American primitive guitar is a fingerstyle guitarmusic genre, developed by the American guitarist John Fahey in the late 1950s. While the term "American primitivism" has been used as a name for the genre,[1] American primitive guitar is distinct from the primitivism art movement.
John Fahey used the term "American primitive guitar" to describe the style of composition he developed in his releases from the 1950s onwards. Fahey employed traditional country bluesfingerpicking techniques, which had previously been used primarily to accompany vocals, on solo guitar, in combination with nontraditional harmonic and melodic material. Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, other musicians would become associated with the genre, including Leo Kottke. The style is similar to some forms of 20th-century classical music (particularly Minimalism), and the classical music of India.[2] Besides Fahey, other notable representatives of this genre include Kottke, Robbie Basho, Bob Hadley and Peter Lang,[3] who released recordings on Fahey's Takoma Records label.
In the 1970s and 80s some of the musicians of the genre have integrated new-age guitar techniques and have come to be broadly categorized into the New Acoustic genre. Potentially because the new age guitarist William Ackerman cited Fahey, Basho, and Kottke as influences, critics began to associate Fahey with new-age music. Fahey himself rejected any influence upon or responsibility for the genre, referring to it derisively as "hot tub music" and feeling that any association with New Age meant that he had failed as an artist.[4]
Peter Lang, a guitarist associated with the genre, described American primitive guitar, writing: ". . . The New Age people call it Folk; the Folk people call it New Age, but it is really neither. It's transitional. The style is derived from the country blues and string band music of the '20s and '30s, however much of the music is contemporary. Fahey referred to it as 'American Primitive' after the 'French Primitive' painters, meaning untutored."[5]
^ abcdefgh"A Celebration of John Fahey and American-Primitive Guitar". The New Yorker. Retrieved 2018-09-03.
^Lowenthal, Steve (2014-06-01). Dance of Death: The Life of John Fahey, American Guitarist (Kindle Location 1866). Chicago Review Press. Kindle Edition
^"Peter Lang on American Primitive Guitar". from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-27.
External links
John Fahey and American Primitivism: Nick Schillace's Master's Thesis
The Cosmos Club. American primitive guitar. Washington City Paper.
January 09, 2023
american, primitive, guitar, fingerstyle, guitar, music, genre, developed, american, guitarist, john, fahey, late, 1950s, while, term, american, primitivism, been, used, name, genre, distinct, from, primitivism, movement, john, faheystylistic, originscontempor. American primitive guitar is a fingerstyle guitar music genre developed by the American guitarist John Fahey in the late 1950s While the term American primitivism has been used as a name for the genre 1 American primitive guitar is distinct from the primitivism art movement American primitive guitarJohn FaheyStylistic originsContemporary folk musicold time musicCountry bluesCultural origins1950s United StatesTypical instrumentsSteel string acoustic guitarOther topicsRoots revivalbluegrasscountryblues Contents 1 Development 2 Artists within the genre 3 See also 4 References 5 External linksDevelopment EditJohn Fahey used the term American primitive guitar to describe the style of composition he developed in his releases from the 1950s onwards Fahey employed traditional country blues fingerpicking techniques which had previously been used primarily to accompany vocals on solo guitar in combination with nontraditional harmonic and melodic material Throughout the 1960s and 1970s other musicians would become associated with the genre including Leo Kottke The style is similar to some forms of 20th century classical music particularly Minimalism and the classical music of India 2 Besides Fahey other notable representatives of this genre include Kottke Robbie Basho Bob Hadley and Peter Lang 3 who released recordings on Fahey s Takoma Records label In the 1970s and 80s some of the musicians of the genre have integrated new age guitar techniques and have come to be broadly categorized into the New Acoustic genre Potentially because the new age guitarist William Ackerman cited Fahey Basho and Kottke as influences critics began to associate Fahey with new age music Fahey himself rejected any influence upon or responsibility for the genre referring to it derisively as hot tub music and feeling that any association with New Age meant that he had failed as an artist 4 Peter Lang a guitarist associated with the genre described American primitive guitar writing The New Age people call it Folk the Folk people call it New Age but it is really neither It s transitional The style is derived from the country blues and string band music of the 20s and 30s however much of the music is contemporary Fahey referred to it as American Primitive after the French Primitive painters meaning untutored 5 Artists within the genre EditMarisa Anderson 3 Daniel Bachman 3 Robbie Basho 3 Steffen Basho Junghans Richard Bishop James Blackshaw Ben Chasny John Fahey 3 Mark Fosson Michael Gulezian Glenn Jones Leo Kottke Peter Lang 3 Jim O Rourke Max Ochs Bill Orcutt Richard Osborn Hayden Pedigo Gwenifer Raymond 3 Terry Robb Jack Rose Nathan Salsburg Harry Taussig 3 Alexander Turnquist William TylerSee also EditNew acoustic music Folk baroqueReferences Edit Cahill Greg 2019 02 12 American Primitive Guitar The Absolute Sound Retrieved 2020 07 07 Unterberger Richie John Fahey Biography amp History AllMusic Retrieved 2020 07 07 a b c d e f g h A Celebration of John Fahey and American Primitive Guitar The New Yorker Retrieved 2018 09 03 Lowenthal Steve 2014 06 01 Dance of Death The Life of John Fahey American Guitarist Kindle Location 1866 Chicago Review Press Kindle Edition Peter Lang on American Primitive Guitar Archived from the original on 28 September 2007 Retrieved 2007 09 27 External links EditJohn Fahey and American Primitivism Nick Schillace s Master s Thesis The Cosmos Club American primitive guitar Washington City Paper Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title American primitive guitar amp oldid 1129101772, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
