1 Cleansing Fountain(Words William Cowper)“ThereisafountainfilledwithblooddrawnfromImmanuel’sveins.”ThemanyfountainsoftheBlueRidgespringfromlimestone,quartzite,andgraniteandtumbleoverprecipicessuchasthetwoCrabtreeFalls—cleanwaterforthelifearoundandbeyond.
2 Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing: Nettleton/Beach Spring/Restoration (I Will Arise)(Words Robert Robinson)“Intunemyhearttosingthygrace.”Allthreeofthesewell-knowntunesareassociatedwiththisupliftingtext.
3 Pisgah(Words Isaac Watts)“WhenIcanreadmytitlecleartomansionsintheskies.”MountPisgah,inPisgahNationalForest,isnamedforthepeakwhereMoseslookedacrossintothepromisedlandjustbeforehisdeath,justasthishymnwhichpondersafutureinheaven.
4 Babel’s Streams(Words anon.)“ByBabel’sstreamswesatandweptasZionwethoughton.”Thefolkhymnsarefullofmountainandstreamimages,suchasthisquotefromthePsalms./Promised Land(Words Samuel Stennett)“OnJordan’sstormybanksIstandandcastawishfuleye.”
5 Villulia3:30(Words anon.)“Mercy,OthousonofDavid,”ThuspoorblindBartimeusprayed.
6 Foundation(Words Rippon’s Selection, 1787)“Howfirmafoundation,yesaintsofourLord,islaidforyourfaithinhisexcellentword!”
7 Pilgrim (John Barleycorn) (Words anon.)“Come,allyemourningpilgrimsdear,who’reboundforCanaan’sland.”
8 Resignation(Words Isaac Watts)“Myshepherdshallsupplymyneed:Jehovahishisname;inpasturesfreshhemakesmefeed.”
9 Wondrous Love(Words anon.)“Whatwondrousloveisthis,Omysoul!”10 Converted Thief(Words Samuel Stennett)“AsonthecrosstheSaviorhungandweptand
bledanddied”tellstheballadofthethiefwhoaskedforgiveness.11 Virginia(Words Isaac Watts)“Blestarethesoulsthathearandknowthegospel’sjoyful
sound.”/Carolina(Words Charles Wesley)“AchargetokeepIhave,aGodtoglorify.”
Musicians:Timothy SeamanDustyStringsD600hammereddulcimer,flute,mountaindulcimer,guitar,bambooflute,whistle,harmonica,autoharp,melodica,bowedpsaltery,vocalizing,percussion
Bill GurleyBanjo,fiddle,mandolin,guitar(www.billandpamgurley.com)
Josh Thompsondrums,percussion
Henry Smithbass
Rowena Seamanvocalizing
www.timothyseaman.com
127 Winter East, Williamsburg, VA 23188
757-565-1461 © 2007 Pine Wind Music, Inc.
Recorded at Outback Studio, Mechanicsville, VA (804-730-4174) and Pine Wind Studios, Williamsburg, VA, by Timothy Seaman and Henry Smith.
Cover art by Jane Hillhouse, Hillhouse Graphic Design, llc (www.hillhouse4design.com). Photography by Kenneth Murray, used with permission, and Timothy Seaman (instrument shots).
Further grateful acknowledgements: Lynn Davis, Ann Childress, Karen Searle, Sam Rizzetta and Trapezoid, Cathy Seaman, Laurie Jean Seaman, Mills Gruber and Bob Lentz.
Dedicated to the memory of Appalachian folklorist George Pullen Jackson and Buffalo Mountain pastor Bob Childress.
Humpback Rocks Visitor Center, Milepost 6
An acoustic instrumental journey down the Blue Ridge Parkway with Timothy Seaman
F E AT u R I n G n E W I n T E R P R E T AT I O n S O F A P P A L A C H I A n F O L K H y M n S
Folk hymns of the Blue Ridgeareasvariedasthesources
andsingers,rangingfromastarkandprofoundancientballad,toa
movingandsimplecryofarusticheart.Throughoutthenineteenth
centuryandmuchofthetwentieth,these
tuneswereatthecenterofsocialevents
acrossAppalachia,andparticularly
theBlueRidgeregion,called“singings
anddinneronthelawn”atcountless
clapboardorstonechapels.Extensive
scholarshipbeganwithGeorgePullen
Jacksoninthe1920s,fromwhichmuch
ofthematerialwithinisdrawn;with
respectforthehymns’heritage,Timothy
SeamanandFriendsofferanewand
personalexpressionofafewofthese
gems,bothfamiliarandobscure.
