Give me the banjo : stories of America's instrument
The banjo has been an emblem of American culture for centuries, yet few realize the instrument's complicated, checkered past. Narrated by Steve Martin and featuring such banjo masters as Pete Seeger, Earl Scruggs and Bela Fleck, this documentary goes beyond the stereotypes and delves into the musical odyssey of the banjo, from its African roots to the present day.
Available Copies by Location
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Victoria | Available |
Browse Related Items
- ISBN: 1422918505
- ISBN: 9781422918500
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Physical Description
videodisc
1 videodisc (approximately 84 min.) : sound, black and white & color ; 4 3/4 in. - Publisher [New York] : Docuramafilms : Distributed by New Video, [2012]
Content descriptions
General Note: | DVD. Disc label title. Originally released in 2011. Widescreen version. Special features include: 30 minutes of extended performances. GMD: videodisc. |
Participant or Performer Note: | Narrated by Steve Martin. |
System Details Note: | DVD, Dolby 5.1 surround. |
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction Note: | For home use only. |
Immediate Source of Acquisition Note: | LSC 28.70 |
Language Note: | Closed-captioned for the hearing impaired. |
Additional Information
Library Journal Review
Give Me the Banjo
Library Journal
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
It's time to give the banjo some love. Quintessentially American (via Africa) and with a rich and varied musical tradition, the banjo is enjoying something of a cultural renaissance. Narrated by actor, comedian, and Grammy Award-winning banjo player Steve Martin, Give Me the Banjo details the many musical forms in which the banjo has played a major role, including work songs, minstrel shows, ragtime, early jazz, old-time folk, country, bluegrass, and the folk revival. With wonderful historical footage and interviews with musicologists and performers such as Earl Scruggs, Pete Seeger, Bela Fleck, and Abigail Washburn, the film elucidates Martin's statement that "one of the dark secrets is that the banjo is an emotional instrument." Bonus extras include performances by Ralph Stanley, Taj Mahal, and others. VERDICT Director Fields has put together an excellent introduction to the rich history of the banjo. The film resonates long after the last note on the fifth string has been picked. Delightful.-Bill Baars, Lake Oswego P.L., OR (c) Copyright 2013. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.