ganns@hound.UUCP (R.GANNS) (04/18/85)
I have been under the impression that bluegrass is a relatively modern
style, having been developed to its present form by Bill Monroe & company.
It does seem to draw heavily from traditional Southern Appalachian and
gospel melodies and lyrics (maybe why so many people confuse bluegrass
with traditional "old-time" music), but appears much more of a performance
-oriented style (whereas the truly traditional styles are much more
dance-oriented). A curious phenomenon is the very noticeable rift
between "old-time" and bluegrass musicians. I'd like to hear some opinions
on why this exists, what it means, etc.
-- Rich Ganns ihnp4!hou2a!hound!gannsmlf@druxv.UUCP (Fontenot) (04/18/85)
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I think Bill Monroe takes a lot more credit than he really deserves
for the "invention" of bluegrass. Probably the most destinctive sound
in bluegrass is the 3-finger banjo style, and it was Earl Scruggs, not
Monroe, who did the banjo picking; Moreover, I doubt that Earl was
really the only banjo picker using that style, even though the frailing
style was much more common. And as for the singing, there are lots of
other groups who do a very different, and much nicer, job of harmonizing
(e.g., the Bluegrass Cardinals, the Seldom Scene, and the Country Gentlemen).
Not all bluegrass lovers accept the "high-lonesome" Monroe sound as the
essential defining element of bluegrass.
Mike Fontenot
Denver, Colo.
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