An acoustic instrumental journey down the Blue Ridge Parkway with Timothy Seaman
F E AT u R I n G n E W I n T E R P R E T AT I O n S O F A P P A L A C H I A n F O L K H y M n S
Mayberry Presbyterian Church, Meadows of Dan, Virginia, Milepost 180
Harmony.Carolina(Words Charles Wesley) “AchargetokeepIhave,aGodtoglorify.”Thetuneisofthewidespread“LordRandall”groupofballadsthatincludesAmerica’s“TheWifeofUsher’sWell”andthefolkhymn“Idumea.”Iampartialtothesestrongoldfolktunesthatwereoncejoinedwithpopulartextssuchasthis.Howthewordsgainforce!Resignation(Words Isaac Watts)“Myshepherdwillsupplymyneed:Jehovahishisname;inpasturesfreshhemakesmefeed.”ForCrabtreeMeadows(Milepost340)andShiningRockWilderness(Milespost420).
7 Linville(Words Isaac Watts; music by Timothy Seaman, © 2007 Pine Wind Music, Inc.)“UpwardIliftmineeyes:fromGodisallmyaid.”NearGrandfatherMountain,LinvilleFallsanditsgorge(Milepost316)areahighlandparadiseofpoundingandrushingwaters.Therecordingengineer,HenrySmith,grewupinnearbyCrossnore.
8 Bartimeus (Words anon.) “‘Mercy,OthousonofDavid,’thuspoorblindBartimeusprayed.”Thesongisintheoldballadmanner,andisfoundinThe Sacred Harp,1844.
9 Dulcimer(Words Joseph Swain)“Hisvoice,asthesoundofthedulcimersweet,isheardthroughthevalleyofdeath.”Thetuneisakinto“LordLovell”and“TheMermaid.”Bothtypesofdulcimerareincludedinthisarrangement.TheBlueRidgeishometoanumberoffinebuildersoftheseinstruments.Jefferson(Words John Newton, 1779) “Gloriousthingsoftheearespoken,Zion,cityofourGod,ontherockofagesfounded.”JeffersonandBoone,NC,(Milepost299),arehighlandtownsnamedforgreatearlyleadersamongthesettlersoftheBlueRidge.Cumberland(Words anon. & Joseph Swain)“Come,allyehappyracewhoareransomedbygrace.”Thetuneisofthe“Bailiff ’sDaughter”familyanddatesfromthesixteenthcenturyandearlier.CumberlandKnob(Milepost218),atthestateline,wastheParkway’sfirstrecreationareaandthelocationofthebeginningofitsconstructionin1935.
10 Converted Thief(Words attrib. Samuel Stennett) “AsonthecrosstheSaviorhungandweptandbledanddied”isanold-styleballadoftherobberwhoaskedforgivenessduringhisexecution,withtextfromMercer’s Cluster,1817.
11 New Britain (Words John Newton)“Amazinggrace(howsweetthesound)thatsavedawretchlikeme!”TheoldBritishIslesmelodywasfirstpublishedinWinchester,VAinVirginia Harmony,1831,thenjoinedwiththesewordsthreeyearslaterin The Southern Harmony.
12 Virginia(Words Isaac Watts, from Psalm 89) “Thywordstheragingwindscontrol...”Salem (Words Isaac Watts)“Hedies,thefriendofsinnersdies!Lo,Salem’sdaughtersweeparound.”Thetuneislikethesecular“ABriskYoungSailor.”Salem,VA,isnearRoanokeMountain,wheretheParkwayhassideroadstothepeakandnaturecenters(Milepost120);alsonearbyisaspurtoVirginia’sExplorePark(Milepost115).Rockbridge(Words Isaac Watts)“LifeisthetimetoservetheLord.”AnoldtunefromBritain,withshape-notepartsfromThe Southern Harmony.RockbridgeCountyisnamedfortheNaturalBridge,oneofthe“sevennaturalwondersoftheworld,”nearthehighestpointontheParkwayinVirginia(Milepost77).Staunton(Words Philip Doddridge)“Awake,oursouls,andblesshisname!”ThefirstsettleroftheShenandoahValleywastheScotch-IrishmanJohnLewisin1732nearpresent-dayStaunton(Milepost0).Thetuneisinthe“BabeofBethlehem”group,andwasinKentucky Harmony,1815.Peaks of Otter (Words Isaac Watts; music by Timothy Seaman, © 2007 Pine Wind Music, Inc.)FromWatts’88-stanzainterpretationoftheSongofSolomon.AtMilepost86liesafineidyllicretreatbyalakesurroundedbypeakstoclimb!SharpTopwasoncethoughttobethehighestintheEast.
