Gems of Bluegrass
Series produced by Philip Nusbaum
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... Show full description
363 Pieces
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Bluegrass music is in a constant state of evolution. Bluegrass artists are drawn to the catalog of songs by the Father of Bluegrass music, Bill Mon...
- Added: Oct 03, 2017
- Length: 06:44
You keep hearing about sticking to the melody when you play. But every player knows that there are times to build off the melody of a song or time....
- Added: Sep 12, 2017
- Length: 07:35
Bluegrass is American. Bluegrass and America are obviously connected. But there are few songs about the connections. The strongest connections lie ...
- Added: Jun 06, 2017
- Length: 07:07
We know that bluegrass is not a ritual, nor a catalog of rules that have to be followed. But still bluegrass fans, business people, players and sch...
- Added: Jun 01, 2017
- Length: 07:59
There is always a group of fans and music industry people who proclaim that the future will be won by bluegrass groups that become more like Progre...
- Added: May 25, 2017
- Length: 08:47
Gems of Bluegrass are 5 - 8 minutes drop-in modules that look at bluegrass / old time history, aesthetics and culture, conceived broadly. Each Gem ...
- Added: May 23, 2017
- Length: 04:36
Bill Monroe’s bluegrass is often viewed as a musical big bang. But while it was different than the string band music preceding Monroe’s Blue Grass...
- Added: May 11, 2017
- Length: 07:23
Old Time Fiddle Music is a highly developed form, but the world surrounding bluegrass and old time music don’t always treat it that way. Today’s Ge...
- Added: May 03, 2017
- Length: 06:29
Most musical idioms in the United States are touched by the blues. That includes bluegrass of course, Many consider the combining of African Americ...
- Added: Apr 22, 2017
- Length: 05:12
What is traditional about bluegrass lyrics? The definition of tradition usually has to do with continuing something over time. Some bluegrass songs...
- Added: Mar 13, 2017
- Length: 07:47
Who enjoys work? Old-time farmers? That was a work all the time existence on the family farm. It had its satisfactions such as working with nature ...
- Added: Feb 09, 2017
- Length: 07:18
Back in the 1930 era, farm work engaged most members of the old time music audience, and it of course was hard work, and it could be 24/7. The sin...
- Added: Feb 06, 2017
- Length: 07:57
Back in the 1930 era, farm work engaged most members of the old time music audience, and it of course was hard work, and it could be 24/7. The sin...
- Added: Jan 31, 2017
- Length: 07:57
Some view traditional music styles as singular, insulated from other styles. And that has been true at certain times in certain places. But owing t...
- Added: Jan 23, 2017
- Length: 06:03
Sitting on top of the world has been around a long time. The song was written by Walter Vinson and Sam Chatmon, members of the blues group, the Mis...
- Added: Jan 10, 2017
- Length: 05:55
Old Joe Clark has been around forever seemingly. It’s used as a square dance tune, so that helps keep it around. That it crooked and difficult to l...
- Added: Dec 31, 2016
- Length: 07:21
Old time music has the reputation of looking at it’s own history for inspiration. But it has also has a cutting edge. In general, cutting edges in ...
- Added: Nov 26, 2016
- Length: 05:15
Much of the heated dialog among bluegrass fans concerns new approaches that are evolving. But when new approaches evolve, it does not mean that the...
- Added: Nov 11, 2016
- Length: 05:38
Merle Haggard. His dates are 1937 to 2016. He was not a bluegrass performer, but he was loved by bluegrass artists and people. Now that he is gone,...
- Added: Nov 05, 2016
- Length: 06:41
Fall is Beautiful, right? Well, we hear about it in bluegrass songs, but those beautiful falling leaves are usually meant to symbolize something el...
- Added: Oct 18, 2016
- Length: 06:12
