Louisiana: the Mississippi flows in, and Folk Music flows out

Many U.S. waterways empty into the Mississippi River on its way south to the delta in Louisiana, where it flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The Ohio River joins the Mississippi from the east, bringing waters from its source in Pennsylvania. The Missouri River flows into the Mississippi from west - coming a long way from its source in Montana.

The map above illustrates the area of a U.S. Geological Survey study of the Mississippi watershed drainage basin. The map below shows details of the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers.



The Mississippi River flows southward, bringing water and sediment from rivers and streams across the land. As the river wends its way through Louisiana, it deposits minerals, enriching the soil.

The people of Louisiana take the spirit of this life-giving source and create music... a blend that they send back to us, enriching our souls.


American Routes

American Routes is a radio program broadcast out of New Orleans. The two-hour program plays a wide variety of folk music and in-depth interviews with musicians. Produced and hosted by Nick Spitzer, it airs weekly on 300 radio stations nationwide. Spitzer is a folklorist and a professor of American studies and communication at Tulane University .

The link to their web site is pasted below - you can click on it to listen to the show or get more information.

American Routes presents a broad range of American music and explores the threads that unite and distinguish the styles and genres. You can hear blues and jazz, gospel and soul, old-time country and rockabilly, Cajun and zydeco, Tejano and Latin, roots rock and pop, avant-garde and classical.

Geographically, New Orleans region is a pivotal point in the United States. Because many rivers feed into the Mississippi on its journey down to Louisiana, our economy has always depended on this river for transport. Emptying into the gulf near New Orleans, it carryies farm produce and other products from a large part of our land. These goods can then be shipped out through the port and into the Gulf of Mexico, then into the Atlantic Ocean to Europe, Latin America and Africa.

The state of Louisiana has a surprisingly diverse past and wonderful ethnic mix as a result. Spain and France have both ruled the region. People have come to Louisiana from many parts of the world - including Africa, the Caribbean Islands, Europe and Latin America. Languages and dialects have mixed into a spicy vocal brew.

The Acadian people trekked from eastern Canada to Louisiana when they were evicted by the British - I think that was in the early 1700s. Over the years, we shortened the word "Acadian" to "Cajun." We all enjoy their spicy dishes, such as rice and seafood, their French dialect and unique music styles. Even Hank William, Sr. was inspired to write "Jambalaya," with lyrics about crayfish pie and gumbo!

Many years ago I lived in Texas and met a man of Cajun descent. I asked him to tell me the history of his people, and he suggested I read Evangeline, Longfellow's poetic novel of a romantic tragedy from this time. It's a wonderful book.

Click on this link to hear programs and learn more about American Routes:

http://americanroutes.publicradio.org/

Folk Music reflects America's Roots

This is a photo of Spruce Knob, the highest peak in West Virginia. There is a rich tradition of folk music originating in the Appalachian Mountains. The unique physical and cultural geographic characteristics of the region were the right combination of elements to produce the haunting melodies of many folk songs.

Many residents of these hills and valleys were of Scots-Irish descent, and lived in relative isolation, due to the rugged mountains, and the fact most rivers were not navigable. Coal-mining was an occupation for many. Due to the area's isolation, there was little industry - life was lived more simply, and often in poverty.

Songs of love and hard work reflect the truths of daily life. Perhaps the songs about rivers and trains speak of the yearning to be able to travel and gain a feelilng of freedom from the cares of a tough conditions.

I copied the photo from the web site link below - there are many photos of the Appalachian Mountains at that site.

http://www.math.montana.edu/~nmp/materials/ess/mountain_environments/intermediate/appalachians/appalachian.html



Lehigh Valley Folk Music Society

In the Lehigh Valley area of eastern Pennsylvania, the Lehigh Valley Folk Music Society celebrates these artistic traditions. The members play a wide variety of instruments and sing songs from all regions. Styles range from gospel to rockabilly, from bluegrass to classic folk and rock. For more information, visit their web site:

http://www.lvfms.org/

The Hudson River . . . talking?

Detail, map of northeastern United States from

Jacques Milbert,
Itineraire Pittoresque du Fleuve Hudson, 1828

Picture copied from:

"A Hudson River Portfolio"

New York Public Library web site

http://www.nypl.org/research/hudson/history/his1.html

This web site contains wonderful historical information and images.

