The Rhythm Divine

Born in the hills of Kentucky in the 1930s, bluegrass music is noteable for its use of mandolin and banjo, simple harmonies, and its powerful streak of Protestant fatalism. In recent years, a new wave of female singers and songwriters have revitalised the gospel heart of bluegrass music and this week we hear some of the best, including Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch and the Cox Family.

Transcript

Bluegrass takes its name from the Bluegrass Boys, a group formed in Kentucky by the legendary musician Bill Munroe in the late 1930s. The music was born out of hard times, and the instruments used back then, like banjos and fiddles, which were cheap and simple, are still used today.

You can think of bluegrass as kind of cousin to country music, but with more obvious Irish and Scottish folk influences. It's also borrowed from jazz, with instruments in the band taking solos, and of course there's a strong Protestant emphasis in the saving power of Jesus Christ.

In recent years, female singers and songwriters have revitalised the gospel heart of bluegrass and tonight we'll hear some of the best, including Gillian Welch, the Cox Family and the reigning queen of bluegrass music, fiddle player and singer Alison Krauss.

Music

CD title: A Hundred Miles or More
Track title: Sawing on the Strings/ Down to the River to Pray
Artist: Alison Krauss
Composer: Lewis Compton/ trad.
CD details: Rounder ROUN0555
URL: http://www.alisonkrauss.com/site.php

CD title: Down From the Mountain
Track title: I'll Fly Away/ Will There Be Any Stars in my Crown
Artist: Gillian Welch & Alison Krauss/ The Cox Family
Composer: Albert E. Brumley/ trad.
CD details: Mo Zoss Records170 221 2
URL: http://www.losthighwayrecords.com/obrotherwhereartthou/releases/

CD title: The Angels Are Singing: A Women's Bluegrass Gospel Collection
Track title: In My Time of Dying
Artist: The Stevens Sisters
CD details: Rounder 11661 0485 2
URL: http://www.mountainmusicshoppe.com/stevenssisters.php

CD title: The Angels Are Singing
Track title: Standing by the Bedside of a Neighbor
Artist: The Cox Family
Composer: R. Fennoy
CD details: Rounder 11661 0485 2
URL: http://www.cmt.com/artists/az/cox_family_the/artist.jhtml

Presenter

Geoff Wood

Producer

Geoff Wood