Loosely based on the true story of a folk music historian, Songcatcher features fearless university professor Lily Penleric, who happens upon a significant discovery of early Scotch Irish folk ballads while visiting rural Appalachia. While she pursues her obsession to document as much music as she can, Lily discovers the significant plight of the rural people whom she's relying on to gather this knowledge.

With a soundtrack that includes Iris DeMent, Hazel Dickens, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, and other greats, the film is a delightful elegy to American folk music traditions. This Science on Screen presentation will be followed by a discussion about the science, technology and history of musical instruments.