Here's another link, to a map of the Hudson River:

http://encarta.msn.com/map_701513218/Hudson_(river).html

Hearing about the tragic collision of a plane and helicopter over the Hudson River yesterday got me thinking about that river, and how the depths and the heights of the water and land in this country influenced European settlement.

Last fall I took a course in Geography of USA and Canada at Kutztown University. I learned many interesting things about the Hudson. The port area between New York and New Jersey and the river itself is very deep, which allowed ships to enter the harbor and sail up into New York state.

The earliest European immigrants arriving to the eastern shores of this land did not move westward because it was too difficult to cross the Appalachians. However, they could go up and around the mountains by traveling north on the Hudson to its intersection with the Mohawk River (near Albany), and west on the Mohawk until they reached the Great Lakes, which provided a gateway to the West. The construction of the Erie canal made this travel more feasible. Settlers could go westward from New York, and the products that they reaped or manufactured could come eastward to the New York area, or to be shipped to Europe.

I read a book called Riverhorse by William Least Heat Moon. He traveled across the USA, from the Atlantic to the Pacific, by river (with some portaging here and there). In his book, which is an account of his trip, he says some fine things about the Hudson River.

Least Heat Moon has some Native American (Osage) heritage and his writings reflect a sensitive communication with the lands, waters, plants and animals that he encounters.

As I was reading Riverhorse I began to feel a part of the waterways he was travelling on. . . I seemed to be sensing the feelings of the rivers themselves! Reading the journal entries of Least Heat Moon as he travelled from one river to the next, I could sense a unique personality in each waterway. . . a magical, mystical feeling came over me. . . I began to imagine that the rivers were alive, and that they could talk to each another. . .

Allegheny: Hey, Big Muddy, how’re you doin’?

Missouri: I’m doing pretty good. I’m wondering if “Ol’ Man River” is mad at me…I sent him some pretty nasty-looking green runoff today.

Mississippi: Ahh, I know it’s not your fault. I’m doing okay too. As they say, I “just keep rollin’ along.”

Hudson: Hey, I got an interesting one I’m sending out to you.

Missouri: Sending to who?

Hudson: All of you!

Ohio: All of us?

Hudson: Oh, sorry. Not everybody. I’ve got a guy who is taking a trip across the country by river, from Elizabeth, New Jersey to the Pacific.

Mississippi: Wow!

Savannah: Well, I guess that route leaves me out. Too bad…that sounds interesting.

Arkansas: Ditto.. I could use some excitement!

Mississippi: What’s he like?

Hudson: I hate to say it, but for a human he seems all right! As a matter of fact – dare I say it? I’m feeling kind of loved!

Allegheny: Really?

Hudson: I haven’t felt this appreciated since Washington Irving lived on my banks in his home, "Sunnyside." I still enjoy the fragrance of the wisteria he planted around 150 years ago. I once heard him say “I thank God I was born on the banks of the Hudson!”

Mississippi: Reminds me of Mark Twain in Hannibal.

Missouri: What route is this guy taking?

Hudson: You’re on his route. As a matter of fact, you’re the key to making it all work!

Missouri: What do you mean?

Hudson: He wants to reach the Pacific this summer, so he needs snowmelt in June off the Rockies in order to get through your upper reaches. Can you come through?

Missouri: Don’t ask me - better ask Mother Nature! I can’t control the snow…I wish I could – it’s been a long time since I got a good washing!

Hudson: He got special permission to go through the Erie Canal before they open for the season, so he can make it out there in time. I have a feeling he’s going to be fretting all the way across the country worrying about snowmelt. . . By the way, he’s got "Nikawa" painted on his boat.

Missouri: Well, I’ll be darned…if I remember my Osage correctly, sounds like “ni,” which means river, and “kawa,” which means horse…Riverhorse…a nice name.

Columbia: Will he be coming my way?

Hudson: Mother Nature willing, you’ll be seeing him before the summer’s over! That’s if the Salmon will let him through!

Salmon: Heh, heh, heh…I will, after I have a little fun with him first!

Columbia: I’ll be waiting! Keep me posted. . .