This article is a historical survey which presents the roots of country music. I've tried to penetrate this culture, explain and express this music and its place in today's world of pop music from a European point of view, through the characteristic features of this music which has an intimate relationship with the American lifestyle.

American music culture entered the turn of the 19th century on a pedestal from which it decisively influenced European, and eventually international musical trends. This new type of melody and rhythm expressed a new lifestyle and conditions.

What is country music?
It is no longer true that this music is only for the less educated or rural people. These days country music is a phenomenon which shows the face of America. The United States are too big to understand: so many cultures, people, different ways of thinking and values. We can try to understand Americans through the sound of their music, and country music is definitely the music of America which has influenced the pop music of the whole world. It is the image of America and its traditions. The songs describe the daily lives of the people and ordinary human experiences, expressing human emotions -- dreams, loves, passion, sadness, and vital loses. These songs have their own way of saying how people feel and include practical wisdom. That's the reason why I feel that most of us can understand and reach the flame of this music, even though we are not Americans. These are truly songs of the people.

This musical culture was born from the songs which were brought to the New World by Anglo-Saxon immigrants and has its roots in Anglo-Celtic musical traditions. It originated principally in the areas of the American South and on the slopes and in the valleys of the Appalachian and the Ozark Mountains and near the borders of the states of Kentucky, Tennessee, and Arkansas. This region was important for the development of folk music which grew into country music in the 20th century. This music has concentrated in the hearts of American people of these areas and was passed from generation to generation without written musical records. Prevailingly there were colourful ballads with many verses. Besides the elements of Black blues, ragtime, gospel music, and vaudeville there have been many other influences which in turn have influenced the evolution of this music. The South recreated this music into the form which truly expresses the feeling of the white population of this region.

While country music is the face of the whole USA, this music consists of individual styles which come out of regional, instrumental and artistic differences.

In the 1920's country, which at that time was called Hill-billy music, was introduced to the general public by a small recording company named OKEH. The first recordings were made by violinist John Carson and the first professional vocalist was Vernon Dalhart, who was a trained opera singer. By this time a prominent company named VICTOR already owned recording rights for the production of country music.

The most important years for the development of country music were the 30's. The founder of modern country was Roy Acuff, who was a standing member of the Grand Ole Opry. At this time Bill Monroe was giving rise to the style called Bluegrass in the state of Kentucky. The style named Western-Swing originated in the 30's in the states of Texas and Oklahoma. Bob Wills was the king of Western-Swing.

The 40's were the years of Honky-Tonk which is prevailingly characteristic for Texas from where it spread out to other areas. The main performers were Ernest Tubb, Hank Williams and others. A very interesting style at the end of the 30's and at the beginning of the 40's was Cajun, which represented a unique culture and whose ethnic forms and roots reached deep into the state of Louisiana. Its vocal expression used two languages, French and English.

In the 50's the musicians married Honky-Tonk with Boogie-Woogie, the rhythm of Rhythm and Blues and the fervour of religious songs. The resulting style was rockabilly, which was the foundation of the Rock'n'Roll revolution.

The 60's are characterized by the rise of woman's personality and originality in country music. During the 50's and 60's the so-called folk revival spawned a generation of so-called composer -- troubadours.

The 70's passed in the name of Country Rock, which is combination of the harmony of the steel guitar and the rapacity of Rock'n'Roll.

In the 1980's and 90's country music hatched a huge new brood of young, attractive stars. These artists aim at the styles established on traditions and enriched them with elements of rock music, showmanship, video images, and youth appeal. For the first time country music has outgrown its genre's boundaries and become the music of all of America. At present it is a phenomenon which influences the musical creativity of America and popular music all over the world. I can demonstrate this by pointing out a number of country pieces which are crossing the whole world in dance music mutations -- Jambalaya, Heartbreak Hotel, Angel from Montgomery, I Can't Stop Loving You, Cry, Blue-Bayou, Help Me Make It Through The Night, Blues Stay Away From Me, In The Pines, Crazy, I Will Always Love You, I Swear, and many more, as well as Christmas songs like Blue Christmas etc.

Country music has gone through a lengthy evolutionary process: from the hills of the Appalachian and the Great Smoky Mountains, through farmer's fields, on the roads of the South, and across the great Texan plains. Today it is a phenomenal world-wide success story which speaks the universal language.



By: Martina Blescáková
Source: http://www.phil.muni.cz/