When The Cathedrals Were White - a film by David Levine

[sixstringpickin]

Beautiful little film!

[dobbsie48]

Very touching. In this digital age it's difficult to understand just how challenging it was back then to get an independent album/label distributed. I made it a personal mission to introduce his music to all. As far as I know he was the first and for a while, the only, musician who gave solo acoustic steel string instrumental concerts. It warms the heart of this 63 year old to see a next generation discover this most influential composer/guitarist.

[irchristo]

I will too.

[finnertyManuel]

ah si amigo... ya got that right.

[tubby6411]

I fixed a flat on his old green station wagon.

[TheBones1234]

Thanks for putting this up David. I only have the album 'America' on cd but first stumbled across John Fahey's music listening to a legendary British Disc Jockey called John Peel (also resting in peace). He was the only DJ who played John's stuff in the UK and even drove him around to a few gigs when John came over to tour in the late 1960s.

More recently I found an LP at a market simply called '1 X 6' by John Lawson. The first track being 'requiem to mississippi john hurt'.

[Arsenal123456123]

@TheBones1234 Thanks for the nice words. I love hearing stories about Peel. I often go back and listen to Fahey's 1969 sessions on Peel -- the quality of the audio is great for teaching yourself for playing covers. I remember reading that after Peel showed Fahey such a good time in the U.K., Fahey sent him an original Blind Lemon Jefferson 78 as a Christmas gift. How that thing didn't shatter in the post is a mystery.

[Urdatorn]

Beautiful. This movie is better than ALL the crap released from Hollywood these days. By the way; did u ever see him live? Or where did you learn those anecdotes? Keep up the good work fellow Fahey fan! ;)

[Arsenal123456123]

@Urdatorn Thanks a lot. Hollywood is releasing a lot of crap -- it's been releasing crap for many years. The difference now, I like to think, is that you don't have the occasional "Dog Day Afternoon" or "Annie Hall" coming out. (I tend to stick to films coming out of Europe, now.) The monologue is based off of a non-fictional essay I wrote in high school. I wrote it based on some of Fahey's liner notes, articles about him, and a friend of mine who saw him play in Cambridge, Mass. in 1964.

[Arsenal123456123]

@Urdatorn And, sadly, I never got to see him play. I didn't get into his stuff until I was 13... I'm 20 now.... the math will tell you the sad story of how I missed him by 2 years.

[tubby6411]

nice tribute

[BifferBill]

Excellent tribute to the great John Fahey! I discovered him in the early '70s, but it wasn't until the 90s that I got turned on to the acoustic blues of the 20s & 30s. Keep up up the promotion of beautiful music!

[yipstube]

It's great that you have done this. I followed Fahey's work since the late 60s all the way through. For most of that time he was so obscure it seemed that only a small cult of fans was aware of him. I was sure he would fade into obscurity by the time he died. However, I have seen and read more about him since he died that the whole time he was alive. He was a true master, grossly underrated and undeserving of obscurity. Thanks for doing this.

[inthebluescrossroad]

you guys would like devandra banhart

[chuckdoon]

Really sweet homage to one of my guitar heroes. Thanks for sharing this, as well as your playing on the other videos as well.

[jwalsh671]

A job well done, Arsenal! I agree that most modern pop music has diluted the rudimentary, evokative sounds of Fahey and others, but I also believe that today's younger generation still has an appreciation for it and the ability to create noteworthy extensions thereof. Your video is a prime example of the creativity I speak of, and I look forward to perusing whatever else you've shared.

[corey949]

Yes! Keep listening, playing, writing, making films. We need young ones like you (from a soon-to-be 65 year old original folk geezer who heard Brownie and Sonny at the Ash Grove in L.A. the year it first opened in 1956. I was 11 and the blues changed my life)

[Arsenal123456123]

Thanks! I've been listening to Fahey/Delta Blues since I was 12 or so (and am now 19). Really changed my musical life -- then from there my whole life changed -- it helped influence me to go into film. Any chance that the Traveling Jewish Theatre will be coming to Boston or New York? I'd love to see some Jewish Theatre (I'm pretty sure my family used to be involved with the Yiddish theatre when they lived on the lower east side). On a side note, Christmas Sameach!

[DanPat56]

Bravo and well said.

[Kinbote123]

what is the song? i need it!!!!

[Arsenal123456123]

"On The Banks Of The Owchita." Send me a private message with your email and I'll give it to you. Or, if you really can't wait, I believe iTunes has it for a very small price. Gllad you liked the song.

[Kinbote123]

Thanks! I couldn't wait I bought it on iTunes.

Great film by the way.

