Jim Hartel minstrel banjo & Rhiannon Giddens, MUSIC episode

www.craftinamerica.org. Jim Hartel minstrel banjo and Rhiannon Giddens segment. MUSIC episode PBS premiere: November 20, 2015.
For more on Craft in America, visit www.craftinamerica.org.
All Craft in America programs are now viewable on www.craftinamerica.org, the PBS iPhone/iPad app and video.pbs.org/program/craft-in-america.
To purchase DVDs: www.shoppbs.org

[@twigrhodes]

The inclusion of, “no more the moon shines on Lorena,” jig at the beginning is immaculate!

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

Rhiannon Giddens' music is the MEDICINE that America needs to cure all her racial strife, and finally be able to embrace the god-granted cultural diversity that has made us unique among all the nations of the world. Folk music, Jazz, Rock and Roll, Levis jeans, the list goes on regarding how the rest of the world has wanted to emulate American art, style and culture. We are in kind of a 'doldrums' period right now, but it could be turned around quick enough with the right people running things, and we could truly be inspiring the world again. ;)

[@errolfellows409]

"Merrywhang / Merry-Whang" - what a brilliant name! Rhiannon Giddens is a musical genius. Look after her, America! Who are those 18 soulless, miserable, benighted oafs who gave this clip the thumbs down?

[@roarprawn]

You guys are both National treasures! Love your work.

[@royhowze4023]

Wow, that's a crazy good sound ma'am fershur.....u play that boat paddle earnestly.

[@robertjeffrey5560]

I had the pleasure of meeting Rhiannon years ago in Montreal at a Carolina Chocolate Drops show. Such an amazingly talented person and super nice and down to earth. Got to meet Don Flemmons too, that guy is rad!

[@craigmulder3124]

Wow,you have opened my eyes, mmm, ears,to a beautiful music, such a cool banjo sound and beautiful voice

[@billycockrell2470]

History, the good and the bad, is just that, history. It's important to remember as it was, learn from it, celebrate the good, improve on the bad. Remembering can be painful, but shouldn't be a source of hate for any race of people. None of us are our ancestors. We should be able to talk about the past without it affecting how we treat each other now. No two people are alike, differences can be celebrated along with our similarity. We all humans, we all can be good and bad. We need to love one another. Music should definitely be a part of that!

[@hobartnickell9959]

Excellent summary, I wish all humans thought like this.

[@Nothereforit174]

I’m a continuation of my ancestors and Lincoln’s 13th amendment means people like me can be imprisoned to become slaves legally so anyone who is white and doesn’t challenge that isn’t that different from their ancestors to me. I don’t ask the privileged to tell me what history will be. It’s ongoing and you lost the right to define it. Take it up with those before you if it bothers you

[@annepoitrineau5650]

Thank you so much. It was both beautiful music and educational.

[@paullanier8280]

We have a group of old style music players who hold one foot forward to signal the near end of a song. I saw Mrs. Rhiannon doing this near her playing out. Maybe I can get as good one day!!! Skill and talent !! She is the best.

[@pennydink72]

I love the banjo! Americana is a very interesting story. It's also impossible to ignore the tragedies as they show up in subtle ways. I saw Snoop Dogg doing a native American dance at the super bowl half time show. That show was a peice of Americana that could take you down a whole rabbit hole. Just like Ms Gidden's "Julie"

[@debrasue2793]

It blows my mind at least once a day when i look at my little washburn and re-realize what an absolute taproot the banjo is in so much of this country's history, and how much of a living allegory it is for so many seemingly-unrelated things.

[@shaunw9270]

Beautiful Lady , brilliant player , awesome instruments :-)

[@jackiefrancis3344]

Hey Yeah !! I am so glad somehow Rhionna's videos showed up in my feed . History, songs, jammin' banjo licks , beautiful voice !!! Blessed we are !!And she's really got it going on !! 😍👏💜

[@robkunkel8833]

Mr. Hartel, thank you for being part of this a very well done piece. Rhiannon .... 💓🎶〰

[@75vuong]

Thanks, beautiful music that’s healing the world. So right on so many levels.

[@robertweber567]

incredible love of music, respect of the history and talent beyond measure

[@blipblip88]

Ms. Giddens' matter-of-fact view of history without editorializing is especially refreshing. I would bet her feelings run deep about the issues of slavery and mimicking black people, abut she is able to rein it in and talk matter-of-factly about the subject, all the while so coolly and beautifully performing a period piece music art.

[@gourddrawing]

She has chosen to give her personal feelings a voice via the music she has written. A good example is her song "At The Purchaser's Option."

[@blipblip88]

@@gourddrawing Yes, I agree wholeheartedly!

[@PaisleyPatchouli]

In her approach and attitude toward that difficult period of our history lies the very CURE for all that ails us as a Nation. We need to ultimately assimilate the all the bad with the potential cultural good that was born up of our centuries of strife, and for once, become a whole nation, warts and all, and take our place once again as the America which the world wanted to emulate culturally and artistically for so many decades in the 19th and 20th centuries.

[@jeannemckillop6770]

Amazing - thank you!

[@Tamjam2011]

Outstanding! Thank you for posting this wonderful early African/American musical fusion story and it’s ongoing evolution. Love Rhiannon Giddens too! 👍🏼💫

[@Nicholace]

Lovely video

[@Vidar.m]

Rhiannon is beautiful and a great musician no doubt.

