Wind Blowing Across a Field: Wisdom and Tales from 25 Musicians

Second edition features an interview with Mike Marshall!

This book explores the world of folk musicians of a certain era-one which preceded computers and the internet. Most of the subjects were learning and honing their technical skills and musicology between the 1960s and '70s. Except for a couple of interviews, it is not the story of the earlier generation, who learned in the age-old method, by ear, from family or other community members. Rather, these people learned in an era where students could still find the oldtimers, visit them, and learn directly. One could gain a firsthand apprenticeship and an improved understanding of the culture from which the music derives. The experience of learning from master folk musicians was invaluable.

The older generation of master folk musicians and dancers is mostly gone. Their experiences were drawn largely from an era where they had limited exposure and relied upon the styles of their heritage or region. In contrast, today's neighborhood is the world. Younger generations utilize technology to pursue old traditions and to invent new ones. They train in multiple styles, often simultaneously: blues, funk, classical, swing, rap, rock, country, punk, oldtime, soul, jazz, folk. Therein lies an infinite realm of possibilities where experimentation and synthesis are encouraged. Most of the subjects in this book did not have those options. This book reveals methods of learning music that are barely possible now. There is deep wisdom in the old music. Here, are twenty-three tales from a disappearing but not so distant past.

Interviews with:Holly Tannen, Peggy Seeger, Richard Hagopian, Jody Stecher, Peter Alsop, Harry Liedstrand, Earl White, Ron Thompson, Fraydele Oysher, Marc Silber, Blaine Sprouse, Deborah & Ernie Fischbach, Phil Jamison, Franck Goldwasser, Rodney Miller, Byron Berline, Libby Harding, Henry Sapoznik, Joe Craven, Kathy Kallick, Mark Simos, Judy Hyman, Mike Marshall, Kevin Burke

Click on any name for a link to a YouTube recording by each subject from the book: http://www.evobluestein.com/store/#!/Wind-Blowing-Across-a-Field/p/440172339/category=169017

Two more books by Evo Bluestein and Juliana Harris: Road to Sweet's Mill; Rings Like Silver, Shines Like Gold