Making Music: The Banjo in a Southern Appalachian County

The book "Making Music: The Banjo in a Southern Appalachian County" explores the history and culture of banjo players in Haywood County, North Carolina, through oral histories of thirty-two banjo players. It highlights the in-home musical folkway that developed along the colonial frontier and the survival of this tradition in largely isolated areas. The book invites readers to consider the future of the banjo in the face of contemporary trends and emphasizes the vibrant legacy of the banjo in Haywood County and the persistence of tradition in the twenty-first century.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 268 pages
Publication date: 30 June 2023
Publisher: University Press of Mississippi

The banjo has held a special place in the hearts of people living in the southern Appalachian Mountains since the late 20th century. In his book, "Making Music: The Banjo in a Southern Appalachian County," author William C. Allsbrook Jr., MD, delves deep into the world of banjo players in Haywood County, North Carolina. Through the oral histories of thirty-two banjo players, born in Haywood County, Allsbrook explores the instrument's significance and the stories behind the musicians.

The banjo holds a special place in the hearts of people living in the southern Appalachian Mountains since the late 20th century. In his book, "Making Music: The Banjo in a Southern Appalachian County," author William C. Allsbrook Jr., MD, delves deep into the world of banjo players in Haywood County, North Carolina. Through the oral histories of thirty-two banjo players, born in Haywood County, Allsbrook explores the instrument's significance and the stories behind the musicians.

These talented musicians share their earliest memories of music and the banjo, discussing the allure and appeal of the instrument. They also delve into the process of learning to play the banjo, describing the sensations and occasional "flow states" they experience while playing.

In the book, Allsbrook explores an in-home musical folkway that developed along the colonial frontier in Haywood County. While frontier expansion ceased in the mid-1800s due to geographic barriers, the in-home musical tradition, including the banjo, survived in largely isolated areas.

While vestiges of that tradition remain to this day, the region has undergone significant changes over the lifetimes of the musicians interviewed. As a result, the survival of the in-home tradition is not guaranteed. Readers are invited into the private lives of the banjo players and asked to consider the future of the banjo in the face of contemporary trends.

The future of the banjo will be shaped by how this remarkable mountain culture continues to adapt to these challenges. However, the thriving community of banjo players in Haywood County represents the vibrant legacy of the banjo and the persistence of tradition in the twenty-first century.

The banjo has played a significant role in the cultural heritage of the southern Appalachian Mountains, and its influence continues to be felt today. Through the stories of these banjo players, "Making Music: The Banjo in a Southern Appalachian County" provides a deeper understanding of the instrument's history, significance, and the enduring spirit of tradition in this region.

Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781496845818