Category Archives: music

Bela Fleck's Banjo Concerto Premiers 9/22/2011

Posted on September 22, 2011 by Bud Bennett

I just heard that tonight Bela Fleck’s banjo concerto premiers and is being shown in a free and live webcast. The piece is called Béla Fleck’s Concerto for Banjo and Orchestra.  Also being aired tonight are Copland’s Appalachian Spring and … Continue reading →

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Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- World Turning

Posted on September 19, 2011 by Bud Bennett

When I was much younger than I am now, I came across a print of a painting that really spoke to me.  It was a painting by Henry Tanner of an old African-American man in a rustic cabin.  In his … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday Bill Monroe!

Posted on September 13, 2011 by Bud Bennett

Today would mark Bill Monroe’s 100th birthday.   He did a lot for music in his lifetime (which stretched from September 13, 1911 to September 9, 1996) by inventing what he called Bluegrass Music and by teaching it to so many … Continue reading →

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Billy Jim's Fiddle

Posted on June 2, 2011 by Bud Bennett

There is a poem by Stephen Vincent Benet that I have loved since the very first time I heard it.  In fact, it made such an impression on me I tried to memorize it.  I got pretty far with that, … Continue reading →

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Highlights of the McConnell Library Appalachian Music Collection- Recapturing the Banjo

Posted on May 23, 2011 by Bud Bennett

I have always been interested in the history of the banjo and the way is has evolved over the past two hundred or so years.  When Bela Fleck and Jayme Stone and others took their trips to Africa to “find” … Continue reading →

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Highlights of McConnell Library’s Appalachian Music Collection- Replay

Posted on May 16, 2011 by Bud Bennett

(Used with permission from Darcy Whiteside, photographer) Not all of the music I am highlighting is strictly or traditionally Appalachian music.  Appalachia is a big place and its inhabitants are varied and have many interests and influences.  The album I … Continue reading →

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Highlights of McConnell Library’s Appalachian Music Collection- The Seldom Scene

Posted on May 9, 2011 by Bud Bennett

The Seldom Scene was a progressive bluegrass band that started in 1971.  I say “was” because even though the band technically still exists, it only has one original member and I think is no longer leading the way for other … Continue reading →

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Highlights of McConnell Library’s Appalachian Music Collection- Throw Down Your Heart

Posted on December 15, 2010 by Bud Bennett

This pick is different from the others I have made so far, this one isn’t Appalachian music at all- in fact it’s not even all music, it’s a DVD.  I picked this one because it concerns one of America’s most … Continue reading →

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Highlights of McConnell Library’s Appalachian Music Collection- Grass Roots: The Best of New Grass Revival

Posted on October 27, 2010 by Bud Bennett

I usually really dislike greatest hits albums, I don’t know why, maybe I don’t like somebody deciding for me what a band’s best work is, maybe my taste runs counter to the general public, maybe I’m just disagreeable, who knows…  … Continue reading →

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Bluegrass and Old-time jams

Posted on September 28, 2010 by Bud Bennett

One of the nice things about bluegrass and old-time music is that it is pretty easy to see it live and that is really something that is almost a core value of the music.  Those of us who play this … Continue reading →

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