Between Gospel and the Classics: Bridging Musical Worlds (The
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Between Gospel and the Classics: Between Gospel and the Classics: Bridging Musical Worlds Bridging Musical Worlds Eric Friesen Eric Friesen Classical music has been my life. The music from my father’s record collection Classical music has been my life. The music from my father’s record collection is my earliest aural experience. Schubert songs, Bach cantatas, Beethoven is my earliest aural experience. Schubert songs, Bach cantatas, Beethoven sonatas. I have always loved classical music, from those days before I could sonatas. I have always loved classical music, from those days before I could speak even to now, working with classical music every day at the CBC speak even to now, working with classical music every day at the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). I love it and will always love it. It’s an (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation). I love it and will always love it. It’s an inexhaustible richness of music that feeds my soul every day. inexhaustible richness of music that feeds my soul every day. But it isn’t the only form of music out there, and it isn’t the only kind of But it isn’t the only form of music out there, and it isn’t the only kind of music I was drawn to as a kid or even now. Every one of us ‘crosses over’ in music I was drawn to as a kid or even now. Every one of us ‘crosses over’ in some way from the territory of our major musical interest to others. Sometimes some way from the territory of our major musical interest to others. Sometimes we do it enthusiastically and openly. Sometimes we do it furtively, we do it enthusiastically and openly. Sometimes we do it furtively, apologetically, slightly embarrassed that we might be caught listening to country apologetically, slightly embarrassed that we might be caught listening to country music, rock-and-roll, jazz, or even . gospel music. music, rock-and-roll, jazz, or even . gospel music. My earliest hearing of gospel music was on the main street of my home My earliest hearing of gospel music was on the main street of my home town, Altona, Manitoba, on a summer Saturday night. As the sun was setting, town, Altona, Manitoba, on a summer Saturday night. As the sun was setting, and the dust rising from all the young lovers cruising main street in their sleek and the dust rising from all the young lovers cruising main street in their sleek Desotos and Chevy Impalas, a gospel quartet from the Evangelical Mennonite Desotos and Chevy Impalas, a gospel quartet from the Evangelical Mennonite Mission Church would set up in a strategic location directly across from the Mission Church would set up in a strategic location directly across from the Rhineland Hotel and its infamous beer parlor. And with the Pool grain elevator Rhineland Hotel and its infamous beer parlor. And with the Pool grain elevator and the railroad station as backdrop, the gospel quartet, with an ancient sound and the railroad station as backdrop, the gospel quartet, with an ancient sound system mounted on the roof of an old Chevy pickup, would sing their witness system mounted on the roof of an old Chevy pickup, would sing their witness to the drinkers and the lovers of a prairie summer’s night. I would sit on the to the drinkers and the lovers of a prairie summer’s night. I would sit on the steps of Friesen’s Stationery Store, right next to the hotel, and listen, strangely steps of Friesen’s Stationery Store, right next to the hotel, and listen, strangely attracted to this music that was so reviled at home and in the better homes of attracted to this music that was so reviled at home and in the better homes of Altona Mennonites. Altona Mennonites. Eric Friesen hosts three classical music programs for CBC Radio 2: “In Eric Friesen hosts three classical music programs for CBC Radio 2: “In Performance,” “Onstage at Glenn Gould Studio,” and “Great Pianists of the Performance,” “Onstage at Glenn Gould Studio,” and “Great Pianists of the Twentieth Century.” This essay is based on an address given at a fundraising Twentieth Century.” This essay is based on an address given at a fundraising event for the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre. event for the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre. Between Gospel and the Classics 81 Between Gospel and the Classics 81 A few years later, while working at Altona’s classical music radio station, A few years later, while working at Altona’s classical music radio station, CFAM, I discovered a little corner of the music library called “folk music.” And CFAM, I discovered a little corner of the music library called “folk music.” And on this shelf, way out of the mainstream shelving of Brahms and Mozart and on this shelf, way out of the mainstream shelving of Brahms and Mozart and Handel, I found a bunch of recordings by groups like Lester Flatt and Earl Handel, I found a bunch of recordings by groups like Lester Flatt and Earl Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, Mother Maybelle Carter and the Carter Scruggs and the Foggy Mountain Boys, Mother Maybelle Carter and the Carter Family, and Bill Munroe. I started playing them for my own enjoyment, while Family, and Bill Munroe. I started playing them for my own enjoyment, while keeping half an ear on the three-hour-long opera that was being broadcast on a keeping half an ear on the three-hour-long opera that was being broadcast on a Saturday afternoon. Saturday afternoon. To jump ahead twenty years in my life: In 1984 we moved to the United To jump ahead twenty years in my life: In 1984 we moved to the United States, to Minnesota, where I worked for Minnesota Public Radio for thirteen States, to Minnesota, where I worked for Minnesota Public Radio for thirteen years. One of the highlights of my time there was to hear Garrison Keillor’s “A years. One of the highlights of my time there was to hear Garrison Keillor’s “A Prairie Home Companion.” I attended hundreds of his shows and watched as Prairie Home Companion.” I attended hundreds of his shows and watched as it became the most popular public radio program in the US, and Garrison it became the most popular public radio program in the US, and Garrison himself take on the mantle of a humorist in the tradition of Mark Twain. I can’t himself take on the mantle of a humorist in the tradition of Mark Twain. I can’t recall one single edition of the show that didn’t feature at least one set of gospel recall one single edition of the show that didn’t feature at least one set of gospel music. Garrison Keillor is a very complicated, sophisticated person who has music. Garrison Keillor is a very complicated, sophisticated person who has written regularly for The New Yorker magazine and The New York Times, and written regularly for The New Yorker magazine and The New York Times, and who has had a dozen books published, many of them bestsellers. He is also a who has had a dozen books published, many of them bestsellers. He is also a kid who grew up in Anoka, Minnesota, in a small evangelical community kid who grew up in Anoka, Minnesota, in a small evangelical community known as the ‘Sanctified Brethren’ (in Canada known as the Plymouth known as the ‘Sanctified Brethren’ (in Canada known as the Plymouth Brethren). And while Garrison has long ago left that group for an on again, off Brethren). And while Garrison has long ago left that group for an on again, off again relationship with the Lutherans and the Anglicans, he is an unabashed, again relationship with the Lutherans and the Anglicans, he is an unabashed, unashamed lover of gospel music. Many Saturday evenings he creates his own unashamed lover of gospel music. Many Saturday evenings he creates his own little group, which he calls the “Hopeful Gospel Quartet” and in which he sings little group, which he calls the “Hopeful Gospel Quartet” and in which he sings bass. As often as not he invites some of the big names in gospel to be part of his bass. As often as not he invites some of the big names in gospel to be part of his radio show. And even with the big stars, Garrison sings bass or baritone radio show. And even with the big stars, Garrison sings bass or baritone harmony. This often mystifies the public radio audience – urban, highly- harmony. This often mystifies the public radio audience – urban, highly- educated, non-Christian – but it is obviously so genuine, so deeply felt, that they educated, non-Christian – but it is obviously so genuine, so deeply felt, that they shrug their shoulders and accept it, and in many cases secretly enjoy it. Garrison shrug their shoulders and accept it, and in many cases secretly enjoy it. Garrison is someone who yearns for a lost, experiential spirituality, who finds in the is someone who yearns for a lost, experiential spirituality, who finds in the music a legitimate connection to the revival tradition of his youth, who finds this music a legitimate connection to the revival tradition of his youth, who finds this music still speaking to him long after he has left the community of origin. And music still speaking to him long after he has left the community of origin. And he draws to this world millions of people who listen to him every week.