Country Music, Essay Example

Music is the melody and the language of our hearts. It is an external manifestation of the aspirations, love, sorrow that we feel. It is like the words in our heart finds its way in music, and it is the best form of relaxation and well being for times immemorial. Our topic is however, a particular division of musical fraternity called the Country Music. As the name suggests, country music has a rich aroma of the feelings and sentiments of a rural image; it reminds us of the mountains, lush green meadows, the beautiful little country house, yellow sunshine and happy people and the guitar. So we would evaluate the following questions in our knowledge quest of country music.

A few lines of a country song, “ Have a little love on a little honeymoon, you got a little dish and a little spoon, a little bitty house and a little bitty yard, a little bitty dog and a little bitty car, Well, it’s alright to be a little bitty… A little hometown in a big old city, Might as well share, might as well smile; Life goes on for a little bitty while.”

1. The Origin of Country Music
2. The Beginning of Country Music
3. Grand Ole Opry
4. Singing Cowboy
5. Country Rock

The Origin of Country Music:  Bristol, Tennessee are said to be the “Birthplace of Country music”, as per the 1998 United States Congress resolution. Country music was firstly characterized a gobbled set of words put in a melody,  naïve, stereotype and tangy, to cater to a particular fraction of audience. It was termed cliché, as musicians played the same tunes with different set of words. These were a set of impartial judgments and mixed feelings that affected the growth of country music at birth, but its chastity and flavor could not have prevent the minds and hearts of hundreds of Americans and it became the most popular music forms in the 20^th Century. It came to be a big success and eventually ranked as the best selling music after the rock or pop music. The musical journey of country music spans from the 19^th century, with its subsequent changes and ordeal, and its different genre that has shaped and developed in the next 100 years of its birth.

The musical instruments used in the different phases of country music would give us a better insight to its physical journey. The first instrument that started country music was the fiddle (violin), which was very popular as it was easy to make, cheap and comfortable to carry. Preliminary it was the sole lead instrument, but with preceding time and popularity, new accessories added to the list, to further enrich the flavor of the music. The introduction of banjo, brought by the slaves in South America, became a popular form of instrument during the 1800. Then during 1900, guitar came into existence, used mainly for the rhythmic styles but later gained momentum as it started to carry new styles and forms of music. Soon it became the most popular form of mass instrument. Contemporary classical music soon transcended in the use of electric guitar and other parallel added instruments like the dobro, dulcimer, the autoharp, mandolin, zither, steel and bass guitar. You can also get the flavor of instruments like accordion, piano, harmonica, washboards or drums, which later added to give the hip hop in the country music flavor.

Country music has its roots influenced and introduced by the European settlers. In ancient times, scripting the folklore and history in the form of stories and parables were quite popular. People loved to hear history in short rhythmic tales and to make it more audible and famous, melody was synchronized. When America had the influx of British settlers, they imbibed the tradition of presenting history through music. It is said that country music was a first used by the settlers in Appalachian Mountains, to describe the vehement ordeal and difficult in livelihood that they faced. Music was the only form way to express their hardships. However, the sad and passive forms of melody eventually gave way to rhythm, fervor and energy. The ballads and music of the British Isles changed to music of joy and vitality. It soon left behind the shadows of mysticism, sad and monotonous epilogue… America soon adopted country music to be happy, chiastic and full of enthusiasm.  The transformation was probably an effect of the rise of Victorian age, and the happy go lucky nature of American lifestyle. Country music became more concrete, focusing on real and current issues of the period. It was no longer stipulated for a limited rural audience, but attained a mass stature, narrating the events of the country as well as of the world.

The beginning of country music:  As country music gained its popularity in America, there was a dearth of professional musicians. Since the introduction of country music, it was local and traditional in nature. Every village has its own story and own set of lyrics, closer to their heart. But the acceptance of such a marginalized talent in the global scenario was a matter of surprise. Musicians, fiddlers were invited on local occasions, marriages and cattle drives to sing on the occasion. Appreciation and applaud were mostly the essential part on behalf to showcase their talents. However, with the passage of time these melodies were carried from one place to another by nomads, visitors and settlers. Little attempt and efforts were taken to preserve the original, old country music.

