Music
2,168 Albums Later: The Legacy of Moses Asch
When Moses Asch (1905-1986) founded a tiny record label called Folkways with Marian Distler (1919-1964) in 1948, he wanted to be a resource for musicians to document the "entire world of sound."And by that, he really did mean the entire world. Between the label's founding and Asch's death in 1986,...
July 03, 2010 |
By Erica R. Hendry
USA Wins! Celebrate As If You Were in South Africa!
Soccer and music blend together to create an atmosphere that is unique only to the beautiful game. For 90 minutes, players are serenaded by supporters who don't ask for tips in return, just that magical goal that sends them into hysteria.As you read this, USA supporters in South Africa are almost c...
June 23, 2010 |
By Ryan Reed
Whistle While You Work
One of the things I remember most about growing up is that my dad was always whistling. Always. While he did the dishes, was out in the yard, driving us to soccer practice and even, to our horror, while walking around in public places (cause enough for my brothers and I to quickly dash to another a...
May 26, 2010 |
By Erica R. Hendry
Glee Clubs and Fans Take Note: Viva Mariachi!
Mariachi is a musical form whose popularity has endured for well over 100 years, crossing all cultural barriers. Indeed, these distinctive sounds of Mexico are even embraced by American schoolchildren with mariachi clubs springing up in middle and high schools, particularly in the southwest United ...
May 12, 2010 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Legends of the Apollo
For more than 75 years, some of the world’s greatest entertainers have performed at the famous Harlem theater
May 10, 2010 |
By Lucinda Moore
A Centennial Birthday for the "First Lady Of Jazz"
At an age when most children just begin to learn the piano, Mary Lou Williams already had a steady piano gig.Born Mary Elfrieda Scruggs, Mary Lou was one of 11 children and began playing for parties when she was just six years old to help support her half-brothers and sisters. By age seven, she was...
May 06, 2010 |
By Erica R. Hendry
Scanning a Stradivarius
Medical 3-D imaging makes it possible to study the world's greatest stringed instruments – and uncover the secrets of its makers
May 2010 |
By Erica R. Hendry
The Soul of Memphis
Despite setbacks, the Mississippi River city has held onto its rollicking blues joints, smokin' barbecue and welcoming, can-do spirit
May 2010 |
By Jamie Katz
Setting Tax Day to Music
Hate to break it to you, but your federal taxes are due today. Post offices are staying open late to accommodate the madding crowds of people who waited until the last minute to send in their forms. (Although those who decided to electronically file have the privilege of keeping the mayhem of decip...
April 15, 2010 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Women's History Month: "Women Breaking Musical Barriers" From Smithsonian Folkways
For most of the years I spent in my college’s music conservatory, I was the only female tuba major. A little more than half a century ago, though, it’s unlikely I would’ve been there at all.Today, it’s easy to count the music industry as one place where women have seen equal, if not more, success ...
March 23, 2010 |
By Erica R. Hendry
The Rock Concert That Captured an Era
Featuring acts such as the Beach Boys, James Brown and the Rolling Stones, The T.A.M.I. Show defined popular music for a generation
March 19, 2010 |
By Daniel Eagan
Celebrate the Super Bowl Smithsonian-Style!
If you're stuck with a group of football fanatics, it's no fun being the odd person out having nothing to contribute to Super Bowl-related conversation
February 05, 2010 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Smithsonian Folkways Wins Awards at the Grammys and Indies
As happy as we were that Taylor Swift accepted her first four Grammy awards on Sunday sans interruptions from Kanye, a Smithsonian victory gave us more reason to celebrate after the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards.The Texas-Mexican conjunto band Los Texmaniacs took home the 2009 Grammy award for Best Tej...
February 02, 2010 |
By Erica R. Hendry
Have You Hugged Your Computer Today?
January may mean New Year’s and half-priced Christmas decorations to some, but for those who live and die by their keyboard shortcuts (like me, alas), January marks the anniversary of the computer. In 1984, Apple Inc. brought the world the Macintosh, heralding in its new brand of personal computin...
January 14, 2010 |
By Jamie Simon
Woody Guthrie's Music Lives On
More than 40 years after the celebrated folk singer's death, a trove of 3,000 unrecorded songs is inspiring musicians to lay new tracks
January 05, 2010 |
By Jim Morrison
Hear Folkways' Founding Father
Moses "Moe" Asch, the Berry Gordy of Folkways Records, would have turned 104 this past Wednesday. Asch founded the Folkways label in 1948, and he worked with some of the pioneers in folk and blues, including Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie and Lead Belly. As a recording engineer, Asch preferred to keep ...
December 08, 2009 |
By Jeff Campagna
The Glorious History of Handel's Messiah
A musical rite of the holiday season, the Baroque-era oratorio still awes listeners 250 years after the composer's death
December 2009 |
By Jonathan Kandell
Sweatin' to the Smithsonian: Exercise With Folkways
Autumn is upon us, which means we must once again turn our thoughts to the Halloween/Thanksgiving/Christmas triumvirate of culinary evil. No matter how much goodwill you show to your friends, family and neighbors, it won't save your waistline from the smorgasbord of rich foods that you traditionall...
November 06, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Celebrate Halloween with Smithsonian Folkways!
Halloween isn't the most musical holiday out there. Repeated listenings of "Monster Mash" (and it's infrequently heard B-side), the Ghostbusters theme, The Addams Family theme song, the theme from The Munsters. Are you detecting a theme here? I mean, you could also play 101 variations of "Night on ...
October 29, 2009 |
By Jesse Rhodes
Hazel Scott’s Lifetime of High Notes
She began her career as a musical prodigy and ended up breaking down racial barriers in the recording and film industries
October 16, 2009 |
By Karen Chilton
