Music was a crucial form of expression for the contestatory voices of the 1960s across the various liberation, rights, and protest movements and their successor movements. Not only were gender and sexuality the subjects of liberation movements that mark their beginnings in the late 1960s (Women’s Liberation, Gay Liberation), but women and gay folk were also important participants in the music of the civil rights, peace, and environmental movements in the U.S., Latin America, and elsewhere.  As a response to male-dominated rock music culture, a lesbian-led DIY movement of “women’s music” (or womyn’s or wimmin’s music) arose in the late 1960s, developing an entire musical counter-culture throughout the 1970s.

This symposium draws out the significance of gender and protest in music of the 1960s and considers what cultural value that nexus continues to manifest. The symposium will be bookended by two concerts, the first a “hootenanny”-style, informal concert with opportunities for audience participation, and the second a more formal concert in the concert hall.   The program for the first concert is below.  Click here to see the schedules for the symposium and the evening concert.

Sponsored by the College of  Visual and Performing Arts, the College of Arts and Sciences, and the Women’s and Gender Studies Program, and in collaboration with the School of Music.

Program for Noon Concert:  Sing Along!

12:00 PM

Protest Songs of Nina Simone
Mississippi Goddamn Words and Music by Nina Simone
Four Women (1933–2003)
To Be Young, Gifted and Black

Sheila Washington, voice, and Julian Kennedy, piano

Voices from the North: Protest Songs of Canadian Women
Morning Dew Bonnie Dobson (b. 1940)
Universal Soldier Buffy Sainte Marie (b. 1941)
Big Yellow Taxi Joni Mitchell (b. 1943)

Gavin Douglas, Voice and Guitar

Protest Songs of Latin American Women
Volver a los Diecisiete (1966) Violeta Parra (1917–1967)
Zamba de los Humildes (Mercedes Sosa, 1965) Armando Tejada Gomez / Manuel Oscar Matos

Lorena Guillen, voice and bombo legüero
Gavin Douglas, guitar

Six Etudes for Solo Violin Nancy Van de Vate (b. 1930)

Madeleine Klee, Violin

A Tapestry of Tunes: Diverse Voices in Old-Time Music
Cindy                                  Trad. North Carolina Fiddle Tune and Folk Song
Shortnin’ Bread                From Virginia Banjo player Lewis “Big Sweet” Hairston (b. 1929)
John Henry                       Traditional
Chips and Sauce               Ira Bernstein (b. 1959), recorded by the Earl White String Band
Union Maid                       Lyrics: Woody Guthrie (1912-1967); “Redwing” Melody by Kerry Mills (1869-1948)

UNCG Old Time Ensemble: Jonathan Mirrielees, Bass/Guitar; Jeremy Glasgow, Banjo/Fiddle;
Sarah Dorsey, Mandolin; Jessica Caviness, Fiddle; Vini Kuker, Ukulele; Rebecca Bhuiyan, Fiddle;
Abigail Klima, Fiddle; Caroline Infante Arismendi, Banjo; Triston Broadway, Fiddle
Christen Blanton, Director