For centuries people have handed down classic stories through song. It is not only an easy way to commit a narrative to memory, but also a delightful way to remember the past and rejoice in the present. These days children are not committing songs to memory like they once did. The lyrics of most pop music songs these days are trite or vulgar, and most lack well crafted narratives. There are so many wonderful ballads that the young should learn, and yet with the rush of life, we often forget to sit on the porch or in the living room and just sing with friends and family.
Do you remember the story Sounder? In this book a young boy faces a tragic situation with the loss of his father. His dad is taken away by the sheriff at the start of the book. His mother is a kindhearted lady of deep compassion and faith, who loves to tell her children Bible stories and sing spirituals. At one point in the story the boy goes on a long journey to find his father. The road is hard, and at times the loneliness is too much to bear. But in his loneliness he remembers the the old spirituals his mom used to sing to him. These old songs lodged deep in his heart help him remember stories of hope and faith.
The voice of a particular people is often expressed through their folk music. The stories of heroes, of heartaches, of home and hearth, and other realities of life provide children with a common heritage of song through which they may approach life with joy and a sense of the brotherhood of man.
Playing music and having the young sing many, many songs is a great way to build up in their imaginations a store of images, melodies, and stories. We so often think of playing instruments and learning music through an academic lens, and forget that the music that has moved hearts and helped people recall great stories of old are so often the simple tunes that come from the people. The old ballads, spirituals, and other great folk songs should be part of education and family culture.
Attached to this post is a fun spiritual I wrote for my students at Anchor Academy in Connecticut. The song is about Father Abraham. It was an enjoyable way to learn about his life. It didn’t hurt that they happened to have good voices too!
Father Abraham
Enjoy!