[jirishboy]

His playing, while not being technically challenging, is so emotionally demanding that few if any guitarists I've heard cover him even come close. I was moved to tears the first time I heard In Christ....Great tribute to a troubled genius.

[starsam2]

Thanks for doing this. I first heard Fahey in the 60's and his music touched my soul. I saw him play back then, and he did drink a bit, but never missed a cord. I think I have all of his 33 LP's.Now all his music is on CD's and I don't miss the scratches. There are too many of us and I don't think his music will be forgoten.

Thanks

Sam

[yeti219]

beautiful tribute

[junkyardfool]

Haha, i like it. It could have been awful, but you did it very well.

I feel quite ashamed that i've never attempted any sort of 'tribute' to Fahey.  Knowing me, it's probably for the best. Maybe i'll get a tatoo of him on my torso..

[Arsenal123456123]

"It could have been awful"? An interesting way to put it.

[oblanob]

i will to

[MaxOchs]

This piece treatsFahey with the right attitude, doesn't flinch at the painful parts of the truth, resonates with the John I knew and admired. My Imaginational Anthem was written as an homage/ tribute to him.I played it for him in New York and he smiled.

[mishajoel]

A great film, a great tribute!

Thanks for posting!

[birdgirl1968]

Thank you for making this! A very emotional and touching tribute to an incredible guitarist and composer.

[Arsenal123456123]

Cheers.

[chuckuc]

thank you

[u89worlds]

when the music was beautiful....

'let now be then,

and dont pretend'

[CosmicDean]

Very sweet and touching film!

[faheyplayer]

A beautiful tribute to my friend; thanks for sharing. Charlie Schmidt

[Mntgoatsfan]

I will too! Good job!

[drzlecuti]

That's a great little film. I first heard Fahey in a friend's house in Oak Lawn, IL in about 1968, and within a few years we were going up to Evanston, to the Amazing Grace coffeehouse, to see and hear Fahey play for what seemed like hours without stopping, and we didn't want him to stop.

[JosiahAltschuler]

Beautiful film! That's the way Fahey should be remembered. You did a great job capturing the spirit of his music and it made my day. I've covered some of his stuff on my channel if you're interested. I think "In Christ There Is No East or West" is the quintessential American Primitive guitar fingerpicking piece.

-Josiah

[treetoptop]

Love it, great, we all need a Fahey chat room, does one exist?

[NuG919]

where did you get ahold of the film with On the banks of the owchita...the same show that has a version of red pony that i have seen here...i would love to get my hands on that!

[ilurvwomen]

bravo... bravo..warms my heart..great tribute...I will too...remebmer that is....where did you cotton on to fahey? and how did you learn so much about him?

[user192021]

Excellent film - well done.

[Mark9309]

What song is playing at the beginning of your film

[Arsenal123456123]

On The Banks Of The Owchita

[Mark9309]

Thank you so much. However, he must not pick up any steam for a few min into the song. I tried to listen to samples of the song on the Internet and I just hear some noddling he is doing which I presume is the beginning of the song. Can you confirm?

[Mark9309]

It sounds like Open C tuning. Am I right?

[Arsenal123456123]

How about I just send you the song? Do you have an AIM screen name or would you like to send it in a personal message.

[Mark9309]

Thanks. No, I dont have AIM.  Hey, you are really young to be listening to J. Fahey. I am 37 and I just started getting into him last year. How did yu first start hearing his music?

[BrunoEspo]

brilliant little flick man! i TRULY enjoyed this! you have a new fan.

[mradamcooley]

beautiful.. and kinda funny.

[MississippiBlindJoe]

cheers man!

[clumsystrummer]

Nice Job, I like how you bookended your film with two of Fahey's most joyous pieces. *****

[emifolk]

what a great footage very interesting some of the greatest acoustic players ever

danke lenaspielt blues für's senden

[lupine22]

Just beautiful! Many thanks.

[lenaspieltblues]

Really moves me, thanks!

[daddystovepipe]

Heartwarming tribute!

[jimberkeley]

Excellent. Keep it up.

[miasm]

kudos for spotlighting on our man fahey

[polymerchm]

Wonderful tribute.

[bdsessionmusician]

This is great pal - slick editing

Fahey rules

[taylor14c]

David: I've been a fan of Fahey's since the late 60's (don't ask my age) and I can't tell you how wonderfully you have captured him, his music, and the effect he had on us. Thanks so much.

[pachacamacs]

Excellent video ! The first time I heard of Fahey was when he had just died, via Thurston Moore of Sonic Youth. I also know very young people who love his music. There is something very unique about this man and his music. He will not be forgotten too soon...

[brianjinx]

well done.

[WatchinDeTellybox]

Excellent thought provoking film. Very well done