Across the South: The origins and development of the steel guitar in western swing
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(Thesis)
Date
2019
Authors
Cundell, Roger Guy Scott
Editors
Advisors
Carroll, Mark
Knopoff, Steven
Knopoff, Steven
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Thesis
Citation
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Abstract
In the early 1930s, the steel guitar, a Hawaiian invention of the late 19th century, was adopted by musicians in an emerging form of dance music known as western swing, a subgenre of country music. The design of the newly amplified instrument and the style of its players underwent continual change as the music of the genre evolved. However, in the 1950s, as the popularity of western swing declined, the steel guitar was completely supplanted by the pedal steel guitar and a new stylistic approach that it enabled. Through transcription and analysis the study offers new perspectives on what have been anecdotal observations surrounding the various stages in development of the steel guitar between 1935 and 1955.
School/Discipline
Elder Conservatorium of Music
Dissertation Note
Thesis (Ph.D.) -- University of Adelaide, Elder Conservatorium of Music, 2019
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