Dreams and Songs of the Noble Old

Dreams and Songs of the Noble Old

  • Overview
  • Crew

Status

Released

Release Date

Jan 1, 1991

Runtime

1h 0m

Genres

Documentary

Original Title

Dreams and Songs of the Noble Old

Director

Alan Lomax

Description

An examination of the talents and wisdom of elderly musicians, singers, and story-tellers, who perform not for fame or fortune but to preserve and share their culture. Stories told by Janie Hunter (80 years old) of Johns Island, S.C.; ballads sung by ex-coal miner and union organizer Nimrod Workman (91), of Chatteroy, W.V.; fiddle tunes and tales of moonshining and feuds from Tommy Jarrell (83) of Toast, N.C.; and footage from the Alabama Sacred Harp Convention in Fyffe, Alabama, in which people of all ages gather to sing old-time shape-note hymnody.