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The Banjo: Music, History, and Heritage

Open your eyes and ears to the rich—and surprising—cross-cultural history of the banjo with GRAMMY®-Award winning artist, Rhiannon Giddens.
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Overview

From campfires to concert halls, explore the audible breadth of this great instrument in The Banjo: Music, History, and Heritage. Taught by GRAMMY®-Award winning artist and MacArthur grant recipient Rhiannon Giddens, the 10 jam-packed lessons take you across time and cultures to uncover the hidden—and surprising—history of the banjo.

About

Rhiannon Giddens
Rhiannon Giddens

You have to live your life thinking about what you're going to be passing on. It can't stop with you. It has to continue on.

Rhiannon Giddens is a singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist who cofounded the Carolina Chocolate Drops. For her work as a soloist and collaborator, she is a two-time Grammy Award winner and an eight-time nominee. She is the recipient of a MacArthur Fellowship, and she also received a Legacy of Americana Award from Nashville’s National Museum of African American History and the Americana Music Association. Additionally, she is the artistic director of Silkroad and a member of the band Our Native Daughters. She obtained a bachelor of music degree in Vocal Performance from the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.

By This Expert

The Banjo: Music, History, and Heritage
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The Banjo: Music, History, and Heritage

Trailer

Hearing the Banjo's Journey from Africa

01: Hearing the Banjo's Journey from Africa

Jump into the history of the banjo with GRAMMY®-Award winning artist and MacArthur grant recipient Rhiannon Giddens. As you will discover right away, there is much to learn about this versatile instrument—starting with its origins in Africa and its link to African American culture.

24 min
The Banjo and the Fiddle Together

02: The Banjo and the Fiddle Together

Continue your exploration of the gourd banjo as an African instrument and see how music as entertainment crosses racial lines. You will see the connection between the banjo and the fiddle as you dig into the old-time country music of Joe Thompson, an African American string band musician.

23 min
Minstrel Banjo

03: Minstrel Banjo

As musical and comedy entertainments, minstrel shows have left a scar across American history due to the legacy of blackface. Although difficult to study today, minstrel shows play an important part in the banjo’s history, as it was through these shows that the banjo became a mainstream instrument.

27 min
The Spiritual Roots of the Banjo

04: The Spiritual Roots of the Banjo

While we may think of the banjo as an instrument for entertainment, the buried history reveals it has powerful spiritual roots in African and Caribbean culture. Delve into the connection between religious symbols and the early banjo—and reflect on the complex processes of cultural appropriation.

24 min
The Banjo in Ragtime and Jazz

05: The Banjo in Ragtime and Jazz

The late 1800s and early 1900s saw an explosion in historical, cultural, social, and technological change, and this change paved the way for the great American art form of jazz. From ragtime to New Orleans jazz, examine how the banjo’s capabilities for syncopation earned the instrument a prominent spot in exciting new music.

22 min
The Irish Banjo

06: The Irish Banjo

While African American music was transitioning from minstrels to jazz, Irish immigrants were bringing their own cultural experiences to America—and the banjo fit right in with the rhythms of traditional Celtic music. Meet some of the early figures of the Irish banjo, which has strong connections to Afro-Caribbean culture.

24 min
The Banjo's Evolution in Ireland

07: The Banjo's Evolution in Ireland

Just as music is always changing, the instruments we play also evolve. You’ll see how gourd banjos transitioned and eventually led to the development of the tambourine. You’ll also study the evolution of technique, which included the development of American-style “cross-picking,” popular in bluegrass today.

22 min
Migration, Music, and Commercialization

08: Migration, Music, and Commercialization

The banjo is most strongly associated with bluegrass, and that’s because bluegrass elevated the banjo from an accompaniment to the star of the show. Survey the rise of bluegrass, with Bill Monroe and Earl Scruggs, then dive into the cross-cultural exchange made possible by the banjo. See how Bela Fleck elevated the instrument, yet again.

21 min
The Banjo in String Bands and Bluegrass

09: The Banjo in String Bands and Bluegrass

Since Black people invented the banjo, what caused the banjo to become predominantly associated with rural white communities? Learn about the 20th century’s Great Migration; the birth of the recording industry; and the way banjos became associated with older, rural culture. Then witness the rise of folk music, which tapped into rural, working-class stringed instruments.

18 min
Banjo Revival and Our Collective Story

10: Banjo Revival and Our Collective Story

While the American folk music revival gave renewed life to an old instrument, evolution is ongoing in the 21st century. Bands such as Mumford and Sons and the Carolina Chocolate Drops continue to reinvent what is possible with the banjo, remixing classic sounds for new audiences. The course ends with a look back—and a look forward.

23 min
Performance of

11: Performance of "Kitchen Girl" with Enda Scahill

Performance of "Kitchen Girl" with Enda Scahill

3 min
Performance of

12: Performance of "Old Corn Likker" with Justin Robinson

Performance of "Old Corn Likker" with Justin Robinson

3 min
Performance of

13: Performance of "Better Git Yer Learnin'"

Performance of "Better Git Yer Learnin'"

3 min

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