DUSHANBE, June 18, Asia-Plus -- An American music group Bluegrass is arriving in Tajikistan today with a cultural program.  

According to the U.S. Embassy in Dushanbe, during its stay in Tajikistan, Bluegrass will conduct a number master-classes for students of Tajikistan’s Institute of Art, perform concert and hold a number of music parties.   

The musicians are also expected to hold meeting with visitors of American Corner at the National Firdavsi Library.  

On Thursday June 21, Bluegrass will perform a concert at an open-air pavilion of the Padida Theatre in Dushanbe and will hold a music party jointly with local music group Samo at the Gurminj Museum, the source said.  

On June 22, they will conduct a master-class for members of local folk group “Bibijonho”.  

Bluegrass’ visit to Tajikistan is part the US Embassy culture project.  

Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, which has its own roots in Irish, Scottish and English traditional music.  Bluegrass was inspired by the music of immigrants from the British Isles (particularly the Scots-Irish immigrants of Appalachia ), as well as that of rural African-Americans, jazz and blues. 

In bluegrass, as in jazz, each instrument takes a turn playing the melody and improvising around it, while the others revert to backing; this is in contrast to old-time music, in which all instruments play the melody together or one instrument carries the lead throughout while the others provide accompaniment.  Bluegrass is distinctively acoustic, rarely using electric instruments.