Gems of Bluegrass

Series produced by Philip Nusbaum

Series image

short modules about bluegrass music

Each under 5-minutes, highly produced "Gems of Bluegrass" module discusses a key element of bluegrass music. Some Gems of Bluegrass relate to a particular bluegrass style or sub style, repertoire, commonplace bluegrass themes, playing techniques or study the work of a particular artist.

Each Gem of Bluegrass contains snips of music taken from CD, along with Phil Nusbaum's commentary. Phil is an experienced radio producer, bluegrass scholar and bluegrass performer.

Each Gem of Bluegrass also appears on the Bluegrass Review broadcast with the same number. (The Bluegrass Review is a one-hour bluegrass show available free of charge from PRX, or from Phil Nusbaum. For information on the show, see the Bluegrass Review listing on Phil Nusbaum's section of the PRX website or go to www.bluegrassreview.com.

Gems of Bluegrass fit well on established Bluegrass or folk shows, and can be used to forward promote the Bluegrass Review. Hide full description

Each under 5-minutes, highly produced "Gems of Bluegrass" module discusses a key element of bluegrass music. Some Gems of Bluegrass relate to a particular bluegrass style or sub style, repertoire, commonplace bluegrass themes, playing techniques or study the work of a particular artist. Each Gem of Bluegrass contains snips of music taken from CD, along with Phil Nusbaum's commentary. Phil is an experienced radio producer, bluegrass scholar and bluegrass performer. Each Gem of Bluegrass also appears on the Bluegrass Review broadcast with the same number. (The Bluegrass Review is a one-hour bluegrass show available free of charge from PRX, or from Phil Nusbaum. For information on the show, see the Bluegrass Review listing on Phil Nusbaum's section of the PRX website or go to... Show full description


363 Pieces

Order by: Newest First | Oldest First
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
One of the enduring symbols of the old bluegrass is the little cabin home. But we know that bluegrass evolves. The little cabin home means somethin...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Apr 03, 2011
  • Length: 05:21
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
For regular users, piece for April 23-29, 2011. Others use anytime. Piece reflects of the basics of bluegrass rhythm, and tells a little about how ...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Apr 09, 2011
  • Length: 06:50
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
for regular users, show for April 30 - May 6, 2011. Piece shows how bluegrass values work that requires physical effort.

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Apr 09, 2011
  • Length: 05:49
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Bluegrass and old time music from time to time comments on society. And when it does, somebody or some entity is to blame. But which ones? That’s t...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Apr 21, 2011
  • Length: 06:29
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
We know that in bluegrass, there are a lot of broken hearted melodies. One response is to just end it. And that might be a common bluegrass respons...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: May 07, 2011
  • Length: 06:27
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
The old bluegrass caught the end of the part of human history where the group could be regional. Early bluegrass was a southeastern folk style. Mem...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: May 07, 2011
  • Length: 06:29
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
For regular users, show for May 27 - June 2, 1022. Others use anytime. Bluegrass is the home of the happy sounding sad song, where singers depict ...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: May 14, 2011
  • Length: 05:00
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan yun
You do something in the present and it has a consequence. Obviously. You cannot tell any kind of story without one event leading to another. Like i...

Bought by KUCB and WAMU


  • Added: May 21, 2011
  • Length: 05:58
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Phil with 2010 Zeitfunk award, Credit: Claire Nusbaum
What’s the difference between musical idioms? In large part it is the way you interpret and accompany a song. Like the song Crying in the Chapel. I...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: May 30, 2011
  • Length: 06:56
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil w/ 2010 Zeitfunk award from PRX, Credit: Claire Nusbaum
Today's Gem of Bluegrass focuses on the vocal tone of many old time performers. Regardless of their age at the time of recording, they sounded old.

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: May 30, 2011
  • Length: 06:06
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Old time fiddling in North America is different wherever you go. In some places in the southwest, old fiddlers play the waltzes and polkas that cam...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Jun 11, 2011
  • Length: 06:49
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Bluegrass music has a history of being connected to, but also distinct from country music. But country and bluegrass are close enough, that some pl...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Jun 19, 2011
  • Length: 08:17
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
After Bill Monroe and brother Charlie parted ways in the late 1930s, Bill started searching for new musical combinations that would catch on. He mi...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Jun 19, 2011
  • Length: 05:36
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil Nusbaum, Credit: Karen Van Norman
For regular users, program for July 23 - 29, 2011. Others use anytime. Bluegrass has a lot of musical conventions. But a lot of the conventions cou...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Jul 15, 2011
  • Length: 05:19
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil Nusbaum, Credit: Sejan Yun
For regular users, piece for July 30-Aug 5, 2011. Others use anytime. In old time music today, clawhammer is the most popular style of banjo playin...

Bought by WDVX and WAMU


  • Added: Jul 15, 2011
  • Length: 11:36
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Phil Nusbaum, Credit: Sejan Yun
Coming up next, our Gem of Bluegrass. Today’s Gem concerns itself with old time music, bluegrass and songs of war. The thing that really comes acro...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Jul 25, 2011
  • Length: 17:54
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Intro: The hillbilly stereotype has been useful getting some shelf space for old time musicians in the south, But other regions enjoyed the same t...

Bought by WAMU


  • Added: Jul 25, 2011
  • Length: 08:55
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Bluegrass is reaching a new height in popularity, but it still is nowhere near the popularity of popular forms like rock. But still, it’s awfully s...

Bought by WDVX and WAMU


  • Added: Jul 28, 2011
  • Length: 09:33
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
Of all the bluegrass instruments, it is the fiddle that has the greatest history. The fiddle is a traditional instrument in many cultures, and it a...

Bought by WDVX and WAMU


  • Added: Aug 15, 2011
  • Length: 06:48
  • Purchases: 2
Caption: Phil at work, Credit: Sejan Yun
The world seems to reset in Fall. Those lake homes get locked up, school starts. And every professional organization in the world seems to have its...

Bought by WDVX and WAMU


  • Added: Aug 24, 2011
  • Length: 06:52
  • Purchases: 2