The Carter Family and the shape note tradition
Wade Kotter
influence of the shape note tradition on Bill Monroe's music. Would
anyone care to share some insights on the possible influence of the
shape note tradition on the music of the original Carter Family? I seem
to remember reading that Sara, and perhaps Maybelle as well, attended a
singing school taught by their uncle, who I believe was Methodist. My
assumption has been that their uncle probably taught from a seven
shaped book. I look forward to hearing your comments.
Wade Kotter
Ogden, UT
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dono
University) is sponsoring a one day singing school (Christian Harmony)
on Nov 3. It is my hope that we will begin to delve into the history
of the tradition in the region
I am not affiliated with the CASS but am working with them for the
school. Some of the inquires I have received include anecdotes related
to grandparents and great grandparents. I hope the Center can become a
repository for such as this.
Complete information for the school is at www.christianharmony.org
Don Wiley
Johnson City, Tenn
Wade Kotter
question. It turns out that a limited preview of the 2002 biography of
the Carter Family by Zwonitzer and Hirshberg, titled "Will You Miss Me
When I'm Gone", which is the source of my somewhat faulty memories, is
available at http://books.google.com . I gave my personal copy of this
book to a friend a while back and haven't replaced it. The essential
information is on p. 32. The singing school teacher was Flanders Bays,
who was A.P. Carter's uncle, not Sara and Maybelle's. He held singing
schools were at the Mount Vernon Methodist Church, where A.P. Carter
worshipped. Bays was trained at a Normal School in Nottingham, VA. He
was associated with James D. Vaughan, who published seven shape gospel
tunebooks at a great pace out of Lawrenceberg, TN. Vaughan's "Crowning
Praise" was apparently Bay's favorite book.
Wade
Stephen Conte
wrote:
> Would anyone care to share some insights on the possible influence of the
> shape note tradition on the music of the original Carter Family? I seem
> to remember reading that Sara, and perhaps Maybelle as well, attended a
> singing school taught by their uncle, who I believe was Methodist. My
> assumption has been that their uncle probably taught from a seven
> shaped book. I look forward to hearing your comments.
I've wondered if there wasn't an oblong songbook somewhere in that
household; it would shed new light on why "Mama sang tenor".
Anyway, you may be interested in the following section of the script of
the recent movie "Walk the Line". It doesn't prove it to be factual, but
it agrees exactly with your recollection and assumption:
"Maybelle Carter:
- Carrie, I was meaning to ask you... did you teach the boys to play?
Carrie Cash:
- Well, J.R. always sang pretty... but I don't think I could take credit
for it.
Maybelle Carter:
- I bet you did. I bet you learned the same way I did.
Carrie Cash:
- Oh, out of the hymnal, sure.
Maybelle Carter:
- Hymnals. I knew you'd say that.
But you know, you'd be surprised how many musicians can't read shaped notes
nowadays.
Carrie Cash:
- I can't imagine.
Maybelle Carter:
- I know, I know, but my husband's uncle... E.M. Bays, he taught me with
hymnals,
too. How about you, John? You know how to read shaped notes?
June Carter:
- John? Mama asked you a question, John.
Johnny Cash:
- I'm really glad y'all could be here today..."
from http://dearjoaquin.com/scripts/WTL.pdf
also see
http://www.script-o-rama.com/movie_scripts/w/walk-the-line-script-transcript.html
Ever,
Stephen Conte
Gabriel Kastelle
-- Gabriel K.
New London, CT
Wade Kotter
posted the following message to the list Friday evening, but it doesn't
seem to have made it to the list. Please forgive me if it's a
repetition. Here it goes:
After a bit more research, I've found most of the answers to my
question. It turns out that a limited preview of the 2002 biography of
the Carter Family by Zwonitzer and Hirshberg, titled "Will You Miss Me
When I'm Gone", which is the source of my somewhat faulty memories, is
available at http://books.google.com . I gave my personal copy of this
book to a friend a while back and haven't replaced it. The essential
information is on p. 32. The singing school teacher was Flanders Bays,
who was A.P. Carter's uncle, not Sara and Maybelle's. He held singing
schools were at the Mount Vernon Methodist Church, where A.P. Carter
worshipped. Bays was trained at a Normal School in Nottingham, VA. He
was associated with James D. Vaughan, who published seven shape gospel
tunebooks at a great pace out of Lawrenceberg, TN. Vaughan's "Crowning
Praise" was apparently Bay's favorite book.
Wade
Donna Abrahams
There are numerous, non-specific references to the shape-note tradition. It would appear that the Carters -- who soaked up musical influences around them like sponges -- were keenly aware of, if not direct participants in, the 7-shape/gospel variety. One point in particular struck me: a claim that "Will the Circle Be Unbroken?" is their version of a shape-note tune. It certainly sounds like a 7-shaper, and if anyone can track this down, it might deliver some insight.
Best of all would be locating one of their names in minutes. A.P. Carter (the dad) seems the most likely candidate.
Another option that the very curious should not rule out is contacting one of the surviving Carter-Cash offspring actively recording (some have their own Web sites). The family has long treasured its musical heritage and would almost certainly be happy to share any available info. It would be terrific to have it confirmed that personal exposure to shape-note singing was one of the influences behind those unbelievable Carter Family harmonies...
Donna Abrahams
Maryland
Date: Fri, 19 Oct 2007 15:15:17 -0400
From: gabrie...@gmail.com
To: wadek...@yahoo.com
Subject: [fasola-discussions] Re: The Carter Family and the shape note tradition
CC: fasola-di...@googlegroups.com