Genealogy (from Greek: γενεαλογία genealogia from γενεά genea, "generation" and λόγος logos, "knowledge"), also known as family history, is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral interviews, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members. The results are often displayed in charts or written as narratives.
The pursuit of family history and origins tends to be shaped by several motives, including the desire to carve out a place for one's family in the larger historical picture, a sense of responsibility to preserve the past for future generations, and a sense of self-satisfaction in accurate storytelling.[1]
According to some sources, Genealogy is one of the most popular topics on the internet
A family history page from an antebellum era family Bible pretty much shows that we're fascinated by where we come from and who our ancestors were, so it makes sense to me as a musician that this curiosity is extended beyond just text and photographs and into songs. Imagine if every entry on the family tree of Ludwig Herzog von Württemberg were a song about each person? About their lives and stories?
Songs hold so much more than just a photograph and express more than just text. They give us an opportunity to see into the past and it's this desire to remember and acknowledge our lineage that makes The Songwriting Company the best place to fulfil that longing of family connections.
Songs create the ultimate Family Album and when coupled with long lasting physical formats such as Vinyl, musical scores, printed lyrics and videos, they can be preserved for hundreds if not thousands of years.
It may not seem like it's needed now but it could be a vitally important and connecting family heirloom in 100 years. A valuable piece of history and ancestry well worth exploring and taking part in.
If you feel this is something you'd love to have in your family, for a member alive or not with us anymore, then get in touch.
* SOURCE---- 1^ Ronald Bishop, "In the Grand Scheme of Things: An Exploration of the Meaning of Genealogical Research," Journal of Popular Culture 2008 41(3): 393–412.