Bluegrass and Religion
Published on 2. October 2025
Book
Hardback
224 pages
978-1-350-17568-6 (ISBN)
Description
Tracking music that first arose from a close relationship to the religion of the American South, this book explores the ways in which they have taken on new meanings in a post-religious environment.
Divided into two parts, Pete Ward first gives a historical account of the relationship between old time and bluegrass music and religion. These chapters explore how bluegrass music has been shaped and influenced by Christian experience and practice. Drawing on archival research, the book connects findings around the music to research on and the development of evangelicalism into the 20th Century and reactions against belief that were common in the folk revival.
The second part of the book is based on ethnographic field work, from both the US and the UK, including textual analysis of songs and participant observation of concerts and interviews with performers. The differences of context between the US and the UK are considered as they relate to issues of post-Christian sensibilities and non-religion. A particular focus is how what were specifically Christian songs become relocated in a post-Christian environment. Pete Ward explores how bluegrass raises a number of troubling political issues, and what it means for the changing nature of the sacred and notions of non-religion. A key issue discussed is the continued significance of this music and why 'roots' or 'nostalgia' play a role and indeed how and why this might be the case in the UK as well as in the US.
Divided into two parts, Pete Ward first gives a historical account of the relationship between old time and bluegrass music and religion. These chapters explore how bluegrass music has been shaped and influenced by Christian experience and practice. Drawing on archival research, the book connects findings around the music to research on and the development of evangelicalism into the 20th Century and reactions against belief that were common in the folk revival.
The second part of the book is based on ethnographic field work, from both the US and the UK, including textual analysis of songs and participant observation of concerts and interviews with performers. The differences of context between the US and the UK are considered as they relate to issues of post-Christian sensibilities and non-religion. A particular focus is how what were specifically Christian songs become relocated in a post-Christian environment. Pete Ward explores how bluegrass raises a number of troubling political issues, and what it means for the changing nature of the sacred and notions of non-religion. A key issue discussed is the continued significance of this music and why 'roots' or 'nostalgia' play a role and indeed how and why this might be the case in the UK as well as in the US.
Reviews / Votes
This is a wonderful example of what one might call scholarly fandom. Pete Ward is an amateur bluegrass musician who studies theology and a professional theologian who studies bluegrass. He is also a wise, painstaking and imaginative researcher. Bluegrass and Religion is a must read for anyone fascinated by the everyday entanglement of musical and religious experiences. * Simon Frith, University of Edinburgh, UK * Pete Ward has undertaken an ambitious and creative approach to explicating the religious content of bluegrass and related musics. Employing tools of historical, theological, cultural, intellectual, and survey research, he illuminates important patterns and posits striking, relevant insights. For anyone interested in exploring bluegrass gospel music and its ties to unfolding patterns in modern society, I highly recommend Bluegrass and Religion. * Fred Bartenstein, Former President of the IBMA Foundation, USA * A musician as well as a theologian who has investigated encounters with God outside of traditional churches, Ward provides unique insights on the ways we deal with religion in our music making. The chapters include close readings and critical re-examination of key bluegrass gospel texts and historical contexts, media representations and myths, and highlight the diversity of views on religion voiced by musicians. I look forward to the discussions in classrooms and around jam circles after people read and think through these pages. * Lee Bidgood, East Tennessee State University, USA *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Target group
College/higher education
Dimensions
Height: 240 mm
Width: 161 mm
Thickness: 17 mm
Weight
502 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-350-17568-6 (9781350175686)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Person
Content
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Bluegrass and the Sacred: Fragments and Origins
2. Moments: Religious, Less Religious, and Might Be Religious
3. Farther Along and Wayfaring Stranger: Religion, Performance, and Genre
4. A Man of Constant Sorrow: The Gospel According to Bluegrass
5. Mountain Music: Literature and Myth
6. Bluegrass Enthusiasts: Talking About the Songs
7. Religion, Belonging and Meaning: Interviewing Bluegrass Enthusiasts
8. Religion Theology and Bluegrass: Persistence, Change, and Presence
Notes
Bibliography
Index
Introduction
1. Bluegrass and the Sacred: Fragments and Origins
2. Moments: Religious, Less Religious, and Might Be Religious
3. Farther Along and Wayfaring Stranger: Religion, Performance, and Genre
4. A Man of Constant Sorrow: The Gospel According to Bluegrass
5. Mountain Music: Literature and Myth
6. Bluegrass Enthusiasts: Talking About the Songs
7. Religion, Belonging and Meaning: Interviewing Bluegrass Enthusiasts
8. Religion Theology and Bluegrass: Persistence, Change, and Presence
Notes
Bibliography
Index