Folk Revival

Question 1

Why did folk and classical become popular in the late 50s and early 60s

Answer 1

Boomers who grew up on Golden Age went to college and wanted more “sophisticated” music

Question 2

What is the dilemma of folk music

Answer 2

Musicians are professionals making a living, but folk music is supposed to be amateur, not about the money

Question 3

What associations does folk music have pre WW2

Answer 3

Associated with the working class and organized labour. Left wing politics

Question 4

What is an example of an early folk musician

Answer 4

Woody Guthrie

Question 5

What is written on Woody Guthrie’s guitar

Answer 5

“This Machine Kills Facists” - symbolism of the working class. He is a labourer and his machine is the guitar

Question 6

What is an example of a Woody Guthrie song?

Answer 6

This land is your land

Question 7

when was this land is your land released

Answer 7

1940

Question 8

Who performs the version of This Land is Your Land we listen to in class

Answer 8

The Weavers

Question 9

Who is a leading member of the Weavers

Answer 9

Pete Seeger. Banjo player and sings the vocals in the verses

Question 10

What instruments are in This Land is Your Land

Answer 10

Guitar, banjo, harmonica

Question 11

What timbre is present in This Land is Your Land

Answer 11

no flashy vocals, but professional level quality and intonation

Question 12

What happened to the Weavers in 1953

Answer 12

blacklisted due to left wing connection

Question 13

What is HUAC

Answer 13

House Un-American Activities Commity - Looking for communists

Question 14

When was the era of HUAC and McCarthyism

Answer 14

1947-1956

Question 15

What are the targets of Joseph McCarthy

Answer 15

Communists in America. Specifically in the Army, Civil Service, Entertainment Industry and Labour Movement

Question 16

What options do you have if called before the HUAC

Answer 16

Name Names (rat out other communists), or say no in which case you are blacklisted and investigated by the government

Question 17

What trend does the record industry lean into in the late 50s and early 60s

Answer 17

older boomers want serious music

Question 18

What are some examples of major label folk acts put together in the late 50s and early 60s

Answer 18

Peter Paul and Mary, Kingston Trio

Question 19

What differentiates major label folk acts from artists like Woodie Guthrie

Answer 19

More produced, better arrangements, more self conciousness

Question 20

What is an example of a major label folk song

Answer 20

Tom Dooley - The Kingston Trio

Question 21

When was Tom Dooley released

Answer 21

1959

Question 22

What makes the Kingston Trio performance of Tom Dooley different from earlier folk acts

Answer 22

Lots of little, rehearsed details. (pauses, phrasing, enunciation). Lots of reverb and complex harmony. Indicative of Self-Conciousness

Question 23

What is Bob Dylans given Name

Answer 23

Robert Zimmerman

Question 24

Who is Bob Dylan’s idol

Answer 24

Woodie Guthrie

Question 25

Where does Bob Dylan move to

Answer 25

NYC from Minnesota

Question 26

During What period did Dylan perform as a traditional folk singer/songwriter

Answer 26

1961-1965

Question 27

What is an example of a traditional Bob Dylan Song

Answer 27

"A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" - 1963

Question 28

When was "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall" released?

Answer 28

1963

Question 29

What inspired "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall"?

Answer 29

The Cuban Missle Crisis (supposedly)

Question 30

What traditional elements does Dylan incorporate into "A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall"?

Answer 30

Use of repetition, simple structure lend themselves to much older works such as fairy tales. The use of numbers in lyrics is similar to a religious text (like the bible)

Question 31

When does Dylan Go Electric?

Answer 31

July 25, 1965

Question 32

Where does Dylan Go Electric?

Answer 32

Newport Folk Festival

Question 33

How long was Dylan's set at Newport?

Answer 33

3 songs

Question 34

What was the primary opposition to Dylan's electric sound

Answer 34

"You cant have integrity and play rock and roll"

Question 35

What was the new genre dylan created by going electric

Answer 35

Folk Rock