Rock and roll is arguably the American art form, born out of the folk music of both black and white Americans. 'American Epic' explores its primitive forebears, through the first recordings made of its sounds; and as a bonus, we get to see a distinguished array of modern musicians attempt to record with a reconstructed version of the very recording instruments that were used to capture the music heard earlier in the series. It's worth noting just how ancient this music is; the foundational legend of the blues lies in the story of Robert Johnson, for example, but here we learn of (and hear) Charlie Patton, from whom Johnson learnt. Some of the pioneers, like Patton, died young; others, like Mississippi John Hurt, were remarkably rediscovered after decades of obscurity. The series is slow, and reverent, and the music perhaps unsophisticated for modern tastes, but at the same time, the roots of what came after are clear, and it is interesting to think about the context (of rural poverty) within which this music was made. And it's nice to see the moderns appreciating the past.
