Re: BG: Traditions in bluegrass/mountain music

[Stars5700]

Hi Gideon: What an interesting, original thesis presentation you've chosen, I just had to answer you. I can only speak for myself, I'll tell you a little about me, I'll turn 57 in May of this year. I've retired from a local chemical plant which I spent more than 25 years of employment. For over 40 years I've been actively associated in the Astronomy field, sharing educational, observatory programs of public interest for local communities, civic groups, area colleges and school groups. I also construct and design astronomical observatories for astronomical societies. I grew up and have spent all my life in central West Virginia  I have an indepth admiration for Ralph Stanley music and stage presence, To simple define Dr Stanley vocals, are to truly and unmistakably state, "he is the voice of old-time mountain gospel music", with his distinctive, haunting, raspy tenor vocals which shakes you to the bone, the world may possibly never hear such a talent as this ever again. There is a very diversed audience which attends his concerts, one which you would not expect, bankers, doctors, lawyers, indian chiefs, who knows?, who you'll be beside while in attendances? Perhaps the major identifying factor, of which you search for, may be plain genetics. Appalachian heritage some how plays an important part to all rural West Virginia areas.I suspect.  Remote, small, WV communities all seem to have one thing in common, there a kindred structured country inviroment, simple pleasures, love of family and friends, where strangers never remains strangers long.  older residents still holds to such things as values, integrity, honesty and  " your word" is worth everything! While growing up in these communities you find you're distantly related to about 75% of all the local families, within a 20 squared mile area. Relaxed times, church socials, funerals, wakes, home comings, revivals, Wednesday night pray meetings, and Sunday school services fueled a kinship of familar, and by-gone faces, you won't find in modern day suburbia. You listened and respected your elders, listen also, and you would hear volumns of past histories and of by-gone eras that old ones talked of, how times were back then, and of all the past memories of folks who have lived and died around these parts, spent an entire life time at their old home place, raised this many kids, and how much worst the winters were back then. Visually think back, and if you listened, they will somehow seem to assume an idenity, and a part of you will suddenly remembers these recollected long-ago times of which they talked of.  It could be these special things we overheard many Septembers ago, unforgotten time lines perhaps inspired many of those aged old  mountain memories we hear and enjoy so much today.  Who Know ? That what I think, and I'am stickin to it !

                                                                                            Roger Chapman