Evan Carawan
Encyclopedia
Evan Carawan is a hammered dulcimer
player in Knoxville, Tennessee
. He is the son of folk musicians Candie and Guy Carawan
. Evan Carawan learned to play hammered dulcimer from his father, who was a pioneer in reviving American interest in the instrument. Carawan typically plays in Old-time music
, Irish
, and New Age
styles.
Carawan has been a member of several musical groups, including The Carawan Family (with his parents and other associates, often Will Byers and Don Cassell), and the Atomic City Rhythm Rascals (with David Lovett, Chris McMahon, and Tim Worman).
As a youth in 1972, Carawan taught hammered dulcimer player Malcolm Dalglish
his first hammered dulcimer tune, the traditional Drunken Sailor
.
Although best known for his hammered dulcimer playing, Carawan also plays the mandolin
.
Carawan is also employed at McKay Books in Knoxville, TN.
Hammered dulcimer
The hammered dulcimer is a stringed musical instrument with the strings stretched over a trapezoidal sounding board. Typically, the hammered dulcimer is set on a stand, at an angle, before the musician, who holds small mallet hammers in each hand to strike the strings...
player in Knoxville, Tennessee
Knoxville, Tennessee
Founded in 1786, Knoxville is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Tennessee, U.S.A., behind Memphis and Nashville, and is the county seat of Knox County. It is the largest city in East Tennessee, and the second-largest city in the Appalachia region...
. He is the son of folk musicians Candie and Guy Carawan
Guy Carawan
Guy Carawan is an American folk musician and musicologist. He serves as music director and song leader for the Highlander Research and Education Center in New Market, Tennessee....
. Evan Carawan learned to play hammered dulcimer from his father, who was a pioneer in reviving American interest in the instrument. Carawan typically plays in Old-time music
Old-time music
Old-time music is a genre of North American folk music, with roots in the folk music of many countries, including England, Scotland, Ireland and countries in Africa. It developed along with various North American folk dances, such as square dance, buck dance, and clogging. The genre also...
, Irish
Music of Ireland
Irish Music is the generic term for music that has been created in various genres on the island of Ireland.The indigenous music of the island is termed Irish traditional music. It has remained vibrant through the 20th, and into the 21st century, despite globalizing cultural forces...
, and New Age
New Age music
New Age music is music of various styles intended to create artistic inspiration, relaxation, and optimism. It is used by listeners for yoga, massage, meditation, and reading as a method of stress management or to create a peaceful atmosphere in their home or other environments, and is often...
styles.
Carawan has been a member of several musical groups, including The Carawan Family (with his parents and other associates, often Will Byers and Don Cassell), and the Atomic City Rhythm Rascals (with David Lovett, Chris McMahon, and Tim Worman).
As a youth in 1972, Carawan taught hammered dulcimer player Malcolm Dalglish
Malcolm Dalglish
Malcolm Dalglish is an American hammered dulcimer player and builder, composer, and choral director.A virtuoso performer on the hammer dulcimer, he is a former member of the folk/Celtic trio Metamora and has performed frequently with the percussionist Glen Velez...
his first hammered dulcimer tune, the traditional Drunken Sailor
Drunken Sailor
Drunken Sailor is a traditional sea shanty also known as What Shall We Do with the Drunken Sailor?It begins with the question, "What shall we do with a drunken sailor, early in the morning?" Each verse thereafter suggests a method of sobering—or castigating, or simply abusing—the sailor.The song...
.
Although best known for his hammered dulcimer playing, Carawan also plays the mandolin
Mandolin
A mandolin is a musical instrument in the lute family . It descends from the mandore, a soprano member of the lute family. The mandolin soundboard comes in many shapes—but generally round or teardrop-shaped, sometimes with scrolls or other projections. A mandolin may have f-holes, or a single...
.
Carawan is also employed at McKay Books in Knoxville, TN.
Discography
- Appalachian and Irish Tunes on Hammer Dulcimer (with Guy CarawanGuy CarawanGuy Carawan is an American folk musician and musicologist. He serves as music director and song leader for the Highlander Research and Education Center in New Market, Tennessee....
, 1984, Flying Fish RecordsFlying Fish RecordsFlying Fish Records was a Chicago-based eclectic blues and country record label. It was founded in 1974 by Bruce Kaplan, former president of the University of Chicago's Folklore Society....
) - Homeward Bound (1993, Turquoise Records)
- A Month of Sundays (2000, Ponder Productions)
- Atomic City Rhythm Rascals (2001, Grinning Deer Music)
- The View From Home (2002, Ponder Productions)
- Five Miles From Town (David Lovett & friends, 2005, Grinning Deer Music)
External links
- Webpage at Grinning Deer Music
- Lifelong Students, Eternal Activists by Jack Neely Profile of Carawan's parents from Metro Pulse, including information on Evan