect, overdubbed and overglossed recordings of today.
I think I enjoy these old recordings so much just because they are not perfect. They manange to capture the raw emotion of the performers and their natural vocal and instrumental tendencies so much better than today's recordings do. Those old time recordings are landmark because they capture so well the culture of the time. In blues it was the culture and history of the oppressed African Americans that dated back to slavery and the time of the Negro Spirituals. And in country was expressed the voice of the poor working men and women who felt the prejudice and indifference of the higher American social class so strongly.
Does music today convey such simple and straightforward emotions, laments and ideology? Is it possible really for music to still do that with perfecting machine music is forced through?
I think we are lucky to have listened to these recordings. I know that they have made me think.
That'll end my blog summary.