Gems of Bluegrass

Series produced by Philip Nusbaum

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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 w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van norman
Before the arrival of electricity and invention of sound reinforcement, a dance or performance required several musicians capable of playing loud a...

  • Added: Jul 24, 2013
  • Length: 06:57
Caption: Phil w/ 2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
The notion of what is considered bluegrass is slowly migrating. Today, Lyle Lofgren, Adam Granger and Phil Nusbaum comment on the situation.

  • Added: Jul 23, 2013
  • Length: 07:23
Caption: Phil w/2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
On today’s Gem of Bluegrass, we take a look at the backbone of bluegrass instrumental music: the ancient old time fiddle tunes.

  • Added: Jun 27, 2013
  • Length: 08:14
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In the late 1940s when bluegrass was new, it was considered an innovation. But in time, bluegrass became its own tradition with its own conventions...

  • Added: Jun 18, 2013
  • Length: 05:39
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
That’s it! I’m Outa Here! Well, that’s one way to make an exit. And that works sometime. But there is much more to leaving than being at the end of...

  • Added: Jun 05, 2013
  • Length: 04:44
Caption: Phil w/2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Early Bluegrass is often viewed as a post WWII idiom reflecting great changes in the US. With that in mind, it makes sense that early bluegrass is ...

  • Added: May 27, 2013
  • Length: 04:50

  • Added: May 17, 2013
  • Length: 04:37
Caption: Phil w/ 2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: karen Van Norman
Bluegrass music represents a string band evolution plus 1940s innovations by Bill Monroe, who led a group called the Bluegrass Boys. Bill pitched...

  • Added: Apr 20, 2013
  • Length: 07:52
Caption: Phil w/ 2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
The musical style of old time music and bluegrass come from Appalachia. The high singing, the accompaniments that are full of notes, are all a blue...

  • Added: Apr 16, 2013
  • Length: 06:41
Caption: Phil w/2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
To some, there is a great advantage to living outdoors. It’s an advantage you can’t put a price tag on. And maybe some romance too, as in the case...

  • Added: Mar 28, 2013
  • Length: 07:13
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The bluegrass tradition’s depiction of young people is changing. A hundred years ago, songs about children often presented horrible things happenin...

  • Added: Mar 15, 2013
  • Length: 06:31
Caption: Phil w/2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Old Time Music and bluegrass enjoyed a burst of interest in the 1950s into 1960s. At that time, the media got interested, and the folk music establ...

  • Added: Mar 08, 2013
  • Length: 08:45
Caption: Phil w/2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Bluegrass is considered old fashioned, and old time string bands even more so. After all, it is the old time string band that gave birth to the blu...

  • Added: Mar 04, 2013
  • Length: 06:27
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Bluegrass fans say that one of the great things about the music is that it values its heritage. The fans like it when it sounds old, and they enjoy...

Bought by WMMT


  • Added: Feb 18, 2013
  • Length: 06:10
  • Purchases: 1
Caption: Phil w/2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Singing and playing a bluegrass song involves being true to the song and being true to your own musical identity. A case in point is the song Body ...

  • Added: Feb 11, 2013
  • Length: 06:04
Caption: Phil w/ 2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Bluegrass music is a combination of the Scots-Irish heritage of many of the first generation of bluegrass player, with the blues woven through the ...

  • Added: Feb 04, 2013
  • Length: 06:33
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The Blues has had a big influence on most forms of American music, including bluegrass. In recent years, we’ve seen a spate of bluegrass covers of ...

  • Added: Jan 26, 2013
  • Length: 04:06
Caption: Phil w/2013 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
When one thinks of the hallowed traditions of bluegrass and old time music, people always mention fiddling. Duet singing, gospel. But what about th...

  • Added: Jan 19, 2013
  • Length: 06:59
Caption: Phil w/2012 Zeitfunk, Credit: Karen Van Norman
Take This Hammer. It’s an old song that has been performed on stage for well over half a century. But how it’s been performed has varied, depending...

  • Added: Jan 15, 2013
  • Length: 07:12
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We have all these categories of music. But most players have access to multiple styles, and it’s normal for a player in one tradition to develop an...

  • Added: Jan 15, 2013
  • Length: 07:39