The country music genre, typically viewed as a form of American music, has influences from all over the world.
The country genre was greatly influenced by the music of the English, Scottish and Irish that settled in the Appalachian Mountains and across other parts of the South [2]. The fiddle, later an instrumental part of country songs, originally came to America from the British Isles, and dates back to European dance traditions [3].
Here is an example of a popular Irish jig: [4]. The fast, upbeat fiddle is now a common characterstic of country music.
Geographic Influences
The country fiddle also draws characteristics from fiddle parts in the Cajun music of French Louisiana [5]. Here is an example of another influential fiddle part: [6].
Another distinct feature in country music is the sliding in an out of notes. This attribute was originally taken from African American music, specifically field songs [7]. Here is an example of this feature: [8].
Early settlers in the 1700's of the region along the Cumberland River enjoyed fiddle music and buck dancing. Specifically, Davy Crockett was famous for telling stories and playing his fiddle [9]. As seen in the map to the right, the modern city of Nashville developed right along the bend of the Cumberland River, where these original settlers first laid down their musical roots.
Country music expanded and changed even more when Southern rural whites moved to industrial cities during the Great Depression and World War II. They brought country music to new regions where it was influenced by other genres, including blues and gospel [10].
[1]
Map of Nashville, 1898 [11]
1.Violin Bridge, Richmond. (Personal photograph by author. May 15, 2016.)
2. Britannica School. s.v. "Country music." (Accessed January 12, 2016.)
3. "Instruments in Country Music." (Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum. Accessed February 7, 2016.)
4. The Woodhouse Band. The Swallowtail Jig. (2008, MP3.)
5. "Instruments."
6. The Balfa Brothers. Madeleine. (1990, MP3.)
7. "Instruments."
8. Charlie Butler. Diamond Joe. (1997, MP3.)
9. "The Story of Music City." (Nashville Music City. Accessed January 31, 2016.)
10. Britannica School. s.v. "Country music."
11. "Nashville Street Map, 1898." (Digital image. Flickr. October 16, 2010. Accessed May 15, 2016.)