Moving In The Spirit - Worship Through Music In Clear Creek, Mississippi

This morning we have a more authentic church experience complete with sermons. These are field recordings made in Clear Creek, Mississippi at a single church over several months in 1987.

"Clear Creek is one of many small, black communities that is a satellite to the predominantly white town of Oxford in Lafayette County, northeast Mississippi. Ethnomusicologist Therese Smith conducted research in this and other neighboring black communities over a period of several years before returning in the fall of 1987 to continue research and, along with sound engineer Britt Fitts, to make the recordings for this album.  This album, rather than limiting study to a particular genre, style or area, is intended to document the wide range of musical expressions used by one small, rural, black community to worship their God. It is, of course, music best experienced in the context of this community, where the wood panelled church reverberates with the sound of singing and the patting of feet, where one is surrounded by warm and serious faces, new dresses, colorful hair ribbons, best suits, tears and smiles. But even through the artificial medium of a sound recording, the power of expression is evident."

This is a powerful and moving document, the male singer on side one and the little girl on side two are particularly moving. This cover above is not the cover of my copy, mine is utterly mint and for sale if anyone is interested.