Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation

Subject: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 20 May 23 - 03:16 PM

After listening to a YouTube recording of a singer recommended in a different thread today I got distracted by their recommendations and history. YouTube is good about suggesting past and new performances related to my interests and it is a deep rabbit hole to dive into. I noticed today just how many types of performances I've enjoyed by Rhiannon Giddens. She is certainly a musical polymath. There are a lot of threads here on Mudcat in which she discussed, but I'd like to see all of those different interests pulled into one place.

This from Wikipedia gives you a clue to her range. The first two paragraphs:

Rhiannon Giddens (born February 21, 1977) is an American musician known for her eclectic folk music. She is a founding member of the country, blues, and old-time music band the Carolina Chocolate Drops, where she was the lead singer, fiddle player, and banjo player.

Giddens is a native of Greensboro, North Carolina. In addition to her work with the Grammy-winning[1] Chocolate Drops, Giddens has released two solo albums: Tomorrow Is My Turn (2015) and Freedom Highway (2017). Her 2019 and 2021 albums, There Is No Other and They're Calling Me Home are collaborations with Italian multi-instrumentalist Francesco Turrisi. She appears in the Smithsonian Folkways collection documenting Mike Seeger's final trip through Appalachia in 2009, Just Around The Bend: Survival and Revival in Southern Banjo Styles – Mike Seeger’s Last Documentary (2019).[2] In 2014, she participated in the T Bone Burnett-produced project titled The New Basement Tapes along with several other musicians, which set a series of recently discovered Bob Dylan lyrics to newly composed music. The resulting album, Lost on the River: The New Basement Tapes, was a top-40 Billboard album.

In 2023, the opera Omar, co-written by Giddens and Michael Abels, won the Pulitzer Prize for Music.[3]

She started in opera at Oberlin Conservatory and the same time she participated in Scottish traditional music competitions, and she plays fiddle and banjo. How could she not succeed in so many areas of music?

From her own site RhiannonGiddens.com in the "About" section

As Pitchfork once said, “few artists are so fearless and so ravenous in their exploration”—a journey that has led to NPR naming her one of its 25 Most Influential Women Musicians of the 21st Century and to American Songwriter calling her “one of the most important musical minds currently walking the planet.”

Take a tour down YouTube - she's fearless when it comes to different types of music and partnering with a range of performers.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 May 23 - 01:28 PM

St. James Infirmary Blues and Nobody Knows You When You're Down and Out. Great vocals.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 May 23 - 01:39 PM

Her TED Talk on "Songs the bring history to life."

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 22 May 23 - 02:13 PM

Last one for today: her long interview on Amanpour and Company

Rhiannon Giddens is a folk singer and multi-instrumentalist who also happens to be a classically trained opera singer. Having grown up in North Carolina, she’s now on a mission to re-frame the history of African Americans and their contributions to the musical landscape. Giddens sits down with Walter [Isaacson] to discuss her latest album, “There Is No Other,” and play a little banjo.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Bill D
Date: 24 May 23 - 06:50 PM

Yes... I have followed her ever since Rita met her at Vocal Week in Elkins W. VA.

She did a house concert at a friend's home near us. Really fine at whatever she does.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 09 Oct 23 - 07:55 PM

PBS Arts Talk
Rhiannon Giddens with Brian Stokes Mitchell #102

in BOSTON, Friday 13 Oct 23, 8:30
streaming and elsewhere, consult schedule.

Thomas.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 09 Oct 23 - 08:20 PM

https://rhiannongiddens.com/

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: cnd
Date: 09 Oct 23 - 08:43 PM

I held my tongue about this the first time (I typed a message and then backspaced it multiple times) but while I love Giddens' body of work, her stage presence often irks me a bit. I'll admit, I haven't seen her in several years now (since 2018 I believe), but last I saw her, she spent too much time of every show perorating somewhat condescendingly to the crowd about how bluegrass/old time was really a music stolen from slaves and the unmistakable connection between the two. And I don't take umbridge with her mentioning it, or even being passionate about it, but the length and tone of the message, over several concerts a year or two apart, was a bit off-putting, especially when I felt her music does a much better job of exemplifying it.

