Folkstreams

Fire Dance

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST

Fire Dance presents the emerging art form called fire dancing, as practiced in the northwestern United States. The dancers explain their attraction to "playing with fire", how they learn and create new forms of fire dance, and why making their own equipment gives them a sense of pride.

Mouth Music

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 00:00:00 EST

Boot-camp count-off chants, jump-rope rhymes, and carny barks are featured in this fast-moving sampler of �proto-music� from the imaginations and versatile mouths of southern folk musicians.

The Performed Word

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Performed Word is African American folklorist Gerald L. Davis� guided tour of African American expressive culture. Although he claimed to be �unchurched,� Davis explores with great depth and passion the African American sermon, expanding it into an exploration of the aesthetics of African American culture.

The Amish: A People of Preservation

Fri, 15 May 2009 00:00:00 EST

The Amish keep surprising their technology-programmed neighbors by keeping alive ways and beliefs that many modern Americans wish they could recapture. Mennonite historian John Ruth takes us sympathetically into the Amish mindset.

Family Across the Sea

Fri, 10 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST

Family Across the Sea shows how scholars have uncovered the remarkable connections between the Gullah people of South Carolina and the people of Sierra Leone.

From Shore to Shore

Thu, 09 Apr 2009 00:00:00 EST

A film on Irish immigrant musicians and their offspring, tracing the influences of family and community, ethnic identity, and American popular culture on the traditional music played in contemporary New York City.

Ben's Mill

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

Ben Thresher's mill is one of the few water-powered, wood-working mills left in this country. Operating in rural Vermont since 1848, the mill is a unique link between the age of craft and the age of modern industry.

Adirondack Minstrel

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

Lawrence Older is a relaxed, direct and engaging performer who has spent the majority of his life working in the woods. His songs and fiddle tunes are mostly from his family tradition and are representative of the local melodies and the rich musical tradition of America's northeastern states.

Why The Cowboy Sings

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

The cowboy's job has always been dangerous, lonely, dusty, gory and low-paying. So why do cowboys make music, and why do they need to tell their story? Why the Cowboy Sings is a journey across the open West to explore this unique genre of folk art.

Music Masters and Rhythm Kings

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:00:00 EST

A celebration of the rich heritage of southern traditional music and the people who created it. This performance documentary focuses on three different styles of blues, stringband music, and AfroCuban bembe drumming. The production explores the contributions of their root cultures African, British Isles, and Caribbean and weaves the music together with memories, history and music.