FOLK/TRADITIONAL MUSIC INTEREST
GROUP
The Folk/Traditional Music Interest
Group was formed in 1996 in response to a demonstrated interest
in vernacular American music within the membership of the Society
for American Music. Subsequently, the Interest Group has hosted
the annual Sacred Harp Singing at our national meetings and actively
created sessions at conferences featuring scholars such as Norm
Cohen (author of Long Steel Rail) and Chris Strachwitz (President
of Arhoolie Records) as well as a panel discussions concerning
the early history of recorded sound, the contributions of Alan
Lomax, and black country music performers and scholars.
As is customary, the Folk/Traditional
Interest Group will host the annual Sacred Harp Singing at the
upcoming national conference at Eugene, Oregon. In addition, the
Interest Group will present a session "Oregon Fiddle Traditions:
Braided Traditions" featuring noted fiddle scholar Linda
Danielson, who wiill discuss her research on the cluster of traditions
coming from the Scandinavian, Ukranian, and Anglo-Celtic communities
as they filtered into Oregon.
And here is a picture
of last year's wonderful Sacred Harp Singing at the Cleveland
conference.
That is singing school master Deane Root urging us onward.
A remarkable ninety-one-year-old fiddler named Buck Milligan will
also perform and chat about his interesting personal history which
includes an apprenticeship with his father Cleo Milligan and radio
work with Bob Wills. Buck's appearance is dependent on his continued
health.
Membership in the Interest Group is
free and open to anyone in the Society for American Music. While
Ron Pen has served as chair of the group since its inception ,
his role is purely one of facilitation and moderation. Any suggestions
concerning activity, direction, presence at national conferences,
etc. is encouraged. The budget of the Interest Group consists
of periodic board allocations as well as donations from members
of the Society who help support its activities. There is no dues
structure.
Please feel free to contact Ron Pen
.
