Date of Graduation
2016
Document Type
Thesis
Degree Type
MA
College
College of Creative Arts
Department
School of Music
Committee Chair
Travis D Stimeling
Committee Co-Chair
Andrew Kohn
Committee Member
Evan A MacCarthy
Abstract
This thesis is a comparative analysis of the bluegrass vocal styles of early male performers of the 1940s and 50s and contemporary female performers actively performing between 2001 and 2016. Four songs were selected from the standard bluegrass repertoire, each one having been recorded by both an early male performer and a contemporary female performer. The three body chapters of the study draw comparisons between the male performers, between the female performers, and then between the two groups. The aims of this study are to better understand 1) How bluegrass singing, which is rooted in male vocal production, is performed by female vocalists and 2) how the two groups studied engage with the lyrical content by using their voices.
Recommended Citation
Kay, Hillary C., "Beyond High and Lonesome: A Comparative Analysis of Early Male and Contemporary Female Bluegrass Vocal Styles" (2016). Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports. 5949.
https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/5949