Melungeon Music

by Kelly Pritchard

Mountain music in the hills of the Southeast United states has always been a large part of the culture of the people who live there. The biggest influence of course would have to be the Scots~Irish, or Celtic music with the Verse Verse, Bridge, Bridge style of playing and singing. It is the small variations on that theme which can tell us about our ancestors and the musical stylings they may have brought along with them. The Reels of course are from the Celtic Connection. 
In Particular, Bluegrass music, from areas of Kentucky and Tennessee, where many Melungeon ancestors lived is a bit different in it's tone, tempo, style and even scales on occasion from the rest of the music from the Southeast. In this article I am including a few side trips to musical sites so the readers can draw their own conclusions. 
It is said, by ethnomusicologists, one can trace the history of music and of the people who play it, by looking at the work songs, and lullabies of a culture. When I listen to Blue Grass music, I notice two things right away, the lack of a strong drum beat, and the toning down of the bass instruments. In this way the music resembles almost a Gamelan style of music. (1) Gamelan music is thought to originate in China, and passed through the world to other areas such as Africa, Bali, and Java. Africa's contribution to Gamelan music is the African version of the Xylophone, the Mibra. The Bantu, who invaded Angola spoke in a "Clicking Language which was very musical. The Mibra, can also "talk" using just the tonal of the musical language to communicate messages to each other. Percussion by drums was replaced by the Mibra in some Music. (2) I had hoped to include some samplers of Angolan music here, however I have been unable to find any online. 
One thing to look at, however is the influence of Brazilian music with it's Sambian Angolan roots, from the Slaves, in comparison to the music which was the fore runners to the Bluegrass music. This music is alive and well and carries a strong drumbeat. Parts of the music have evolved to Calpoeira, which again shows the Gamelan influence (3)
Berimbau Capoeira rhythm Samples - capoeirista.com Calpoeira is a form of practicing martial arts by the slaves from Angola in Brazil. The slaves would gather in a circle and play music, while inside the circle participants would practice their martial arts. This form of Martial arts is alive and well in the Western world. (4)
The influence and submersion of this music into the Bluegrass mix had bothered me for a long time, because I could hear it, but I did not like hearing it, for it did not fit into 
a category I could find believable. More research has shown me the Gamelan style of music became popular with some ancestors in Africa possibly, or it could have come by a different route, that of Chinese influence in this country in the 1400s.. 1421: Chinese discovered America. (4)
Moving on to Albania. In keeping with the theory of Eurasians being a part of the genetic and cultural make-up, In Albania, the Muslims there kept very musical cultures. It is said women from villages were taught to sing in a certain way, and if they moved away their singing style would show others they were far from home. Some of the Albanian has a haunting similarity to the mountain music and the fact different hills and hollows had slightly different ways of calling to each other which told the listener where the shout out was coming from.
In Turkey, in the Pre Ottoman era, a lot of the music resembled the current Blue Grass music Turkish Music and it is very easy to see the connection between that music and current Bluegrass music. You can find a link at the bottom of this article to the page where you can experience hearing the music from these two places. (5 )
One last influence I can hear in the playing of the Banjo in Bluegrass music is the Indian Influence of Raga's which always include a "drone" in the background. The Banjo, an African instrument, once reaching America added a 5th string, which is tuned in the key of G and is strummed in a drone like manner. Here are some examples of an 
India Raga Just Click on the link to listen to music and choose a song. Also I am including a link to Afropop, where African music is today. (6)
In closing I would like to say it is the essence of the music, little things like voice inflections or a way of playing music which passes down. You can actually get a degree in Bluegrass music at an Eastern Tennessee University in Johnson City, Tennessee.(7) People like Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass, Lester Flatt, Earl Scruggs and others have been documented far better than I can do. I suggest this link to you Bluegrass Music: 
I hope this leaves you with a sense of the direction I am exploring in the field of Ethnomusicology and the Mountain Music. I believe culture strongly reflects where it has come from, where it is going, and where it is right now. 

I hope you will visit my site, Melungeon Music On it you will find a lot more music to listen too, and a lot more history of Bluegrass music, and Mountain Music. 


Links and Sources.

1. Gamelan : the case of Africa 
http://alek.zipzap.ch/gamelan/afri_eng.htm

2. Music
http://www.angola.org/culture/musicind.html

3. Martial Arts from Brazil in American Culture: Capoeira - Capoeirista.com 
http://www.capoeirista.com/martial_arts_gg.html 

4. BBC NEWS | Science/Nature | Experts hope to emulate Chinese Columbus 
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/2349929.stm

5. Ancestral Ethnic Music 
http://melungeon_music.tripod.com/melungeonmusic/id1.html

6. Indian Raga music
http://www.chandrakantha.com/musicpage/index.html

7. Eastern Tennessee University
http://www.etsu.edu/