This video exists for educational purposes and will not be monetized in any way. Links to the original videos are provided below.


This video aims to explore the origins of some of the features of traditional Appalachian music. Of course not every feature was covered, but these were the ones I could find clear videos of. Many of the comparisons may be superficial, particularly the African ones, however they are designed to suggest similarities rather than provide concrete evidence of direct cause and effect.

It's worth noting that I've heard a kind of "yodel" sound in traditional Irish language folk music which is VERY similar to the Appalachian "vocal feathering" heard at 9:44. Listen to this recording from 1930: https://doegen.ie/LA_1130g2


0:00 Banjo
1:44 Lyrics
4:15 Dulcimer
5:13 Melodies
7:24 Blues features
9:03 Singing style
11:07 Mouthbow


Here are links to the original videos:
Remi Diatta, akonting:    • Remi Diatta plays akonting (ekonting)...  
Clarence Ashley - “The Coo Coo Bird”:    • Clarence Ashley performs "The Cuckoo"  
Freda Black - “The Cuckoo”:    • Freda Black : Romany Gypsy Traditiona...   41:09
Harry Cox - “Seventeen Come Sunday”:    • Traditional English folk singing (196...   7:43
Bertha Baird - Civil War song:    • Buna and Bertha: Applachian Ballad Si...   7:53
Norwegian Langeleik:    • Langeleik - cithare sur table traditi...  
Jean Ritchie - “Uncle Joe”:    • The Hills Resound (Kentucky Education...   5:48
Aly Bain - “Mrs McLeod”:    • Boolavogue / Mrs McLeod  
Tommy Jarrell - “Cripple Creek”:    • Tommy Jarrell: Cripple Creek (1983)  
Sharon Shannon and Paul O’Shaughnessy:    • A Set of Reels - Sharon Shannon & Pau...  
Daniel Ngarukiye:    • Traditional song from Rwanda.  
Clyde Maxwell - “Clyde Maxwell’s Blues”:    • Clyde Maxwell's blues (1978)  
Dock Boggs - “Country Blues”:    • Dock Boggs: Country Blues (1966)  
91-year-old woman - Swiss yodelling song:    • Grandma's Swiss Yodel  
Dillard Chandler - The Soldier Traveling from the North:    • Appalachian Ballad Singing (1969) | D...  
Native American singing:    • Native American Drumming and Singing ...  
Jimmy Driftwood, mouth bow:    • Jimmie Driftwood plays the mouth bow ...  
Mbilu, mouth bow:    • Mouthbow and Song  


Here is a video of Jean Ritchie and Aly Bain playing "Uncle Joe" / "Mrs McLeod" together:    • Uncle Joe  


Support this channel on Patreon: https://patreon.com/TheFolkRevivalPro...