The Beautiful Music All Around Us presents the extraordinarily rich backstories of thirteen performances captured on Library of Congress field recordings between 1934 and 1942 in locations reaching from Southern Appalachia to the Mississippi Delta and the Great Plains. Including the childrens play song "Shortenin Bread;" the fiddle tune "Bonapartes Retreat;" the blues song "Another Man Done Gone;" and the spiritual "Aint No Grave Can Hold My Body Down;" these performances were recorded in kitchens and churches; on porches and in prisons; in hotel rooms and school auditoriums. Documented during the golden age of the Library of Congress recordings; they capture not only the words and tunes of traditional songs but also the sounds of life in which the performances were embedded: children laugh; neighbors comment; trucks pass by._x000B__x000B_Musician and researcher Stephen Wade sought out the performers on these recordings; their families; fellow musicians; and others who remembered them. He reconstructs the sights and sounds of the recording sessions themselves and how the music worked in all their lives. Some of these performers developed musical reputations beyond these field recordings; but for many; these tracks represent their only appearances on record: prisoners at the Arkansas State Penitentiary jumping on "the Librarys recording machine" in a rendering of "Rock Island Line"; Ora Dell Graham being called away from the schoolyard to sing the jump-rope rhyme "Pullin the Skiff"; Luther Strong shaking off a hungover night in jail and borrowing a fiddle to rip into "Glory in the Meetinghouse."_x000B__x000B_Reflecting decades of research and detective work; the profiles and abundant photos in The Beautiful Music All Around Us bring to life largely unheralded individuals--domestics; farm laborers; state prisoners; schoolchildren; cowboys; housewives and mothers; loggers and miners--whose music has become part of the wider American musical soundscape. The book also includes an accompanying CD that presents these thirteen performances; songs and sounds of America in the 1930s and 40s. By exploring how these singers and instrumentalists exerted their own creativity on inherited forms; "amplifying traditions gifts;" Wade shows how a single artist can make a difference within a democracy.
#3193036 in eBooks 2012-12-20 2012-12-20File Name: B00AR2XAUI
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Another Virtue WinnerBy Elizabeth J. MariacaThe only thing wrong with this book is that you do not want it to end. With Virtues usual tight and crisp writing; the reader gets to explore family dynamics of Canadas Taylor family. It is a compelling look at two brothers and how one suceeds and the other spends his life trying to be totally independent of the family and at the same time tries to catch up with his brothers seemingly golden touch.The older brother; E.P. Taylor was a very prominent and wealthy businessman in Canada. The younger brother; Fred; leaves Canada for Mexico in an attempt to make his own name as an artist. Unfortunately Fred can never seem to attain and maintain the levels of achievement and wealth that his older brother so easily achieves. Time and again Fred has to go back to his family for financial help. Fred fights against the family values; even becomes a Communist until he is threatened with a cut off of funds from his mother. But; finally again Fred has to back down and toe the family line. E.P. evidently puts little pressure on Fred; and constantly comes to Freds financial assistance throughout their lives.Fred Taylor has a hard time maintaining relationships. He is constantly up and down with family; friends and wives. He seems to me to have been a man that you wouldnt want to know on a personal level; but one you would have wanted to watch on an intellectual level. Virtue does this for us as he traces the life of this second son. A book on E.P. Taylor would have been easy; but Virtue chose the other son; which gives the reader a real chance to look at a family and how each member imprinted on the other members.Virtue also gives the reader another chance to look at the Artists colony in San Miguel de Allende; Mexico. Obviously this little town is a place close to the authors heart. with this book the reader can settle into the warm hilly streets and go on an adventure because there is nothing more interesting then a real look at people and places. John Virtue; once again satisfies the readers thirst.Elizabeth J. Mariaca-Sheard1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. The Shadows ExposedBy John SewellHere is a master key that opens all the closed doors and exposes all the shadows of one of Canadas most prominent families and gives more than a glimpse behind them. This book is not just another biography of an artists life. John Virtue has captured a privileged view of an entire lifes adventure of the psyche and actions of artist Fred Taylor; younger brother of E.P. Taylor. Every sentence is packed with information that draws the reader through an alluring and rarely seen or recorded real-life drama. Its a definite must-read for anyone drawn to human life itself and the multitude of lessons that can be drawn from it!