All this is a whole lot of nothing: she very well could have reined it in by now, and regardless, I find her music very enjoyable. Just hope she has worked on her delivery some :)

Also, if you like this stuff, you should check out the work of New Dangerfield (click) and their individual members, who I had the fortune of seeing at IBMA this past week. (Looks like the band is a bit sparse on actual output at this point in time. In their stead, check out member Jake Blount playing Dangerfield, to which the band owes their name.)

/Thread derailment and pedantic rant over/

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Brian Peters
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 04:50 AM

Rhiannon is a truly outstanding singer and musician, and I think her work is wonderful. I've not seen her perform for some years now, so I can't properly judge cnd's post above but, although I'm not a fan of too much preaching from the stage by anyone, I can see why she still stresses those links between bluegrass and Black music. Only yesterday I was following a YouTube comment thread about an old Appalachian song that had been posted, and found some people arguing aggressively that bluegrass and old-time music had nothing to do with African-American music (I would have thought it's beyond question by now) and that to claim the linkage was a 'political' statement. So Rhiannon probably thinks the message hasn't yet got through.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 05:13 AM

Sort of interesting she's living in Castlettoy, Limerick, of all places.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 07:32 AM

She has Irish ancestry.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 10:08 AM

It probably has more to do with her being artist in residence at UL, which is about a mile from Castletroy.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 11:05 AM

Also, she was married to an Irish musician. I haven't checked but I suspect her children are Irish born.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: gillymor
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 12:07 PM

I loved her with Carolina Chocolate Drops.
There's a treasure trove of their stuff on YouTube.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 12:09 PM

cnd, the message is important and needed telling to every group who came before her. If you remembered it from one concert to another, then her sharing of information is working.

And you are bound to be disappointed if you think the subject should die away. She has won many awards and accolades for the opera Omar

2023 Pulitzer Prize-winner, Omar is an opera with libretto and music by Rhiannon Giddens (in collaboration with Michael Abels), based on the autobiography of an enslaved muslim man, Omar Ibn Said, who lived in Charleston, SC in the 19th century. Commissioned by Spoleto Festival USA, Omar premiered at the 2022 festival and has since made its debut at LA Opera, University of Chapel Hill at North Carolina Southern Futures, and Boston Lyric Opera, and is slated for debut at San Francisco Opera and Lyric of Chicago.

She's doing important work to pull American awareness to the truth of this history of enslaved people in America. The rich and ancient culture that arrived with them, not the BS that politicians are pushing about "they learned useful skills."

All of that said, thanks for the links!

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: cnd
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 01:09 PM

It's not so much the message I took issue with, moreso her tone -- it came off as accusatory towards the audience. That said, I agree it is an important issue, and is worth repeating -- I don't think at all the issue should die away.

Anyhow, this is an appreciation thread, so I'll keep it positive from here on out.

Subject: Lyr Add: At the Purchasers' Option
From: cnd
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 01:16 PM

One of Giddens' several songs that deals with the legacy of slavery is "At The Purchasers' Option." I saw her perform it at IBMA in 2018 with a short-lived supergroup called The First Ladies of Bluegrass, where they did a very beautiful round on the chorus to end the song. Very powerful. She explained at the set (and it may well be the image from the music video below) that she was inspired to write the song after coming across newspaper adds advertizing the sale of enslaved families, which could be kept together "At the purchasers' option."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vy9xTS0QxM

At the Purchaser's Option
(Rhiannon Giddens)

I've got a babe, but shall I keep him?
'Twill come the day when I'll be weepin'
But how can I love him any less?
This little babe upon my breast

CHORUS
You can take my body
You can take my bones
You can take my blood
But not my soul
You can take my body
You can take my bones
You can take my blood
But not my soul

I've got a body, dark and strong
I was young but not for long
You took me to bed a little girl
Left me in a woman's world

CHORUS

Day by day, I work the line
Every minute overtime
Fingers nimble, fingers quick
My fingers bleed to make you rich

CHORUS (x2)

I've got a babe, but shall I keep him?