Sears, Roebuck & Co. started to sell guitars all throughout the country, coupled with sheet music and song books. Mighty publicity stunts and advertisements led to the evolution of new brand of singers and country music became widely popularized. It was easily accessible and made the learning process easier. The mandolin also developed with it. Young singers emerged and gave a new dimension to country music. Northern America was largely influenced and small bands emerged; they took money to perform and sing country music. Monetary association led to a widespread affiliation and people started to take it as a profession. The new benchmark of earning money lured the gentry from socializing their talent instead of restricting it in the boundaries of their home. This spawned the new set of “hillbilly” performers in 1920. It was named after a musician known as Al Hopkins, who named his brand hillbilly as they were the occupants of North Carolina and Virginia.

The popularity of the phonograph, provided the opportunity to buy records of favorite singers. The songs of that period had an essence of classical and orchesteral arrangements. The new wave in the country music was brought about by two Texan fiddlers, Alexander Campbell and Henry Gilland, who travelled all the way from Atlanta to Ney York, in pursuit of recording their album. It was named “Ragtime Annie.” Then came a string of singers like John Carson. He was from Georgia and was selected to record for a company named Okek Phonograph Corporation in 1923. He recorded two songs “The Little Old Log Cabin in the Lane” and “The Old Hen Cackled and the Rooster’s Going to Crow.” The company was unsure about his coarse voice and felt that the record would be a disaster. However, it was a major hit and people loved the form of music.

Then comes the era of commercialization, in which country music received its much awaited acknowledgement as one of the finest forms of music in the world. . In 1927, Ralph Peer, took the onus to set up a recording studio in Bristol, Virginia/Tennessee border and publicly announced large number of musicians to join the group. There was large participation from the musicians living in the rural areas, because they could never imagined to be paid for the passion of their life, it was more than expected, that music could pay as well. At the end of 1924, Columbia Records started producing country music records and then there was a series of record giants pursuing good country music. They wanted to further add to the traditional songs, so that the market appeal increases and penetrates further in American hearts and minds.

Vernon Dalhart was the first superstar in American country music history. His album in 1916, “ The Wreck of the old 97”  were among the popular ones. There followed a series of singers like the Carter Family, Jimmie Rodgers and so on.

However, soon the scenario changed and there was a major depression after 1920. There was economic turmoil and people could not afford on buying records. So during 1930 radio became a powerful medium of music and people could hear their favorite music. Then came famous shows like “National Barn Dance”, the “Wheeling Jamboree, “Grand Ole Opry” followed by Grand Opera. Eventually there were stars like Dr. Humphrey Bates, Gully Jumpers, Jimmy Thompson, Uncle Dave Macon, and Roy Acuff and so on. The Grand Ole Opry played a significant role in the shaping of the country music history and is responsible for opening the avenues of music to the next generations.

Singing Cowboys and Western Swing

In the 20^th century, old cowboy songs, which were mainly inspirational works of brave deeds, heroism, and patriotism ..Attributes of such feelings were expressed in the songs. They took an important part in the Hollywood movies and gained large amount of exposure. Movies has the technology of sound, so cowboy songs were added to make the movies more appealing. Thus songs which were mainly sung during rearing of cattle, got a permanent place in the history of movie cinema. Carl T. Sprague had the first recorded album and is considered to the the first singing cowboy. His album was known as “When the Work’s Al Done This Fall” which had a record sale of 900,000 copies and introduced the new trend in country music.

Country Rock: In the late 1960, American music leaped new heights. Country music got the touch of rock..the transformation from the old, traditional gospels to one that creates the resonance in music. From the sentimental journey to a more hip hop journey, to suit to the young generation. Thus old wine in a new bottle, country music was packaged in a new, style and genre known as the country rock. The famous country rock singers are The Byrds, Clarence White, The Eagles and so on.

Works Cited

Sabine Keevil, (2002) Guitars & Cadillacs, Thinking Dog Publishing, , Last Retrieved on October 26, 2009.

Peter La Chapelle (2007), Proud to Be an Okie: Cultural Politics, Country Music, and Migration to Southern California, Last Retrieved on October 26, 2009.

Pete Stamper, (1999), It All Happened in Renfro Valley, Last Retrieved on October 26, 2009
Colin Escott, Routledge, 2002, Roadkill on the Three-Chord Highway, Last Retrieved on October 26, 2009

http://www.hit-country-music-lyrics.com/alan-jackson-lyrics-country.html

http://www.countrymusicplanet.com/history/