
Bluegrass and Religion
Pete Ward(Author)
Bloomsbury Academic (Publisher)
Will be published approx. on 29. April 2027
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-1-350-56967-6 (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.More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
London
United Kingdom
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing PLC
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Unsewn / adhesive bound
Dimensions
Height: 234 mm
Width: 156 mm
Thickness: 25 mm
Weight
454 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-350-56967-6 (9781350569676)
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
Persons
Pete Ward is Professor of Practical Theology Durham University, UK and Professor of Practical Theology at NLA University College Bergen, Norway.
Author
Editor
University of Lancaster UK
Abo Akademi University Finland