Subject: Lyr Add: Julie (Rhiannon Giddens)
From: cnd
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 01:21 PM

Another song of Giddens', Julie. The song takes the form of a conversation between the wife of a southern plantation owner and her slave. The plantation owner is attempting to convince Julie to stay despite the advance of the Union army and the coming promise of freedom. Giddens stated in an interview with PBS NewsHour that she was inspired to write the song after reading Andrew Ward’s book The Slaves’ War

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu5ZYXi6EiE

JULIE
(Rhiannon Giddens)

Julie, oh Julie
Won't you run?
'Cause I see down yonder, the soldiers have come
Julie, oh Julie
Can't you see?
Them devils have come to take you far from me

Mistress, oh mistress
I won't run
'Cause I see down yonder, the soldiers have come
Mistress, oh mistress
I do see
And I'll stay right here 'til they come for me
Julie, oh Julie
You won't go
Leave this house and all you know
Julie, oh Julie
Don't leave here
Leave us, who love you, and all you hold dear

Mistress, oh mistress
I will go
Leave this house and all I know
Mistress, oh mistress
I will leave here
With what family I've got left, they're all I hold dear

Julie, oh Julie
Won't you lie?
If they find that trunk of gold by my side
Julie, oh Julie
You tell them men
That that trunk of gold is yours, my friend

Mistress, oh mistress
I won't lie
If they find that trunk of gold by your side
Mistress, oh mistress
That trunk of gold
Is what you got when my children you sold
Mistress, oh mistress
Don't you cry
The price of staying here is too high
Mistress, oh mistress
I wish you well
But in leaving here, I'm leaving hell

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 05:13 AM

Sort of interesting she's living in Castlettoy, Limerick, of all places.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 10:08 AM

It probably has more to do with her being artist in residence at UL, which is about a mile from Castletroy.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: gillymor
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 12:07 PM

I loved her with Carolina Chocolate Drops.
There's a treasure trove of their stuff on YouTube.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 12:09 PM

cnd, the message is important and needed telling to every group who came before her. If you remembered it from one concert to another, then her sharing of information is working.

And you are bound to be disappointed if you think the subject should die away. She has won many awards and accolades for the opera Omar

2023 Pulitzer Prize-winner, Omar is an opera with libretto and music by Rhiannon Giddens (in collaboration with Michael Abels), based on the autobiography of an enslaved muslim man, Omar Ibn Said, who lived in Charleston, SC in the 19th century. Commissioned by Spoleto Festival USA, Omar premiered at the 2022 festival and has since made its debut at LA Opera, University of Chapel Hill at North Carolina Southern Futures, and Boston Lyric Opera, and is slated for debut at San Francisco Opera and Lyric of Chicago.

She's doing important work to pull American awareness to the truth of this history of enslaved people in America. The rich and ancient culture that arrived with them, not the BS that politicians are pushing about "they learned useful skills."

All of that said, thanks for the links!

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 07:32 AM

She has Irisn ancestry.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Manitas_at_home
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 11:05 AM

Also, she was married to an Irish musician. I haven't checked but I suspect her children are Irish born.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 09 Oct 23 - 07:55 PM

PBS Arts Talk
Rhiannon Giddens with Brian Stokes Mitchell #102

in BOSTON, Friday 13 Oct 23, 8:30
streaming and elsewhere, consult schedule.

Thomas.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Thomas Stern
Date: 09 Oct 23 - 08:20 PM

https://rhiannongiddens.com/

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: Brian Peters
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 04:50 AM

Rhiannon is a truly outstanding singer and musician, and I think her work is wonderful. I've not seen her perform for some years now, so I can't properly judge cnd's post above but, although I'm not a fan of too much preaching from the stage by anyone, I can see why she still stresses those links between bluegrass and Black music. Only yesterday I was following a YouTube comment thread about an old Appalachian song that had been posted, and found some people arguing aggressively that bluegrass and old-time music had nothing to do with African-American music (I would have thought it's beyond question by now) and that to claim the linkage was a 'political' statement. So Rhiannon probably thinks the message hasn't yet got through.

