SOL-FA -> SOLFÈGE /
 SINGERS OF THE 98th HENAGAR UNION SACRED HARP CONVENTION AND PHILIP GLASS ENSEMBLE.

'BELOVED' (1998), JONATHAN DEMME.

ALMEDA RIDDLE /

 'POOR WAYFARING STRANGER'
 - FROM 'THE ALAN LOMAX COLLECTION: SOUTHERN JOURNEY VOL.I - VOICES OF THE AMERICAN SOUTH'

IN THE MID-30'S A YOUNG ALAN LOMAX ACCOMPANIED HIS FATHER ON A SERIES OF FIELD RECORDINGS DOCUMENTING THE FOLK MUSIC OF RURAL AMERICA FOR THE AMERICAN LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.  I RECENTLY CAME ACROSS THE ALBUM ABOVE WHILE SATING MY CURRENT OBSESSION WITH SACRED HARP MUSIC (HE WAS AMONG THE FIRST TO PRODUCE THE FINEST EARLY RECORDINGS OF GROUP SINGINGS), AND I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH THIS ONE.  THE REST OF THE ALBUM HAS MUCH OF THE SAME ROUGH-AND-READY FEEL OF FIELD RECORDING, BUT CAPTURES PERFECTLY THE HUMANITY, HUMOUR AND PATHOS IN THE VOICES OF A SOUTHERN PEOPLES WOUNDED BY THE GREAT DEPRESSION - AND YET STILL FINDING A WAY TO SURVIVE IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING. 




 MEANWHILE...


A COUPLE OF GREAT RECORDINGS OF TWO OF MY FAVOURITE SACRED HARP TUNES COURTESY OF A FLOURISHING SHAPE-NOTE COMMUNITY IN CORK, IRELAND:

ARVO PÄRT /

 'TABULA RASA', I. LUDUS: CON MOTO

 "O, WHEN WILL THE PERIOD APPEAR

 WHEN I SHALL UNITE IN YOUR SONG?

 I'M WEARY OF LINGERING HERE

...

 I'M FETTERED AND CHAINED UP IN CLAY;

 I STRUGGLE AND PANT TO BE FREE

 I LONG TO BE SOARING AWAY

..."

 - MARIA DE FLEURY, 'PANTING FOR HEAVEN', 1791.

1 2 3 4

 1 2 3 4 5 6

 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

 FIGHT ON

 ALL THESE ARE THE DAYS, MY FRIENDS

 AND THESE ARE THE DAYS.

 - 2 3 4

 - 2 3 4 5 6

 - 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

 WOULD IT GET SOME WIND FOR THE SAILBOAT

DUANE MICHALS /

'I BUILD A PYRAMID', 1978.

MY SOUL, COME MEDITATE THE DAY

 AND THINK HOW NEAR IT STANDS,

 WHEN THOU MUST QUIT THIS HOUSE OF CLAY

 AND FLY TO UNKNOWN LANDS.