The Banjo: Music, History, and Heritage

Overview

Course No. 30460

Open your eyes and ears to the rich—and surprising—cross-cultural history of the banjo with GRAMMY®-Award winning artist, Rhiannon Giddens. The banjo is beloved for its unmistakable sound and is often associated with rural mountain music such as bluegrass, folk, or Irish ballads. However, it has a complex history rooted in Afro-Caribbean culture.

In The Banjo: Music, History, and Heritage, you’ll explore this fascinating, largely unknown history, which offers great insight into the American story and encourages stimulating cross-cultural dialogue. The course reveals how the banjo’s evolution is intertwined with various musical styles, from string-band tunes to jazz and folk music.

Dr. Rhiannon Giddens takes you through 10 jam-packed episodes that uncover the hidden history of the banjo, alongside the fundamental stories of musicians who shaped its course.

Video Lectures

01: Hearing the Banjo’s Journey from Africa

Discover the origins of the banjo in Africa and its link to African American culture, as well as its growth in the musical landscape.

Duration: 24 min

02: The Banjo and the Fiddle Together

Learn about the relationship between the banjo and the fiddle as found in old-time country music.

Duration: 23 min

03: Minstrel Banjo

Explore the impact of minstrel shows on the banjo’s popularity and the legacy of blackface in American history.

Duration: 27 min

04: The Spiritual Roots of the Banjo

Delve into the spiritual connections of the banjo within African and Caribbean culture.

Duration: 24 min

05: The Banjo in Ragtime and Jazz

Examine the banjo’s role in the evolution of ragtime and jazz music during a time of cultural change.

Duration: 22 min

06: The Irish Banjo

Discover how Irish immigrants brought their rhythms to American music and how the banjo adapted to traditional Celtic music.

Duration: 24 min

07: The Banjo’s Evolution in Ireland

Trace the transition of the banjo and how it evolved to its current form, including American-style techniques.

Duration: 22 min

08: Migration, Music, and Commercialization

Learn about the rise of bluegrass and its impact on the banjo, featuring legends like Bill Monroe and Béla Fleck.

Duration: 21 min

09: The Banjo in String Bands and Bluegrass

Study the significance of the banjo in American history and its evolution through the 20th-century’s Great Migration.

Duration: 18 min

10: Banjo Revival and Our Collective Story

Reflect on how the folk revival reinvigorated the banjo and its ongoing evolution in contemporary music.

Duration: 23 min

11: Performance of “Kitchen Girl” with Enda Scahill

Enjoy a live performance showcasing the banjo’s beauty and versatility.

Duration: 3 min

12: Performance of “Old Corn Likker” with Justin Robinson

Experience another live performance that highlights the banjo in a traditional setting.

Duration: 3 min

13: Performance of “Better Git Yer Learnin’”

Conclude with a memorable performance featuring the charm of the banjo.

Duration: 3 min