Dellie Norton (Photo by David Holt)
By Teryn Worsham
This year marks the hundredth anniversary of English folklorist and ballad collector Cecil Sharp’s journey through the mountains of Western North Carolina. With his assistant Maud Karpeles, Cecil searched for traditional English ballads, and they found what they were looking for in Madison County.
There are several events open to the public to commemorate this important anniversary of Cecil’s work. From September 26 through October 21, the Weizenblatt Art Gallery at Mars Hill University is hosting an exhibition of black-and-white photographs, video, and audio clips. The exhibit will feature photos from local photographers Rob Amberg and David Holt, as well as New York documentarian John Cohen. A display of family photos will showcase descendants of those who sang for Cecil and who are still actively sharing the ballad tradition. The Weizenblatt Art Gallery is located at Mars Hill University at 100 Athletic Street.
There will be an opening reception for the exhibition, including a live ballad performance on Tuesday, September 27, from 6–8 p.m. and a special reception at the annual Bascom Lamar Lunsford “Minstrel of Appalachia” Festival on Saturday, October 1, at Mars Hill University.
On Saturday, September 10, at 7:30 p.m., the Madison County Arts Council will present a ballad swap featuring Sheila Kay Adams, Betty Smith, Joe Penland, and Donna Ray Norton at their Arts Center in Marshall. “Cecil Sharp and Maud Karpeles’ visit to Madison County was important to me in many ways,” says Joe. “It preserved the voices and character of the people who sang the ‘love songs’ long after their deaths.”
In addition to the traditional ballads, this September 10 event will also feature excerpts from Cecil’s diary and a portion of Betty Smith’s biography of ballad singer Jane Gentry, Cecil’s most generous informant.
“These ballads have remained pure and unchanged here in our mountains since their arrival from England generations ago,” says Laura Boosinger, director of Madison County Arts Council. “This is an opportunity to experience an unbroken musical tradition, living and breathing here in our mountain communities.” The Madison County Arts Center is located at 90 S. Main Street in Marshall. Tickets to the ballad swap are $15. For more information, call 828.649.1301 or visit madisoncountyarts.com.
