Appalachian Music Fans:Songcatcher comin

Subject: RE: Appalachian Music Fans:Songcatcher comin
From: catspaw49
Date: 30 Aug 01 - 03:12 PM

Because I don't know which of the 10 threads someone may be tracing, I'm posting this on ALL of the "Songcatcher" threads.

Our good member annamil has a video store and I asked her to check on the " of the movie being available on videotape and as she always does, came through for us. Here is what she posted:

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I just called my dealer and he says it will be out Oct 23rd and I will pre-book it Oct 1st. You won't be able to buy it for awhile, but you will be able to rent it. I didn't know about this movie til I read this thread and I only read this thread because someone mentioned it in another thread. I can't wait to see it and more importantly, I can't wait to HEAR it.

I'm not sure how many I should order for the store as this is the first I've heard of it.

From what I heard and read here, it may be worth 10 threads ;-)

Love, Annamill

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So go bug your local videostore and tell them you want to rent "Songcatcher." And when you do.........Don't start another freakin' thread huh?

Spaw

Subject: RE: Appalachian Music Fans:Songcatcher comin
From: catspaw49
Date: 29 Aug 01 - 10:14 PM

Subject: RE: Appalachian Music Fans:Songcatcher comin
From: Fortunato
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 08:42 AM



It frightens me to think what Hollywood and MTV could do to old time country music.

Subject: RE: Appalachian Music Fans:Songcatcher comin
From: Noreen
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 07:38 AM

For completeness, previous threads about Songcatcher :

thread 1

thread 2

thread 3

thread 4

Noreen

Subject: RE: Appalachian Music Fans:Songcatcher comin
From: GUEST,chrisj
Date: 13 Jun 01 - 05:20 AM

As someone has already mentioned, the storyline of 'Songcatcher' is a bit overheated but the soundtrack is good stuff and well worth buying if it is availaBLE. See the film in a cinema if you can if only to experience the scene where the young mountain girl sings for the 'songcatcher'. I guarantee you will feel the hair stand up.

Subject: RE: Appalachian Music Fans:Songcatcher comin
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 02:12 PM

One of the better webpages I've found on the subject is this one, which discusses the music in the film and its background. I'm looking forward to being able to see it. It might even play for a week in an arthouse in the big city, though from the description I've read, it sounds like the sort of video I'd want to buy and put on the shelf with my folk recordings.

--Charlie Baum

Subject: RE: Appalachian Music Fans:Songcatcher comin
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jun 01 - 12:21 PM

check out http://www.grove.net/~hmslab/campbell2.html for a brief mention of one of the Campbell's fact-finding trips.

Subject: RE: Appalachian Music Fans:Songcatcher comin
From: Tyler
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 06:01 PM

You can get a quick overview of her life in the history section of the website for the John C. Campbell Folk School she helped to found, and named for her husband, in NC. "www.folkschool .org or .com"

I had a great time working there for part of a summer several years ago. I was lucky enough to get some fascinating glimpses into local life, as well as local pro and con attitudes towards the school, by acting as sound tech. for the school's resident folklorist on his collecting trips.

Particularly memorable were interviews with the garralous mayor, who recalled as a boy drying fruit on the tin roof of his house prior to transporting it out of the mountains for sale, and with an old woman whose gnarled hands testified to the many hours she'd spent carving animals (sold thru the school) all day and well into the night in order to support her young family when her husband's tobacco crop repeatedly failed in the depleted soil.

I admire alot of the principles behind the school and was impressed by the contributions made by the Brasstown community. The school wasn't imposed on them, they voted for it, contributed the land, embraced the idea of co-ops (bank, dairy)etc. Of course it's often hard to bring in new ideas and people without some of that "white man's burden" attitude of condescention creeping in as well as unwanted influences.

Nowadays it's a great place for outsiders like us to go for a week or a weekend of music, dance, and crafts in a beautiful setting. You might enjoy going there yourself EJ.

Subject: RE: Appalachian Music Fans:Songcatcher comin
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 02:24 PM

Does anyone have information on Oilve Dame Campbell, the woman on whose work this movie was based?

Subject: RE: Appalachian Music Fans:Songcatcher comin
From: Dharmabum
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 01:42 PM

Like "Oh Brother" I'll probably have to wait until it comes out on video. These type of movies don't draw enough of the "Big Money" around here,so the theatres don't bother running them.

A real shame,but they just can't compete with "Ahnold".

DB.

Subject: RE: Appalachian Music Fans:Songcatcher comin
From: Peg
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 01:34 PM

this film has been discussed in a number of threads already; do a search to hear people's reviews and comments.

Peg

Subject: Appalachian Music Fans:Songcatcher comin
From: Lonesome EJ
Date: 11 Jun 01 - 01:30 PM

Arriving in US theaters this month, the new film The Songcatcher explores the roots of country music. The plot involves a musicologist who combs the mountains collecting traditional ballads, and becomes involved in local struggles with the Coal Company. Initial critiques indicate the story may be a bit melodramatic, but the music is acknowledged to be well chosen and performed. The cast includes Iris Dement and Taj Mahal.

On the heels of O Brother Where Art Thou?, could we be seeing a trend of new interest in roots music?

more info