To Watch
Wondrium: Educational Series
Open your eyes and ears to the rich—and surprising—cross-cultural history of this instrument, and how the banjo represents stories of changing American identity and culture. Rhiannon teamed up with Wondrium to create this invaluable 10-part educational series that features musical and educational guests including Béla Fleck, Don Vappie, Justin Robinson, Enda Scahill (We Banjo 3), & more.
PBS Show: My Music with Rhiannon Giddens
Conservatory educated but with deep roots in traditional music, Rhiannon is hosts of a new series from PBS that celebrates musical performance and conversation with outstanding guest artists filmed on location around the South. In My Music with Rhiannon Giddens, Rhiannon takes viewers on a journey through her far-ranging musical interests and is eloquent about her mentors, inspirations, and the ongoing relevance of folk music to modern issues.
To Read
Cuba and its Music
by Ned Sublette
purchase
Hoedowns, Reels, and Frolics: Roots and Branches of Southern Appalachian Dance
by Phil Jamison
purchase
A People's History of the United States
by Howard Zinn
purchase
Banjo Roots and Branches
by Robert B. Winans
purchase
African Banjo Echoes in Appalachia: Study Folk Traditions
by Cecelia Conway
purchase
Redemption: The Last Battle of the Civil War
by Nicholas Lemann
purchase
The Half Has Never Been Told
by Edward E. Baptist
purchase
Demons of Disorder: Early Blackface Minstrels and their World
by Dale Cockrell
purchase
Ralph Peer and the Making of Popular Roots Music
by Barry Mazor
purchase
Well of Souls: Uncovering the Banjo's Hidden History
by Kristina Gaddy
purchase
The Banjo: America’s African Instrument
by Laurent Dubois
purchase
The American Slave Coast: A History of the Slave-Breeding Industry
by Ned Sublette
purchase
Sinful Tunes and Spirituals: Black Folk Music to the Civil War
by Dena J. Epstein
purchase
Hillbilly: A Cultural History of an American Icon
by Anthony Harkins
purchase
The Creolization of American Culture: William Sidney Mount and the Roots of Blackface Minstrelsy
by Christopher J. Smith
purchase
Build A House (children’s book)
by Rhiannon Giddens; illustrated by Monica Mikai
purchase
We Could Fly (children’s book)
by Rhiannon Giddens; illustrated by Briana Mukodiri Uchendu
purchase
Become a patron of Rhiannon and Francesco Turrisi on Patreon to learn more deeply about the various instruments they play, get book recommendations, and more.
To Listen
Educational Resources
Recorded as Artist-in-residence for Santa Clara University
The Center for the Arts and Humanities at Santa Clara University welcomed Rhiannon and Francesco for online learning sessions. Below, you’ll find some videos of the events in their entirety. Others are currently not available to the public. To view more details on this residency, as well as a list of all of the events, please visit SCU’s website.
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