Caitlin Baummer is a senior vocal performance major from Chelmsford, Massachusetts. The project she describes in her article began in spring of 2007 and culminated in the transcription and archiving of her interviews over two years later. Although it was a long project, Caitlin says it was immensely fulfilling to both listen to and share the people’s stories. After graduation, Caitlin hopes to work with non-profit community arts organizations. She believes that this project contributed to her interest in this field: “This project...helped me see that every person, regardless of location or economic status, deserves the opportunity to learn about and grow in music.”
Dr. Burt Feintuch has been a part of the University of New Hampshire community for the past twenty-one years. In addition to being Professor of Folklore and English, he is also the director of the Center for the Humanities. Dr. Feintuch’s research ranges from folklore to cultural revivals and public culture, but he specializes in the ethnography of music. When Caitlin Baummer looked for help with how to study music in community settings, Dr. Feintuch was happy to be her mentor: “Caitlin is an ideal student–smart, dedicated, thoughtful. Working with her was a pleasure for me.” Dr. Feintuch earned his B.A. at Pennsylvania State University in 1971. A year later he got his M.A. at the University of Pennsylvania, followed by his Ph.D. at the same institution in 1975.
Read Caitlin Baummer’s research article Music in the Mountains: Music’s Relation to Emotion for Individuals in Central Appalachia >>
