Music of the Pacific Northwest

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Music of the Pacific Northwest encompasses many musical styles from prehistory to the modern Pacific Northwest.

Native American and First Nations

Song and dance were notable elements of pre-Contact Northwest culture. The abundant food supply for coastal tribes like the Tlingit, Haida, Tsimishan, Kwakiutl, Makah, Quinault and

Cultural preservation efforts in the 21st century include Makah[2] and Yakama[3]
: 73  music.

Modern

In modern times, the Northwest is known for largely for its contributions to

indie music, especially grunge and alternative rock. There is also a historically strong interest in folk music and many musicians from the region have made notable contributions to the contemporary folk revivalism
movement.

Folk

Folk music from the region traditionally takes stock of Pacific Northwest in lyrical references, such as the local history, the landscape, and in the spirit of transcendentalism, which has historical roots in the exploration and settlement of the Pacific Northwest. The music is documented in Songs of the Pacific Northwest by Phil Thomas (1979), Washington Songs and Lore (written for Washington Centennial Commission in 1988) and The Rainy Day Songbook (published by Whatcom Museum of History and Art in 1978) both by Linda Allen.[4] Notable modern folk musician Phil Elverum is also from the Pacific Northwest.

Great Depression

Woody Guthrie's "

Roll on Columbia", written in 1941, is the official Washington State folk song.[5][4]

Jazz

Jazz artists from the Pacific Northwest include Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, Buddy Catlett, Bill Frisell, Ernestine Anderson, Larry Coryell, Jeff Lorber, Diane Schuur, Kenny G, Aaron Parks and Esperanza Spalding. The Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra is noted for its renditions of big band jazz music.[6] [7] [8] [9]

Heavy metal

The Pacific Northwest region – primarily

atmospheric/ambient black metal, drone metal, and post-metal as seen in Oregon's YOB, Agalloch, Witch Mountain, Red Fang, Washington's Lesbian,[12] Earth, Sunn O))), Vancouver's Anciients, Astrakhan,[13] and Aaron Turner project Sumac
, among various others.

Rock

1959–1960

In 1959–1960, Seattle's Dolton Records started to take off and local bands including

Paul Revere and the Raiders became known as the Sea-Port Beat, later to be referred to as the Original Northwest Sound.[3]
: 7 

2000s

The

Sir-Mix-A-Lot
make notable contributions.

Pacific Northwest artists who became ground-breaking rock bands of their times include:

Classical music and opera

Several Northwest cities have symphony orchestras, including the Oregon Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Spokane Symphony, and Vancouver Symphony Orchestra. The Northwest Chamber Orchestra is based in Seattle. Vancouver, Seattle, and Portland have operas. Smaller cities such as Victoria and Eugene have classical groups as well.[14]

Local music scenes

Northwest cities have spawned their own music scenes and styles, including

Northwest hiphop from Tacoma[3]
: 7  and elsewhere.

Festivals

Among the area's largest music festivals are the Merritt Mountain Music Festival, the Vancouver Folk Music Festival, the Sasquatch! Music Festival in George, Washington, Seattle's Bumbershoot and Northwest Folklife, and Portland's MusicfestNW. Portland's Waterfront Blues Festival is the largest blues-based festival west of the Mississippi River.

References

  1. ^ "H&I |".
  2. ^
  3. ^ a b Stewart Hendrickson, Songs of the Pacific Northwest
  4. ^ State Songs, Olympia, Washington: Washington Secretary of State, retrieved 2016-02-26
  5. ^ Jim Wilke (November 1, 2015), "Seattle Repertory Jazz Orchestra swings Basie, Danny Quintero sings Sinatra on Jazz Northwest", Jazz Northwest (Radio program), KPLU
  6. ^ "Jeff Lorber Fusion - Portland, OR (76-81) & Los Angeles, CA (2010 - )".
  7. ^ "Larry Coryell Trio - Seattle (1960s)".
  8. ^ de Barros, Paul (13 November 2014). "Buddy Catlett: renowned Seattle jazz bassist". Seattle Times. Archived from the original on 18 December 2014. Retrieved 13 November 2014.
  9. ^ a b Levin, Hannah (10 August 2011). "The Mix: A Pacific Northwest Metal Goldmine". NPR.
  10. ^ "Crushing Cascadia: Earworthy Metal of the Pacific Northwest -". 28 January 2013. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015.
  11. ^ "Forestelevision, by LESBIAN".
  12. ^ "Reward in Purpose, by Astrakhan".