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Thread: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

  1. #1
    Registered User EvanElk's Avatar
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    Default PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    In case it's not already on folks' radar. Ken Burns documentary. Looks like it will be fun:
    https://www.pbs.org/show/big-family-...hYCTlnesBAquhA
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    Registered User JAK's Avatar
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    Evan, how does your Ruhland F5 compare to your Sullivan, Heiden, and Duff?
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    not a donut Kevin Winn's Avatar
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    Quote Originally Posted by EvanElk View Post
    In case it's not already on folks' radar. Ken Burns documentary. Looks like it will be fun:
    https://www.pbs.org/show/big-family-...hYCTlnesBAquhA
    Sadly, this program doesn't appear in the OPB tv listings for that date...

  6. #4

    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    You should be able to stream it. If you must watch a TV, here - https://www.opb.org/television/progr...uegrass-music/

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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    Evan, your link takes me to the PBS trailers on a bluegrass documentary produced by Kentucky Public Broadcasting, which I will surely watch next week. But Ken Burns' documentary on country music doesn't air until mid September and I will also be glued to the tube for that one (all 16 hours of it).

    Thanks for the heads up and link!
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    Registered User sblock's Avatar
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    To clarify: The much-anticipated new documentary from Ken Burns, scheduled to air on PBS, starting September 15 (check your local listings for times; these are different in different places), is called "Country Music."

    It will be in 8 parts and run for 16 hours. Contrary to this thread's title, "Country Music" is not a documentary on the history of bluegrass music, per se, but rather about the history of American country music, in general. That includes folk roots from Appalachia, Western Swing, honky-tonk music, and a lot more. Not just bluegrass. That said, you can be sure it will include plenty of mention of Bill Monroe and his Bluegrass Boys and other bluegrass performers.

    Not to be missed!

    P.S. There is also a companion book to be released, called "Country Music: An Illustrated History," being released on Sept. 10. (NFI).
    Last edited by sblock; Aug-22-2019 at 4:06pm.

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    Registered User Scott Rucker's Avatar
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    I'm looking forward to both, but the Burns one in September will most likely be the bigger production by far. I think the KET one, about bluegrass specifically, was timed to be released near the "big" larger country music one to help with exposure.

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    Registered User sblock's Avatar
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    There will be a different show on PBS, airing (and streaming) on August 30 about bluegrass music, called Big Family. This is not to be confused with the upcoming Ken Burns documentary on September 15, called Country Music!

    You can watch a video preview of the bluegrass program here:

    https://www.pbs.org/video/bluegrass-...semble-yorhar/

    not to be missed, either!

  12. #9
    Registered User EvanElk's Avatar
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    Whoops sorry for the misinformation. I thought it was part of the Ken Burns country music doc
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    Registered User EvanElk's Avatar
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    Quote Originally Posted by JAK View Post
    Evan, how does your Ruhland F5 compare to your Sullivan, Heiden, and Duff?
    Wow that’s a big question. I don’t want to take up too much space or cop out of the question so I’ll say a word about each for now. The Duff (which you can hear for yourself in Forrest O’Conner’s Mandolin Mondays) is a powerhouse with a deep, woody “thunk” or maybe I mean “pop”, the Sullivan is very sweet and not very bassy. Andrew Marlin played it back stage at a show in Seattle (I got to play his Sullivan “Ella” at that time) and he described my Sullivan as “buttery”. A very warm and treble dominant tone. My Ruhland is new and settling in but has an amazing voice like a much older instrument with a traditional bluegrass voice. Loud as heck and really well balanced. Very fun to play - crisp clean note articulation even when played really hard. The Heiden has incredible tone. It’s a masterpiece of an instrument. Every string is a standout and the voice is rich. It’s all subjective of course but it’s fun to try put words to the experience.
    2003 John Sullivan F5 "Roy"
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    Moderator MikeEdgerton's Avatar
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    I think the Ken Burns documentary on country music airs on September 15th

    And somebody already posted that and I missed it. I'm looking forward to it.
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    Registered User geoffa's Avatar
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    Friendly reminder that this airs on PBS tonight.

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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    I was looking forward to seeing this. Had the DVR set to record the show well in advance. Got the family gathered around this morning to watch it right after breakfast. Pushed the 'Play' button and heard the announcer say...

    "Up next on WVIZ... Big Family: The Story of Bluegrass Music"

    And then they aired some thrill-a-minute show about Britain's amateur bakers.

    I can't say if this was the case in all areas, but in the Cleveland market, that's how it went. The eggheads at our local PBS have done it again.
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    Watched it. It was great! Maybe more on Japanese bluegrass than needed, but very did a great job of following the branches from Bill. Great interviews with so many influential players as well as those who were influenced.

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    Registered User Eric Platt's Avatar
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    Well, it did air on Twin Cities Public Television last night. Not a bad overview. Lots of good clips, although many folks that have been around will have seen them before. My only quibbles with it were a lack of identification on some of the players. (Personal gripe - they didn't mention Doc Watson during the Circle session and that's what really put him on the map for most folks.)
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    I watched the Bluegrass program last night and thought it was a very good documentary. I noticed a photo of Bill Monroe with his Loar and it had engraved Handel tuners on it. Another photo of a young Sam Bush playing an A model with real fancy inlays.

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  23. #17
    Expert on my own opinion Bogle's Avatar
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    Great documentary. and well worth watching....except perhaps for Mr. Skaggs' endearing reference to ardent fans of Rounder 044, J.D. Crowe and the New South's game-changing first album, as "geeks".
    Last edited by Bogle; Aug-31-2019 at 10:19pm.

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    not a donut Kevin Winn's Avatar
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    Heads up for PDX OPB watchers:

    This is on the schedule for Sunday Sep 29 at noon til 2.

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  26. #19
    Registered User gspiess's Avatar
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    If you missed it you can stream it on PBS.org.
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    I also thought the show was wonderful. I'm not really a bluegrass fan- kind of like it for a bit, but not a steady diet. But I learned so much history from the program, as well as much behind the scenes stuff. It was definitely worth a watch.
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    Default Re: PBS documentary on the history of Bluegrass

    I watched the "big family" bluegrass doc..I thought it was good,,but with so much Monroe coverage I thought they should cover bluegrass mandolin much more in depth,,they covered the banjo pretty good though.

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