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"Lunsford Records Kidder Cole" (1929)
"'Kidder Cole', Mountain Song, Recorded By Firm
Composed by Felix Eugene Alley and sung by B.L. Lunsford"
Article written in the Asheville Citizen-Times about Bascom L. Lunsford recording the Felix Alley song "Kidder Cole" about unrequited love in Cashiers valley, NC with the Brunswick company. Lunsford sings and plays banjo on the recording. -
Mountain Music Traditions title
graphic title Mountain Music Traditions -
Rabab
A two-stringed spiked fiddle held upright and played with accompanying bow. The body of the rebab is constructed of wood and covered with animal hide. The back of the body is lavishly ornamented with leather, small mirrors and plastic jewels. The bow has ornate carvings at one end and is adorned with small gold beads and red fabric ornaments. The rebab is one of the distinguishing instruments of the gamelan gambuh, which is differentiated from other gamelan ensembles by its inclusion of the suling (bamboo flute) and the rebab. The Gamelan Gambuh is a Balinese gamelan ensemble dating back to the 16th century, when it was used to accompany sacred court dance dramas. In addition to the suling and rebab, Gamelan Gambuh includes a group of percussion instruments that play fixed interlocking patterns. -
Rabab sound example, Gamelan Gambuh
I Wayan Sinti and the University of Washington Gamelan Gambuh Ensemble. June 9, 2004, Meany Studio Theater, University of Washington. Video recording by Chee Hoo Lum. UW Ethno Archives 2004-11. -
Mountain Landscape, Highlands, NC
Oil Painting by Henry Ossawa Tanner, "Mountain Landscape." Tanner was an African American painter who visited and was inspired by Highlands, NC. -
Charlie Wright
Charlie Wright, Helen's first husband and Highlands hero. He received a gold medal for the rescue of Gus Baty after he tumbled over Fool's Rock. Charlie died young and Helen used the cash award from the Carnegie metal to open Helen's Barn providing a space for the Highlands community and support her five children. -
Old-time musicians
Old-time musicians part of Smithsonian folkways project, https://folkways.si.edu/david-bill-and-billie-ray-johnson/old-time-north-carolina-mountain-music/bluegrass/music/album/smithsonian -
Ballad of Helen's Barn
Ballad of Helen's Barn
The insurance came when Charlie was dead
Leaving Helen with six mouths that had to be fed.
She built a barn and painted it red
And the townspeople turned to her and said,
"Helen what you're doing just ain't right-
Building a dance hall in a town this white.
Shoulda' built a church - a roof for your head.
But not a dance hall, and painted it red."
Her answer above the jingle of coins firmly clears:
"It takes a lot of cheers
To dam a widow's tears."
Helen's Barn opened for dancing on Saturday night.
Folks came a-clogging' their feet feeling light.
Where many a youth first saw the light
Of joy in dancing away fears in the night.
It was Helen's answer to their calls and their jeers:
"It takes a lit of cheers
to dam a widow's tears."
Fifty years of Saturday night digging shins with joy
As many a man-danced away there from being a boy.
Helen's young'uns were schooled, fed and kept warm
With money she earned at her old red barn.
As hoe-down music drowned any complaint
To answer those who don't recognize a saint.
"It takes a lot of cheers
To dam a widow's tears."
-Kate Gillson -
Porchfest 2022
Musicians playing at the Ugly Dog Pub as part of Porchfest 2022. -
Oil Can Banjo
Oil Can Banjo, part of the physical exhibit Mountain Music of Highlands loaned to the Highlands Historical Society by Shane Speal.