CVFM MIT Concert: Swing Low Sweet Chariot

This is from the May 18, 2007 concert by Connecticut Valley Field Music at MIT. The following are the liner notes from the CVFM CD for Swing Low: looked over Jordan and what did I see, comin' for to carry me home, A band of angels, comin' after me, comin' for to carry me home. Swing low, sweet chariot, comin' for to carry me home, Swing low, sweet chariot, comin' for to carry me home. Swing Low, Sweet Chariotis probably the most famous and certainly one of the most beautiful of American spirituals. I have added an introductory "riff, "and the drum beat is very repetitious, somewhat in the manner of the beats played by African-American fife and drum bands that I have heard on recordings. John B. Foran was my mailman in East Hampton when I was a boy, and he was the drum major of the Nathan Hale Ancient Fifes and Drums, from Coventry. In the summertime I would often have a glass of iced tea ready when he arrived with the mail and during his lunch break he would regale me with the exploits of his corps. He was a fine, patriotic man of the old school, very proud of his service as ground crew for B-17s during "the Big One. "His wife Ruby, a Minnesotan who had been a nurse during the war, was also involved with the Nathan Hale corps, and a more loving and devoted couple I've never met. Many years later I visited Ruby at her hospice and played some pieces by Chopin for her. A year after she died, almost to the day, Jack went, too. Soon after, Connecticut Valley Field Music were performing at the Nathan Hale homestead in Coventry at the annual muster. We finished our performance that day with this arrangement. If ever a couple deserved to be carried home by a band of angels, it was Jack and Ruby.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Fife
• Drum
• CVFM
• Connecticut
• Valley
• Field
• Music

[Himorask]

I maintain my wanting the music to this...

[claudiacloclo1]

nice performance :P !!

:)

[hadkay]

nice performance so lovely

[VideoVin]

Great fife line!

[HisButler]

Wonderful performance.... Thanks!

Jack