Thursday, January 17, 2019

Impoverished? Just give us music

Statistics are reported weekly about poverty levels around the world. In my little world, from late 2008 through early 2013 my household reported at 99 percent po’.

On October 15, 2013, NPR* featured a land of long-term poverty—Appalachia. The story, however, didn’t focus on lack of income. 

A bed of a cappella gospel music comforted like a thick, luxuriant blanket beneath reporter John Burnett’s voice. Not all singers stayed on key nor harmonized perfectly, but that wasn’t the point. Accompanying video showed many suit-donning, gray-haired folks deeply and solemnly sharing soulful hymnodies with God and one another. None seemed poor in spirit.

Burnett lightly brushed over the statistic that 25 percent of Appalachians live below a government-specified income level, but these folks gathered together to enjoy music, not commiserate. Gloom would have dissipated with every note anyway, even though some bluegrass lyrics dealt with troubled times. Every time has a song.

Music is a language I understand. Even when casual musicians start making music, the sun shines a little brighter and the air feels a little warmer just being together and playing our instruments. Bob tunes, then retunes his guitar (and anyone else’s that doesn’t sound quite right) before I start laying down chords on the keyboard and singing.

Terry, wearing cowboy boots and thick leather gloves, places a small wood block under one side of this washtub bass, allowing the deep, resonant thumping to escape as he secures the other side with this boot and plucks the rope fastened to a broomstick.

When Bill finally traipses in, he plucks his banjo or resins his bow and plays fiddle or breathes his energetic concertina, harmonizing perfectly with the other instruments.

Money might be able to buy good health, but sometimes music is better. And maybe those Great Recession years weren’t as poor as they could have been.

Can I hear an amen?

* http://www.npr.org/2013/10/15/234606252/before-church-songbooks-there-was-lined-out-singing

No comments:

Post a Comment

Tell me what you believe.