[@miketaylor4993]

she's beautiful! cool picking technique

[@WaaDoku]

Well, I learned a lot today.

[@thaxtonwaters8561]

Wow.🖤

[@bosewell1]

Beautiful

[@robertbauer1848]

Rhiannon ❤️✊🏽🙏🏽

[@winstonsmith9533]

Giddens is wonderful

[@gaylordfrazer8708]

My banjo is number 74. Love it. Wish I could get better playing it. Bruce

[@MegaLaban12345]

Bruce? You’re gaylord frazer

[@aljoschalong625]

What she said about people immediately ask: What is that? I want to have that! is 100% true for me. I have to get one.

[@anthonybeers]

I think it is interesting that the CiTonga word for guitar is Banjo

[@Uvvibes]

Man we appropriated banjo music too

[@jostinocarale7853]

Evolves me to do your research because the banjo originates from Japan it was modified by the Scott Scott Cyrus and Irish in Celtic clans then it was very popular during the slave days of early America

[@juddeemaxwell7590]

❤️

[@Wanielyo]

Yep, that's really getting close in sound to the Akonting!

[@peetos-chan2835]

👍👍👍

[@petersmall1574]

This video provides some great history and music lessons. It's kind of a shame that we have made "minstrel" into a suspect word, due to its use for and association with these blackface banjo shows and the cartoon images of black people that went along with that. Because Rhiannon Giddens herself exemplifies the original and full sense of that word. A traveller who bears with her, from one place to another, songs, stories, and poems.

[@michaelherndon9573]

Rumble do u on Netflix brought me here

[@ricstunneloftunes4288]

is that the leg of the duck at the start?

[@jeetray11]

What are the strings used on the banjo she was playing at 6:18? Can anybody confirm please? Are these the Aquila minstrel 7B or some classical guitar strings?

[@brianhanesian9499]

Does anyone know the title of the banjo piece at the beginning?

[@koshersalt3233]

A bit late, but it’s from The Converse Analytical 1872, Paddy Go Down. If you can find a .pdf of it, it’ll be on pg. 30. Tim Reid’s’ website has a bunch of these old banjo tutors

[@wahoo056]

@02:44 the guy on the far right is President W Bush's great times 3 grandpappy.

[@MyronRogers01]

Is the guy still alive and how do I contact him for a Banjo Build?

[@craftinamerica]

Jim Hartel's website is minstrelbanjo.com

[@allenanderson4911]

Slavery wasn't outlawed until mechanization of the early industrial revolution made it unnecessary. It wasn't a big change of heart. Humans always knew slavery was cruel and unfair, a horrible fate. From before the Sumerians to the dawn of mechanization... people kept slaves all over the world. America isn't unique, or especially at fault. The whole human race was morally bankrupt. And it's happening now, in North Korea, and Saudi Arabia, and elsewhere. Slavery isn't dead. Have a nice day.

[@MrSpansell]

She better solo

[@JM-pf2of]

Is that dude playing the chopstick?

[@GypsyFairy85]

The bones.

[@adamp3223]

One way she elevates the instrument is by not playing it in the minstrel style, which is pretty boring and inarticulate. The two-finger style she uses for "Julie" brings out the character much better.

[@wahoo056]

@02:43 Is that President W Bush on the far right? Hmm.

[@sarafwolf]

LOL! It is!

[@claytonwalter8700]

There were never any banjos in Africa; the ancestors of the banjo were there. The İndian tabla descended from the Arabic naqara, the Chinese erhu descended from the Persian kamanchah, the lute/oud, etc. but none of these "came" from the ancestor countries.

[@DaWizard11]

S E P He is right. The banjo was born in america. The flat fretboard is a Europan concept. No slaves, no masters=no banjo. It was born out of mixing African and European ideas

[@Womble1252]

The book 'The Banjo' by Laurent Dubois is worth a read re banjo history 'America's African Instrument'

[@didierloncke3796]

Did Trumps said that ?? fake news it is ...do your research before opening your ...

[@michaelbowie9626]

I thought they were giving the banjo because they took the drums away because they notice when the slaves beat the drums that they were getting motivated to revolt by the beat motivating them.. so they banned drums and Congo's

[@mustafaataay4629]

These musical instuments used in middle asia and in Turkey before you firstly knew it. You are Poor.

[@HomeAtLast501]

I didn't think it was Minstrelsy that set up the American character --- I thought it was the U.S. Constitution, and the struggle to refine our culture in order to manifest to the best of our abilities the principles articulated within it. Which we have probably done better than any nation in the world.

[@yeoldebanjo5470]

"We're not very good at [talking about race in this country]". I don't see why we need to talk about it at all. Why does race matter? It doesn't. Music. Music matters. Just play the music.

[@Tashee912]

Because it does matter for some ppl

[@evisiblemarketing7153]

It's not "problematic." We're talking about history. Is it "Problematic" that Alexander the Great conquered half the known world? Of course not. It's simply what happened. Move on.

[@shelbycriswellart]

eVisible Marketing it’s problematic in the fact that it was harmful and disgusting. Something we should all learn from, grow from, and never allow to repeat again. Rhiannon says that minstrel black face is problematic but still important.