13 Come Thou FounT oF every Blessing(Words Robert Robinson, 1758):“…tunemyhearttosingthygrace;streamsofblessingneverceasing…”Allthreeofthesewell-knowntunesareassociatedwiththisupliftingtext.Nettletonisavariantofthechildren’ssong“Go,TellAuntRhody.”Beach Springwasfirstpublishedin1844inThe Sacred Harp.OneofmyfavoriteBlueRidgefeaturesisaspringflowingoutfromrocksoverastream’sbeach.Restoration(I Will Arise)isrelatedtotheseculartune“TheCruelMother.”ForthefallsonCampbellCreekinThreeRidgesWilderness(Milepost14).
14 Pisgah(Words Isaac Watts)“WhenIcanreadmytitlecleartomansionsintheskies…”ThemelodyisrelatedtobothBritish(“LittleMusgraveandLadyBarnard”)andAfricanAmerican(“Lord,RememberMe”)sources.MountPisgah(Milepost408),inPisgahNationalForest,isnamedforthepeakwhereMoseslookedacrossintothepromisedlandjustbeforehisdeath,justasthishymnwhichpondersafutureinheaven.How Firm a Foundation(Words Rippon’s Selection, 1787) “…yesaintsofourLord,islaidforyourfaithinhisexcellentword!”ManyyearsagoIhadthenightlyprivilegeofsingingmyyoungdaughterstosleepwiththismasterpiece. Lead Me to the Rock (Words anon.)“InseasonsofgrieftomyGodI’llrepair…LeadmetotherockthatishigherthanI.”ForHumpbackRocks(Milepost6),RockyKnobRecreationArea(Milepost165)andLookingGlassRock(Milepost412).Sheet music of each melody in a singable key, full text, and suggested chords, is available at www.timothyseaman.com.
Cleansing Fountain A n A C O u S T I C I n S T R u M E n T A L J O u R n E y D O W n T H E B L u E R I D G E P A R K W Ay W I T H T I M O T H y S E A M A n , F E AT u R I n G n E W I n T E R P R E T AT I O n S O F A P P A L A C H I A n F O L K H y M n S
1 Cleansing Fountain(Words William Cowper, 1771)“ThereisafountainfilledwithblooddrawnfromImmanuel’sveins.”ThemanyfountainsoftheBlueRidgespringfromlimestone,quartzite,andgranite,tumblingoverprecipicessuchasthetwoCrabtreeFalls(Mileposts27and339)—cleanwaterforthelifearoundandbeyond.
2 JourneyingWealllongforourtruehome;formanyofus,themountainsareahomelikedestination.Babel’s Streams (Words anon.)“ByBabel’sstreamswesatandweptasZionwethoughton.”Thefolkhymnsarefullofmountainandstreamimages,suchasthisquotefromPsalm137,wordedsimilarlytothe1583Day’sPsalter.Pilgrim(John Barleycorn) (Words anon.) “Come,allyemourningpilgrimsdear,who’reboundforCanaan’sland.”ThiswidelyusedmelodyisthoughttohaveinfluencedStephenFoster’swriting.Bound for the Promised Land(Words Samuel Stennett)“OnJordan’sstormybanksIstandandcastawishfuleye.”Thetuneislike“I’llGoEnlistforaSailor,”andappearsintheoldbooksequallyinmajorandminorkeys.ForMountMitchell,thehighestpeakintheeasternU.S.at6,684feet(Milepost355).