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: cnd
Date: 09 Oct 23 - 08:43 PM

I held my tongue about this the first time (I typed a message and then backspaced it multiple times) but while I love Giddens' body of work, her stage presence often irks me a bit. I'll admit, I haven't seen her in several years now (since 2018 I believe), but last I saw her, she spent too much time of every show perorating somewhat condescendingly to the crowd about how bluegrass/old time was really a music stolen from slaves and the unmistakable connection between the two. And I don't take umbridge with her mentioning it, or even being passionate about it, but the length and tone of the message, over several concerts a year or two apart, was a bit off-putting, especially when I felt her music does a much better job of exemplifying it.

All this is a whole lot of nothing: she very well could have reined it in by now, and regardless, I find her music very enjoyable. Just hope she has worked on her delivery some :)

Also, if you like this stuff, you should check out the work of New Dangerfield (click) and their individual members, who I had the fortune of seeing at IBMA this past week. (Looks like the band is a bit sparse on actual output at this point in time. In their stead, check out member Jake Blount playing Dangerfield, to which the band owes their name.)

/Thread derailment and pedantic rant over/

Subject: RE: Rhiannon Giddens - an appreciation
From: cnd
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 01:09 PM

It's not so much the message I took issue with, moreso her tone -- it came off as accusatory towards the audience. That said, I agree it is an important issue, and is worth repeating -- I don't think at all the issue should die away.

Anyhow, this is an appreciation thread, so I'll keep it positive from here on out.

Subject: Lyr Add: At the Purchasers' Option
From: cnd
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 01:16 PM

One of Giddens' several songs that deals with the legacy of slavery is "At The Purchasers' Option." I saw her perform it at IBMA in 2018 with a short-lived supergroup called The First Ladies of Bluegrass, where they did a very beautiful round on the chorus to end the song. Very powerful. She explained at the set (and it may well be the image from the music video below) that she was inspired to write the song after coming across newspaper adds advertizing the sale of enslaved families, which could be kept together "At the purchasers' option."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6vy9xTS0QxM

At the Purchaser's Option
(Rhiannon Giddens)

I've got a babe, but shall I keep him?
'Twill come the day when I'll be weepin'
But how can I love him any less?
This little babe upon my breast

CHORUS
You can take my body
You can take my bones
You can take my blood
But not my soul
You can take my body
You can take my bones
You can take my blood
But not my soul

I've got a body, dark and strong
I was young but not for long
You took me to bed a little girl
Left me in a woman's world

CHORUS

Day by day, I work the line
Every minute overtime
Fingers nimble, fingers quick
My fingers bleed to make you rich

CHORUS (x2)

I've got a babe, but shall I keep him?

Subject: Lyr Add: Julie (Rhiannon Giddens)
From: cnd
Date: 10 Oct 23 - 01:21 PM

Another song of Giddens', Julie. The song takes the form of a conversation between the wife of a southern plantation owner and her slave. The plantation owner is attempting to convince Julie to stay despite the advance of the Union army and the coming promise of freedom. Giddens stated in an interview with PBS NewsHour that she was inspired to write the song after reading Andrew Ward’s book The Slaves’ War

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zu5ZYXi6EiE

JULIE
(Rhiannon Giddens)

Julie, oh Julie
Won't you run?
'Cause I see down yonder, the soldiers have come
Julie, oh Julie
Can't you see?
Them devils have come to take you far from me

Mistress, oh mistress
I won't run
'Cause I see down yonder, the soldiers have come
Mistress, oh mistress
I do see
And I'll stay right here 'til they come for me
Julie, oh Julie
You won't go
Leave this house and all you know
Julie, oh Julie
Don't leave here
Leave us, who love you, and all you hold dear

Mistress, oh mistress
I will go
Leave this house and all I know
Mistress, oh mistress
I will leave here
With what family I've got left, they're all I hold dear

Julie, oh Julie
Won't you lie?
If they find that trunk of gold by my side
Julie, oh Julie
You tell them men
That that trunk of gold is yours, my friend

Mistress, oh mistress
I won't lie
If they find that trunk of gold by your side
Mistress, oh mistress
That trunk of gold
Is what you got when my children you sold
Mistress, oh mistress
Don't you cry
The price of staying here is too high
Mistress, oh mistress
I wish you well
But in leaving here, I'm leaving hell