Folkawys-Episode 4

"[Folkways] became the resource for a generation of young performers," was included in the introduction of Harry Smith, music anthropologist, during the 1991 Grammy's. Once he was up on stage he had to say, "My dreams came true. I saw America change through music." This is the true explanation of this episode of folkways. Music tends to reflect the mindset of the people in the time in which it is created. As opinions change, the way that people expreess themselves changes as well. This fact is reflected in the music that we have listened to in class. Country grew out of its roots in blues music which grew from traditional African music that came over at the tend of the 1800s and beginning of the 1900s. It has continued to transform and the content of the lyrics has evolved along with rhythms.

Harry Smith was put on the folk anthology project by Moe Asch to collect the more commercialized music of around the 30s through 50s. Grio Marcus, an author reflected on Smith's collection stating, "What's fascinating about the way the whole set is put together is the way one recording echos another." Genres have expanded and transformed over the years, but at the heart of many songs you can still feel and hear the connection to other genres.