About the book
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, folklorist William Ferris toured his home state of Mississippi, documenting the voices of African Americans as they spoke about and performed the diverse musical traditions that form the authentic roots of the blues. Now, Give My Poor Heart Ease puts front and center a searing selection of the artistically and emotionally rich voices from this invaluable documentary record. Illustrated with Ferris’s photographs of the musicians and their communities and including a CD of original music, the book features more than twenty interviews relating frank, dramatic, and engaging narratives about black life and blues music in the heart of the American South.
Here are the stories of artists who have long memories and speak eloquently about their lives, blues musicians who represent a wide range of musical traditions — from one-strand instruments, bottle-blowing, and banjo to spirituals, hymns, and prison work chants. Celebrities such as B. B. King and Willie Dixon, along with performers known best in their neighborhoods, express the full range of human and artistic experience — joyful and gritty, raw and painful.
In an autobiographical introduction, Ferris reflects on how he fell in love with the vibrant musical culture that was all around him but was considered off limits to a white Mississippian during a troubled era. This magnificent volume illuminates blues music, the broader African American experience, and indeed the history and culture of America itself.
Editions of Give My Poor Heart Ease
- Hardcover
- ISBN 9780807833254
- Paperback
- ISBN 9781469628875
- EBook
- ISBN 9781469605296
- EBook
- ISBN 9780807898529
- EBook
- ISBN 9798893133059
- PDF
- ISBN 9798890882684
Read an Excerpt
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, folklorist William Ferris toured his home state of Mississippi, documenting the voices of African Americans as they spoke about and performed the diverse musical traditions that form the authentic roots of the blues. Now, Give My Poor Heart Ease puts front and center a searing selection of the artistically and emotionally rich voices from this invaluable documentary record. Illustrated with Ferris’s photographs of the musicians and their communities and including a CD of original music, the book features more than twenty interviews relating frank, dramatic, and engaging narratives about black life and blues music in the heart of the American South.
Here are the stories of artists who have long memories and speak eloquently about their lives, blues musicians who represent a wide range of musical traditions — from one-strand instruments, bottle-blowing, and banjo to spirituals, hymns, and prison work chants. Celebrities such as B. B. King and Willie Dixon, along with performers known best in their neighborhoods, express the full range of human and artistic experience — joyful and gritty, raw and painful.
In an autobiographical introduction, Ferris reflects on how he fell in love with the vibrant musical culture that was all around him but was considered off limits to a white Mississippian during a troubled era. This magnificent volume illuminates blues music, the broader African American experience, and indeed the history and culture of America itself.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Give My Poor Heart Ease about?
Throughout the 1960s and 1970s, folklorist William Ferris toured his home state of Mississippi, documenting the voices of African Americans as they spoke about and performed the diverse musical traditions that form the authentic roots of the blues. Now, Give My Poor Heart Ease puts front and center a searing selection of the artistically and emotionally rich voices from this invaluable documentary record. Illustrated with Ferris’s photographs of the musicians and their communities and including a CD of original music, the book features more than twenty interviews relating frank, dramatic, and engaging narratives about black life and blues music in the heart of the American South.
Here are the stories of artists who have long memories and speak eloquently about their lives, blues musicians who represent a wide range of musical traditions — from one-strand instruments, bottle-blowing, and banjo to spirituals, hymns, and prison work chants. Celebrities such as B. B. King and Willie Dixon, along with performers known best in their neighborhoods, express the full range of human and artistic experience — joyful and gritty, raw and painful.
In an autobiographical introduction, Ferris reflects on how he fell in love with the vibrant musical culture that was all around him but was considered off limits to a white Mississippian during a troubled era. This magnificent volume illuminates blues music, the broader African American experience, and indeed the history and culture of America itself.
What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in Give My Poor Heart Ease?
The Arts > Music > Music: styles and genres > Popular music
Where can I read a sample of Give My Poor Heart Ease?
You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807833254
How long is Give My Poor Heart Ease and how many pages does it have?
Give My Poor Heart Ease has 320 page(s)
Is Give My Poor Heart Ease part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?
Yes it is a part of series H. Eugene and Lillian Youngs Lehman Series
Who is/are the Author/s of the book Give My Poor Heart Ease?
William Ferris
What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?
Give My Poor Heart Ease is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807833254) and paperback(ISBN 9781469628875) and ebook(ISBN 9781469605296) and ebook(ISBN 9780807898529) and ebook(ISBN 9798893133059) and pdf(ISBN 9798890882684)
Where can I buy Give My Poor Heart Ease online or support local independent bookshops?
You can buy Give My Poor Heart Ease from below
Where can I buy Give My Poor Heart Ease?