Publisher Description

Folklorists Jim Leary and Rick March have distilled a definitive presentation of Upper Midwestern traditional and ethnic music, from Ojibwe drums to Norwegian fiddles, from polka to salsa, from gospel choirs to southeast Asian rock bands. The book is a listener's guide packed with photos, essays, and resources. The recordings, available in either cassette or CD format, provide samplings from the Down Home Dairyland series of programs on Wisconsin Public Radio. These audio collections include interviews with traditional musicians, sound recordings, and discussion of the patterns of musical styles in Wisconsin's musical heritage.

Author Biography

James P. Leary is director of the Folklore Program and professor in the Department of Scandinavian Studies at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. His books include Wisconsin Folklore, also published by the University of Wisconsin Press, Minnesota Polka, Yodeling in Dairyland, and, with Richard March, Down Home Dairyland.

Review

"This astounding compendium is the quickest way to get a comprehensive grasp of the roots music of a major American region." - Nick Spitzer, Smithsonian folklorist and producer of American Routes for Public Radio International"

Review Quote

"This astounding compendium is the quickest way to get a comprehensive grasp of the roots music of a major American region."

Details