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Matt Powell
Приєднався 15 сер 2010
An American Trilogy
Mickey Newbury improvised this medley of American songs one night in 1970 at a high profile show at the Bitter End in West Hollywood. Disenchanted with American discourse, he decided to sing Dixie that night as a protest against division and censorship. The hip Hollywood audience were noticeably uncomfortable as he began. He sang it slow and mournful, honest. Nearing the end, seeing they were under a spell, he instinctively segued into Battle Hymn of the Republic, then All My Trials.
Newbury knew a northerner from Ohio wrote Dixie before the Civil War; that Battle Hymn of the Republic begins with a southerner, William Steffe; and that All My Trials, an American slave song, had ephemeral origins in other lands. In this moment, he distilled the multitudes of America - contradictory and large - into a single statement.
Civil Rights activist Dorothy Hamm noted, “He changed a song that some consider divisive into a song of unification.”
As he finished, Newbury gazed unsurely from the stage. The star-studded audience sat in stunned silence, then thunderously leapt to their feet. Odetta wept.
So hush little children, don’t you cry-
“With the hush of my lips I wholly confound the skeptic. Now I will do nothing but listen, to accrue what I hear into this song” -Walt Whitman
Newbury knew a northerner from Ohio wrote Dixie before the Civil War; that Battle Hymn of the Republic begins with a southerner, William Steffe; and that All My Trials, an American slave song, had ephemeral origins in other lands. In this moment, he distilled the multitudes of America - contradictory and large - into a single statement.
Civil Rights activist Dorothy Hamm noted, “He changed a song that some consider divisive into a song of unification.”
As he finished, Newbury gazed unsurely from the stage. The star-studded audience sat in stunned silence, then thunderously leapt to their feet. Odetta wept.
So hush little children, don’t you cry-
“With the hush of my lips I wholly confound the skeptic. Now I will do nothing but listen, to accrue what I hear into this song” -Walt Whitman
Переглядів: 161
Відео
Bridget Cruise
Переглядів 355 місяців тому
Turlough O'Carolan was a blind harpist, Ireland’s greatest composer, and the last of the great Irish bards. He wandered the feudal landscape of late-17th and early-18th century Ireland, composing and performing songs for patrons. As a young man, still with sight, Carolan fell madly in love with Bridget Cruise. He carried a torch for her all his life. Years later, Carolan was returning from a pi...
Nature Boy
Переглядів 1210 місяців тому
The greatest thing you'll ever learn is just to love and be loved in return by eden ahbez
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (live at Crush)
Переглядів 133Рік тому
Recorded live at Crush Studio, Mountain Home, AR, December 16, 2022 Written by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane
I Must Be in a Good Place Now (Bobby Charles)
Переглядів 722 роки тому
I've hauled this beat up old upright to three states, several apartments, and two cross-country drives. She's creaky and stubborn and won't hold a tune, and that's all right.
Make Me a Channel of Your Peace
Переглядів 523 роки тому
This funky little instrument was designed for playing hymns on the battlefield, and they sure do sound sweet. This song was my Irish grandmother’s favorite hymn, as well as her son’s, my late uncle. The lyrics are taken from the prayer of St. Francis of Assisi, which was printed on the prayer card at my Italian grandmother’s funeral earlier this month. I wish everyone I know a truly happy Thank...
Life is Brief (Gondola no Uta)
Переглядів 2783 роки тому
My cousin David lent me this Video accordion (with boss grill) a while back to learn on. I aquired my own (a Cantino with gold sparkle keys) a couple years ago and no longer play this one, so it's time to pass it on to cousin Gina. Thought I'd give her one last song. I learned this song as Life is Brief, from Kurosawa's Ikiru. It was a huge hit in 1915 Japan under the title Gondola no Uta, but ...
Ave Maria
Переглядів 393 роки тому
Sancta Maria, Mater Dei, ora pro nobis peccatoribus, nunc et in hora mortis nostrae. Amen.
Finestra che Lucive
Переглядів 134 роки тому
This old Italian song tells the story of a young man who passes by the window of his sick love to find that she has died. Lester Young used to say you can't blow a ballad if you don't know the words. Allora: "Finestra che Lucive (The Window Which Used to Shine)" Oh lighted window, you no longer shine, a sign that my beloved is laying sick. Her sister comes to the window and tells me: Your belov...
My Lagan Love
Переглядів 334 роки тому
A traditional Irish song attributed to the Belfast poet Joseph Campbell. The River Lagan runs through Belfast, and this song was often in my head on my recent visit to my grandmother's hometown. I've tried to play it over the years on piano, guitar, accordion and tin whistle, but have never found a way in to the song that felt right. But this baby here was made for it. A sweet drone she has. "W...
Blue In Green (Bill Evans / Miles Davis)
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Blue In Green (Bill Evans / Miles Davis)
Skylark (Hoagy Carmichael / Johnny Mercer)
Переглядів 906 років тому
Skylark (Hoagy Carmichael / Johnny Mercer)
"The Sound of Music" - Matt Powell (solo piano)
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"The Sound of Music" - Matt Powell (solo piano)
The Man I Love (solo piano) - Gershwin
Переглядів 717 років тому
The Man I Love (solo piano) - Gershwin
Beautiful made my day
beautiful, Matt. also, congrats on your Variety story. stellar writing.
Delightful
My bro. Inthe brown suit