Smoky Mountain Air: Sepia Tones: Exploring Black Appalachian Music (mini-series)—“E3: Sacred and Spiritual Music in the Mountains”

Abstract

“It ain't a thing,” I said to Matt Sparks as he approached me to write this review of Episode 3 of the Smoky Mountain Air podcast mini-series Sepia Tones: Exploring Black Appalachian Music. And truly, it was an enjoyable fifty-nine minutes. Since I am a non-American, it didn't come naturally to me to review a podcast from such a distant environment. Listening to the episode, at times, I felt as if I were looking into another world—but throughout my digital visit to the Appalachian podcast-scape, my stay was educational, interesting, and, most importantly, enjoyable. If you are looking for an hour of singing, spirituality, and snack-sized tidbits of knowledge about music and America, set your sights on this mini-series.Set up as a review of the music of the Black churches of Appalachia, the podcast features an array of distinguished professors as they converse about the history and future of America. Standing out is Dr. Kathy Bullock, who accompanies Episode 3 with beautiful singing and piano playing. Joining her are the Rev. Dr. Virgil Wood, a longtime church leader, educator, and civil rights activist, and the hosts: Dr. William Turner and Dr. Ted Olson. These four participants put great effort into almost an hour of discourse centered on “sacred and spiritual music.”The interaction of the guests on the show evokes a strong sense of community. They share common experiences of growing up in America and a deep love of music. Throughout the episode, Bullock bursts into songs and hymns glorifying spirituality, perseverance, and the power to overcome hardship. The grace with which the podcast guests traverse difficult subject matter, including a shared history of racial struggle, is to be admired.The distinguished guests are a remarkable beacon of excellence in America. Each participant serves as an example that, despite the hardships of racial as well as economic issues, America manages to produce individuals of extraordinary merit and achievements. In the first part of the podcast, Bullock explains the difference between spiritual music and gospel music. Her explanation is succinct as well as encompassing, pointing out that spiritual music was associated with the enslaved of America, while gospel music is influenced by blues and jazz and, in her words, is “today's spiritual.” Throughout the podcast, there are pauses to enjoy old-timey spiritual music. These rare and authentic recordings carry a tradition of freedom, salvation, and spirituality, as if carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders.The podcast is a pleasant hour of discussion riddled with anecdotes about the history of spiritual music in America, and of course, some good music from a distant, yet still controversial past. As Bullock states in the introduction: “If you're singing together, you can't be arguing.”