This week, a collection of stringbands and stringband music both traditional and modern recorded live at Ozark Folk Center State Park.  Also, commentary by musicians from these solely stringed outfits.

A stringband is an old-time music ensemble made up solely of string instruments.  Stringbands were extremely popular in 1920s and 30s America and were the forerunners of modern country and bluegrass bands.  Early old-time stringbands were comprised mainly of a fiddle, a banjo and acoustic guitar.  They may have also been joined by other instruments including spoons, washboard, jug, harmonica, mountain or hammered dulcimer, autoharp and bones.  Eventually, other stringed instruments began to be added to the fiddle-banjo duo that was essential to dance music of the early United States.  These other instruments included mandolin and double bass or washtub bass.  Such an assemblage of instrumentation became known simply as a “stringband.”

Featured on this stringband show are Ozark originals The Lazy Goat Stringband, Possum Juice, The Leatherwoods, The Upjumpers, and Harmony.  Also featured are Shenandoah Valley old-time supergroup, The Steel Wheels and Minnesota stringband sensation, The Roe Family Singers.

In this week’s “From the Vault” segment, OHR producer Jeff Glover offers a 1981 archival recording of Ozark originals Lloyd & Floyd Armstrong performing the song “Dust on the Bible,” from the Ozark Folk Center State Park archives.

In his segment “Back in the Hills,” writer, professor, and historian Dr. Brooks Blevins explores how to speak Ozarkian and the origins of Ozark vernacular.

Ozark Highlands Radio

OHR Presents: Stringband!

I have the privilege of participating in a Blues Workshop presented by Bing Futch at the Ohio Valley Gathering 2015.  Bing and I are playing an example of 12-Bar Blues.

Blues With Bing

From my new album "Unresolved Blues", this tune was inspired by no-one in particular, but we all know them well.

Listen Closely Mama - Mountain Dulcimer Blues

From my 2013 album "Dive!", this song deals with the walls that we put up to protect ourselves.

I Keep My Distance - Alternative Mountain Dulcimer

Fallen Angel - EDM Native American Flute

Earth Mother - Native American Flute

The Last Of The Mohicans - Mountain Dulcimer

New Year's Night - Mountain Dulcimer

Lutung bingung is one of repertoar music degung classic that adapting from "Lutung Kasarung" story, part of the story taken when Guruminda become a Lutung down to earth, and when he (lutung) come to earth, like confused about that a new place.

In this song, Parahyena is not alone. We are assisted by a guitarist who usually plays classic degung tones, namely Agus Rukmana. He has been exploring, developing and making innovative classic Sundanese tones on classical guitars. Agus Rukmana has also made a recording of souvenirs to 120 countries at the 50th Asia-Africa Summit, at this moment he is devising a method of learning 'ngadegung ku guitar' (playing degung by guitar) and making recordings. 

The playing patterns of music performed by Parahyena and Agus Rukmana, Lutung Bingung song are transformed from pelog and gamelan patterns, but the fingering style technique uses modulation to western conventional chord. In practice, the song is cultivated and recorded live. Audio and visual capture is important, so in this song selected live session for the launch of Parahyena’s new single. 

Lutung Bingung is a collaboration of various types of art that we feel interesting to combine, as for the wayang (Dalang), Arts Dance, and mapping. Great hope this song is acceptable to all circles, especially people outside tatar sunda. Parahyena and Agus Rukmana want to introduce this technique as a Sunda tone game, and this technique can be applied to any musical instrument. 

New single "Lutung Bingung" already be enjoyed on Parahyena Youtube Channel www.youtube.com/parahyena

Lutung Bingung Feat. Agus Roekmana

All instruments and vocals by Winter Walker. This was a total blast.

FUTURE TENSE (cover)

Winter Singing Pop Medley

Ozark Highlands Radio is a weekly radio program that features live music and interviews, recorded at Ozark Folk Center State Park’s beautiful 1,000-seat auditorium in Mountain View, Arkansas.  In addition to the music, our “Feature Host” segments take listeners on a musical journey with historians, authors, and personalities who explore the people, stories, and history of the Ozark region.

OHR Presents: Stringband!

Ozark Highlands Radio

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