Banjo Strings and Drinking Gourds

In this episode, our guest, Paige Hildebrand, talks about her research into Elizabethan Free Grammar Schools.  These schools were the foundation of our modern system of education and go back further than you might think! And Paige even found an interesting connection between her research and our English farm!

Intro Music: Zac Bell

Exit Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

Did you know there was a time when Christmas was actually banned in England? Well, at least it was strongly discouraged. In this episode, we delve into the 17th century in England and just what was going on with Christmas, who the major players were, and some of the modern repercussions. 

Music: Second Suite for Military Band, Op. 28 no. 2 - IV. Fantasia on the 'Dargason'. Allegro Moderato, Gustav Holst, USAF Heritage of America Band

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

In this episode, our guest, Naomi Akogwu, talks about her research into agricultural history and how our modern methods came out of the agricultural revolution of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. She details mechanization and methodological improvements happening at the time, as well as the growth of agricultural colleges and dissemination of knowledge available.  She also covers the challenges facing modern agriculture and how the rise of homesteading is giving some hope for the future.

Intro Music: Zac Bell

Transition Music: Papalin, 25 Norwegian Folk Songs and Dances, Op. 17 - 22. Cow Call - So Lokka Me Over Den Myra 

Exit Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

Welcome back to season three of Banjo Strings and Drinking Gourds! We have a fascinating season of episodes planned for you. This episode, we tackle some of the interesting and bizarre celebrations and holidays not often celebrated today. From agricultural based holidays to merry-making cobblers and smiths, this episode covers a wide array of time and space.

Intro Music: Zac Bell

Exit Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

In this episode, our guests delve into the history of Staunton. They cover who was living here, who came here, how it was founded, and more. They even answer that pressing question: why isn't it pronounced "Stawn-ton"? 

Intro and Transition Music: Zac Bell

Close Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

NB: This episode contains contemporary accounts of events that may reference period attitudes towards marginalized groups. 

Being located in the Shenandoah Valley, we don't often talk about ships and the navy. For this 4th of July, however, we thought we'd bring in our ship expert, Mark, to talk about the role of navies during the American Revolution. In this episode, we'll discuss shipbuilding, sailor impressment, and just how a small, upstart American fleet managed to mostly hold its own against the strongest navy in the world.

Intro Music: Zac Bell

Transition Music: Das Orchester Tsumugi, Mozart, Symphony no. 40 in G minor, K. 550, Molto Allegro 

End Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana

Today's episode focuses on the earliest movement toward abolition. Who were the movers and shakers who started a movement that changed the world? In this first of two parts, we discuss just who was involved in protesting slavery and its egregious loss of life and liberty from the earliest moments. Britain's empirical aspirations rested firmly on the backs of enslaved persons throughout her colonies, yet from the beginning, a few brave souls stood up to protest on both sides of the Atlantic. 

Content Warning: The contemporary sources quoted in this episode contain language now considered offensive. 

Intro Music: Zac Bell

Exit Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

We decided that with summer vacation coming up, we'd help out with the often-tiresome search for that beach read. In this episode, we review Matt Siegel's 2021 book, The Secret History of Food: Strange but True Stories About the Origins of Everything We Eat. As historians, there were a few nit-picky things, but overall, this was an enjoyable, easy read that we highly recommend for all your summer reading needs!

Intro Music: Zac Bell

Transition: Handel, Alexander's Feast, 1736

End Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

Despite Alex's promise to never again produce an episode on the amorphous idea of a single century, here we have a brief, scattershot attempt at introducing the 18th century. It's a pretty sure bet that there will be many episodes springing off the topics raised in this podcast, hopefully in the far distant future.

Intro Music: Zac Bell

Transition Music:  European Archive: Henry Purcell, The Fairy Queen Z. 629, Monkey's Dance

Exit Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day

In this episode, our guest, Steve Frysinger, discusses medical interpretation. He explains the difference between medical interpretation and reenactment, how someone can learn about historic medicine, and some interesting anecdotes about medicine in the past. Medical history is not for the squeamish!

Intro Music: Zac Bell

Transition Music: Zac Bell

End Music: Jean Claude Hatungimana

Cover Art: Emily Noble Day