Danielle Moran wrote:
Influenced by folk music, bluegrass music is old time country music. Although bluegrass is not classified as folk music, some folk music is performed in bluegrass style. This type of music has a very unique form of art. Bluegrass music started in the mid-twenties, and the instruments used were a guitar and a fiddle. The instrumentalists in bluegrass music were often impressive soloists who pride themselves on lengthy show-off moments. Despite the wide variety of bluegrass music, one characteristic explains the popularity of this music. The lyrics tell stories about American life, and adds value to a song. It’s plain music; fun and entertaining. Bluegrass music began in America during the jazz era, and the pioneering masters like Bill Monroe, Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs set examples for pickers to come. If there's any one thing in American bluegrass that's "so great," it's certainly the mastery of bluegrass pickers. Bill Monroe has been credited with being the "Grandfather of Bluegrass." Bluegrass music is simply songs that people can relate too (Monroe). I never listen to Bluegrass music or any other type of country music, but I quickly learn there is a meaning behind all music. Bluegrass music was generally used for dancing in the rural areas. Most of the Bluegrass songs are about working people. In the most recent decades Bluegrass music has reached a border audience, attracting diverse groups of people. At one point Bluegrass music was not receiving radio broadcasting. Now Bluegrass music is pretty much everywhere these days. The bands are younger and the styles getting more hip and slick, there's also a wide range of bluegrass music available. Traditional bluegrass mostly takes place at picking parties out in the country, at churches, and at festivals. Bluegrass music is well liked throughout the south, and this type of music is an important part of our southern history. The styles of Bluegrass music vary, and the themes of this music also reflect the importance of religion in the Southern life. Nearly all bluegrass artists began to incorporate gospel music into their music, bringing people to a more mainstream audience.
Many people tend to think Bluegrass music is all hillbilly stuff, but it’s very sophisticated. Set in the Great Depression of the 1930s, the film O Brother, Where Art Thou? emphasizes the struggle between the upper and lower class. The key to O Brother, Where Art Thou is the movie soundtrack. The gospel, blues, and prison work song resembles back to the south of the 1930s. The used of the old-timey soundtrack demonstrates the southern rural music. The glorious soundtrack of bluegrass rooted music is what makes the movie so unique. The use of the music works so well with the film and poem. Too me, the music in the film was like a character. It seem like the music was re-created to fit the time period, which made the film exciting. For example, The Soggy Bottom Boys musical group in the film gives viewers a glimpse of the oppression, poverty and despair of many Americans. The film successfully presents not only music with energy- as on "I am a Man of Constant Sorrow," but also music of a new age nature. In the film O Brother Where Art Thou? Southern tall tales are symbolized through the great music. Some parts of the film were difficult to understand, but overall the meaning kept me focused.
The character, as well as the music, connects the film and poem together. There are many ways to relate the movie, music, and epic poem. Much of the symbolism is accomplished through the setting and music, which adds to the overall tone and feeling. The movie features a cast of talented actors and a bluegrass soundtrack. In Homer, the main character’s name is Odysseus. In O Brother, the main character’s name is Ulysses. They both are on a journey to their home, and experience unusual obstacle. The Cyclops is represented by a bible sales man with a patch over one eye, a blind seer on a handcar, and of course the three sirens. Like The Odyssey, the film is episodic.
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