3Wondrous Love(Words anon.)“Whatwondrousloveisthis,Omysoul!”Thisdorian-modemasterpieceisofthe“CaptainKidd”groupoffolksongswidelysungsincetheearly1700s.Thearrangementhereisfromtheshape-notesofWilliamWalker’sSouthern Harmony,1854.Acloselyrelatedtuneis“Bartimeus”below.
4Morning Trumpet (Words John Leland)“OwhenshallIseeJesusandreignwithhimabove,andwehearthetrumpetsoundinthatmorning?Andfromtheflowingfountaindrinkeverlastinglove…”ThisrevivalspiritualisakintoAfricanAmericanspirituals;theauthorisnotedforpresentingPresidentJeffersonwitha1,600lb.wheofcheese.HishymnwaslaterafavoriteofAbrahamLincoln.
5 Holy Manna(Words George Adkins)“Brethren,wehavemettoworshipandadoretheLordourGod.”ThisperennialfavoritewasfirstseeninWilliamMoore’sColumbian Harmony,1825.
6 French Broad (Words William Walker)“Higho’erthehillsthemountainsrise.”TheauthorwrotethewordswhiletravelingonthemagnificentFrenchBroadRiver(Milepost394)in1831.Itsmelodyisavariantof“Kedron;”theshapenotesofthe“fa-so-lafolk”arefromThe Southern
FRIENDS membership offer!Receive a free FRIENDS
Membership (value $25 single, $50 family) by sending the bar code
of this CD, along with your email address and contact information to: FRIENDS BRP P.O. Box 20986 Roanoke, VA 24018 Be sure to include your email and contact information.
A percentage of your purchase supports
FRIENDS Parkway programs. Create your
own FRIENDS Blue Ridge Parkway Legacy™
and support the Blue Ridge Parkway for future generations
by remembering FRIENDS in your will.
Contact FRIENDS of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Inc, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation. 800-228-PARK (7275) www.BlueRidgeFRIENDS.org
prod master:sales order:acct mgr:artist:bus. rel.:contact:ofa date:
1 Cleansing Fountain (There Is a Fountain) 5:23 2 Journeying: Babel’s Streams/Pilgrim (John Barleycorn)/Bound for the Promised Land 5:52 3 Wondrous Love 2:15 4 Morning Trumpet 3:20` 5 Holy Manna (Brethren, We Have Met to Worship) 4:58
6 French Broad/Carolina/ Linville/Resignation (My Shepherd Will Supply My Need) 4:27 7 Linville 2:25
an acoustic instrumental journey down the blue ridge parkway
Journeywithusonthe469flowingmilesoftheBlueRidgeParkway,fromShenandoahNationalParkinVirginiatotheGreatSmokyMountainsinNorthCarolina:alongtheridges,pastearlysettlers’cabinsandwaterfalls,artists’centersandgristmills,stonechapelsandrivers,theAppalachianTrailandrhododendrons.Heartheearlyfolkhymntunesfromtheshape-notetradition,aheritageoftheBlueRidgesettlersfromtheBritishIsles,newlyinterpretedonhammereddulcimer,mountaindulcimer,bambooflute,whistle,andguitar,withbanjo,fiddle,mandolin,psaltery,autoharp,andharmonica---tuneswithnamesevokingthisregion’sstrongcharacter.
©2007PineWindMusic,Inc.:www.timothyseaman.com•FriendsoftheBlueRidgeParkway:www.blueridgefriends.org
8 Bartimeus 3:33 9 Dulcimer/ Jefferson/Cumberland 5:39 10 Converted Thief 4:34 11 New Britain (Amazing Grace) 1:37 12 Virginia/Salem/Rockbridge/Staunton/ Peaks of Otter 5:36 13 Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing: Nettleton/ Beach Spring/Restoration (I Will Arise) 5:07
14 Pisgah (When I Can Read My Title Clear)/ How Firm a Foundation/Lead Me to the Rock 5:22
TRACKS
Cleansing F
ountain th
e m
us
ic o
F t
imo
th
y s
ea
ma
n
Cleansing F
ountain th
e m
us
ic o
F t
imo
th
y s
ea
ma
n
TOTALTIME60:12
+02285-AIBFJg
FPO
prod master:sales order:acct mgr:artist:bus. rel.:contact:ofa date:
