In the United States this year we have lost 200,000 people to the COVID-19 virus. I invite you to join me in singing the old African-American spiritual “Michael Row the Boat Ashore” in memory of the many people we have lost here in the US and around the world.
Making these short music/picture videos has been an engaging project (at least for me). For the past six months, I have been cautious and, I like to think, considerate as this pandemic has stymied my participating in so many of the activities I would usually enjoy. And I expect to be making similar adjustments over the coming year as well. I am thinking up some new projects to focus on, mostly because I know that having a project going is my way of staving off boredom and depression. This is likely to be my last video for now as I turn to something else, so for this one I thought I would share some of my memories and images that help me look forward toward the future, something that I did pretty easily when I was younger but that requires some intentional choices on spending my time now that I have so much unstructured time to spend. People, activities, books, and movies that have spurred me onward include my grandmother, my family, my daughter, my friends, teaching and the field of folklore studies, and of course my music and writing. I hope the video sparks similar incentives for you from your own store of memories.
I have always enjoyed songs that tell a story—ballads and folksongs, of course, but also operas, oratorios, ballets, and musicals. Child ballad #54 is the Cherry Tree Carol. It tells an unorthodox version of the Christmas story—from Joseph’s point of view. I sing it here by myself, without even my trusty guitar, but my favorite way of singing is with others, as a duo, or choir, or the Bloomington Chamber Singers. I share this old ballad and some photos as a tribute to some of the many people I have enjoyed singing with over the years. Thanks, everyone. Singing together is such a joy!