SOUND OF DOVE:CASSETTE (Music in American Life) [Audiobook] [Audio Cassette]

Beverly Patterson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Music in American Life | Publication Date: March 1, 1995

In "The Sound of the Dove", Beverly Bush Patterson explores one of the oldest traditions of American religious folksong: unaccompanied congregational singing in Appalachian Primitive Baptist churches. Using interviews, field observations, historical research, song transcriptions, and musical analysis, Patterson explores the dynamic relationship between singing and theology in these churches, the genesis of their musical practices, and the unexpectedly significant role of women in their conservative congregations. An hour-long audio recording of Primitive Baptist singing is available separately.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Patterson's thorough knowledge of Primitive Baptist song and life allows her to demonstrate how music (sound) and culture are each so perfectly the expressions of the other that one can see in musical changes broader transformations... [T]his book is a model of how to study music in a religious context. In addition, the book reminds us of how knowledge of people such as Primitive Baptists is necessary for understanding broader and more inclusive faith communities." -- Donald G. Mathews, Church History "[The Sound of the Dove] enables the reader to form a very clear understanding of Primitive Baptist singing today and of the historical and cultural forces that have molded it into its present form... This insightful study fills a great gap in American folk music scholarship and demonstrates ways that sensitive feminist scholarship can illuminate surprising corners of traditional culture." -- William Bernard McCarthy, Journal of American Folklore --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Audio Cassette
• Publisher: University of Illinois Press (March 1, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0252021738
• ISBN-13: 978-0252021732
• Product Dimensions: 4.3 x 2.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,645,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Seeking to understand the Primitive Baptist churches through their singing, February 5, 2008

By 

James Huffman "Jim Huffman" (Burlington, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Sound of Dove: Singing in Appalachian Primitive Baptist Churches (Music in American Life) (Paperback)

Folks who are theologically inclined tend to try to understand churches by understanding their theology and listening to what is said in books, sermons, and courses.

Beverly Bush Patterson uses another means to understand the Primitive Baptist churches: their music, specifically their songs, songbooks, song tunes, and hymn choices in individual congregations. While not downplaying Primitive Baptist theology and preaching, the author sees their music as a perhaps more reliable means of understanding how theology and doctrine plays out in congregational life.

This includes a detailed analysis of hymn and song choices and hymn tune choices in congregations. And while I'm making this sound dry, this book is anything but dry: it is a good, well-written, well-told analysis of a little-known group in American religious life.

A slightly secondary theme in the book is the role and function of women in Primitive Baptist churches. This isn't an easily done analysis, since women in Primitive Baptist churches operate in a "silent" setting in their churches, neither preaching nor holding offices within the congregations. Patterson seeks to understand how women in these congregations understand their faith, live within the parameters of their theology, and express their faith.