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The Carter Family was in the right place at the right time…or were they? When A.P. was a child and a young man he would walk ancient footpaths and railroads between valleys in the Appalachian mountains of western Virginia. This is how he met his wife and band mate Sara. Together with his brother’s wife Maybelle they became one of the most renowned musical groups to ever represent American roots music. A.P took advantage of a new kind of railroad that was being established in the 1920’s. This new connection between regions and cultures all across the United States, north into Canada, and south into Mexico was no longer bound together by wood and steel. It was found floating, invisible, through the airwaves and landing in living rooms and shops for all to hear. Radio revolutionized how we connect with one another and how we listen and engage with music. Music left the front porch, the church, and the community hall. It left the hands of local musicians and entered little boxes.
The music that A.P. Carter mined out of those western Virginia Mountains had been there for several generations. Much of it had traveled from the British Isles and was then nourished by the rich Appalachian culture to become what we call today traditional old time music. When the Carter family made that fateful trip to Bristol, Tennessee to sing into that “can” they took a culture with them and delivered it to the masses. The fame and misfortune that came along with their success drove them to inner turmoil as A.P. traveled relentlessly searching for new songs. The pressures of fame and greed took its toll on Sara and A.P. They split up and Maybelle was left to carry on the tradition with her daughters.
Today we have a new railroad in which we connect. In fact I’m riding down its tracks right now. The Internet has revolutionized how we connect with the world. We all we see benefits from this new railroad, but let us be mindful of the costs. The Carter’s left us a legacy of amazing music that we can use to worship, entertain, and just love each other with. Those artists out there using this new railroad to connect with the world must beware of the dangerous things that may be waiting around the bend.
So I was recently given an assignment in my Master’s program at St. Stephen’s University to write a response to any video on the TED.com website that interests me and reflect on it and how it relates to today’s spiritual climate. I must say that I was overwhelmed by all of the amazing information on the TED website. I’ve viewed quite a few of the videos and have been enriched by each one. I settled on a video entitled “David Holt: The Stories and Songs of Appalachia.” The subject matter of American Roots music draws me in like the smell of my Grandma’s famous lima beans and rice. I just can’t resist those old melodies that seem to speak to me from my ancestors and motivate me to connect with others in melody, rhythm, and lyric. Holt’s blending of storytelling and roots music in his presentation gives me ideas on how to incorporate this art form into the modern worship setting. All of the elements Holt uses are part of the way we do worship. We connect to the great Narrative which is the story of God and man through music and ancient traditions. I’m curious if we, as worship leaders, can tell the story in way that Holt tells his story? Using ancient, modern, and even futuristic technology to connect with others in a very simple way he tells his story and brings it to life for those in his audience. We must always keep “the story” central to what it is we’re doing. Let all the other things enhance and nuance not overpower and muddle. Much like the way my Grandma would ad just the right amount of butter and salt and pepper to her famous lima beans and rice.
To See David Holt: The Stories and Song of Appalachia follow this link:
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/david_holt_plays_mountain_music.html
Here is a link to an amazing conversation with the late Joe Carter, a scholar and singer of African American Spirituals. It was recorded for the Speaking of Faith radio show. The page that is linked also has many other resources for those of us interested in using these amazing songs within our worship sets. Each opportunity in which I’ve been able to worship with these songs has been a huge blessing. The theological perspective of the African American slaves that wrote these songs in the midst of great suffering helps us understand our falleness and the great love Christ has for us. These beautiful songs help us understand our relationship as redeemed people in such a beautiful way that we should not neglect these treasures.
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/joecarter/links.shtml
Alison Krauss describes Hazel Dickens as, “Cranked up to ten.” She doesn’t hold back vocally or when it comes to standing up for workers rights. As a girl she grew up singing in a primitive Baptist church in the mountains of West Virginia seeing the injustice done to coal mine workers. She later became and advocate for labor unions and workers rights.
As a worship leader, there is a lot to be learned from Hazel Dickens’ story. How can I/we encourage our congregations to address the social justice issues of our society today? How can I/we embrace what Christ proclaims in the Sermon on the Mount? Let us look for examples of Christians who had a heart for social justice and were willing to use the talents God blessed them with to love their neighbor and bring Christ’s Kingdom here on earth as it is in Heaven.
I am blessed to be able to attend this festival. I have experienced a true closeness with the Creator and His created order while attending this festival that takes place on the banks of the Suwannee River in North Florida. The music that fills the air and the natural beauty collide to create a “thin place” if you will. People of all faiths and walks of life come together to celebrate American Roots music being played under the stars. I urge those reading this to take a little break from whatever reality your dealing with right now and watch this great little video and see what Suwannee Springfest is all about. I recently interviewed Beth Judy one of the organizers of this festival about the spiritual aspects of this festival. I’ll be posting that next week.
I found a couple of videos through the Smithsonian Global Sound on iTunes U. One is Pete Seeger doing a rap on the English Language. This a great resource for us that are understanding the importance of Language and how it affects our spiritual connections especially in this Post Modern society in which we live. It could be a great resource for someone speaking on the Language dilemma of Post Modern culture. done
The second video is a great little story about American Roots Music and the fact that we as Americans don’t understand our own culture because it may not be commercially viable. done
As a worship leader and a writer of worship music I find this to be a tragedy that most of the worship music produced today is done so with the idea of commercial viability undergirding it. We must realize that we are writing and producing music for a far nobler cause than that of hitting the radio market and selling records or getting CCLI hits. We need to be writing music for our communities to worship. We need to be singing to the needs of our brothers and sisters in Christ. We need to bring our music to the porches of our neighborhoods so that they can be heard by those that are hurting and they can join in the singing and worship process so that they can find peace and healing from the One that takes our musings and presents them to the Creator.
