This beautiful rendition of the song “Alone Yet Not Alone” is performed by Jodi Eareckson Tada. Jodi is a quadriplegic with limited lung capacity due to her disability, had her husband, Ken, pushing on her diaphragm while she recorded the song to give her enough breath to hit the high notes.
Her strength and perseverance, as well as her belief in Almighty God has inspired me to place her here in “Songs of the Mountain.”
The Story
ALONE YET NOT ALONE is based on an inspiring true story taken from a novel of the same name written by Tracy Leininger Craven and depicts a family at a critical juncture in America’s history.
Fleeing religious persecution in Germany, the Leininger family seeks a new start in uncharted country – America. It is the mid-1700s and British and French forces are struggling for control over the abundant resources of this new territory.
Despite the escalating tension mounting around them, the Leiningers give thanks and praise for the sparkling streams and majestic forests around Penns Creek and above all, their freedom to worship. Carving out a homestead can be arduous work, but the Leiningers labor joyfully. After all, what the land will not yield, the cherished family Bible would, providing the everlasting nourishment of God’s promise.
Then the unthinkable: In a terrifying raid, Delaware warriors kidnap the two young Leininger daughters and attempt to indoctrinate them into native culture. Through their ordeal they never lose hope and “their faith becomes their freedom”.
“This is a well-written adventure told from the point of view of an intelligent, observant, and mature girl on the brink of adolescence, with a knack for sharing relevant detail.”
Publishers Weekly – Read Full Article To view “Alone yet Not Alone” official trailer.
“Gospel Plow” (also known as “Hold On”) is a traditional American folk song. It is listed in the Roud Folk Song Index, number 10075. The title is biblical, based on Luke 9:62.
Composer Albert E. Brumley was born on a cotton farm near Spiro, Oklahoma on October 29, 1905. Before his song writing career, he attended the old Hartford Musical Institute at Hartford, Arkansas and sang with the Hartford Quartet. Later he taught singing schools in various parts of the Ozarks. He met his wife-to-be, Goldie Edith Schell at one of these schools in Powell, Missouri. They were married in 1931 and continued to live at Powell, where they raised their six children.
It was in 1929 that Brumley actually composed “I’ll Fly Away”. He recalled that he was picking cotton and singing the popular song, “If I Had The Wings Of An Angel”. Suddenly, he thought about flying away. Quote, “actually, I was dreaming of flying away from that cotton field when I wrote I’ll Fly Away”. That thought, of course, like the thoughts that underlay all his many songs, was based upon his own deep spiritual convictions.
Mr. Brumley had tried his hand at writing music for a number of years but for the most part this had been just for his own pleasure. Goldie encouraged him to try to have more of his songs published. Albert agreed to try to sell one of his songs and I’ll Fly Away was mailed to the Hartford Music Company one hot afternoon in July of 1932. Goldie was right and the Hartford Music Company published the song in the book, The Wonderful Message. The song began to gain national recognition while numerous others began asking to be allowed to use it in their church books. At the time that the song was accepted and published he was working in his father-in-law’s general store for a dollar a day and was then shortly afterward employed by Hartford as a $12.50 a month staff writer.
The song’ “I’ll Fly Away” became Mr. Brumley’s most recorded song.
Biographical Data and Facts:
Born near Spiro, Oklahoma on October 29, 1905…grew up on a cotton farm, died November 15, 1977.
BEFORE HIS SONG WRITING CAREER: he attended the old Hartford Musical Institute at Hartford, Arkansas, sang with the Hartford Quartet. Later taught singing schools in various parts of the Ozarks. Met his wife-to-be at one of these schools at Powell, Missouri (Goldie E. Schell). They were married in 1931 and continued to live at Powell, where they lived most of their lives.
SONG WRITING CAREER: Started in 1931 with “I’ll Fly Away”, his most recorded song. Spent 34 years as a staff writer for gospel’s famed Hartford and Stamps/Baxter publishing companies, before forming Albert E. Brumley & Sons Music Company, Country Gentlemen Music and purchasing Hartford Music Company. He wrote over 800 gospel and ‘sentimental’ songs.
FAMILY: Children: Bill, Al Jr., Bob, Tom, Jack and Betty.
Inducted into the Country Song Writers Hall of Fame-1970. He was one of only 2 gospel writers named (the other was Stuart Hamblen) and was included with 21 country music writers, both living and dead at the time. He was included with such greats as Gene Autry, Ernie Tubbs, Bob Wills, Hank Williams, A.P. Carter and Jimmy Rogers just to name a few.
Member of the Gospel Music Hall of Fame-1972.
Marquis Who’s Who in America 1976-1977.
Marquis Who’s Who in the World 1978-1979.
Founder of the Annual Albert E. Brumley Sundown to Sunup Sing (now titled: Albert E. Brumley Memorial Gospel Sing), the largest outdoor gospel sing in the nation.
Named as one of Missouri’s 100 best known men.
Gospel Music Association named him one of only 5 persons in the U.S. whose contributions directly affected 20th century gospel music.
“I’ll Fly Away” has received several awards and was inducted into the SESAC Hall of Fame in 1986. It has been recorded over 500 times at time of induction.
“Turn Your Radio On” – received a Citation of Achievement by BMI (Broadcast Music Inc.) in 1972.
Brumley songs have been estimated to have been printed 15 million times in sheet music and hymn-and songbooks.
Albert E. Brumley is still one of the most widely recorded gospel music composer in America. He’s been recorded by a variety of artists, from Elvis Presley to Ray Charles, The Supremes and even the Boston Pops. Recent recordings of I’ll Fly Away : Aretha Franklin (Princess Diana Tribute Album), Wynonna and Gary Chapman (Soundtrack for the movie “The Apostle”), Andy Griffith, Loretta Lynn, Roy Rogers and Dale Evans, The Oak Ridge Boys and Burl Ives.
Inducted into the Oklahoma Hall Of Fame, 1998.
Brumley songs emulate country settings, ordinary country religion. Simplicity and naturalness was his music motto and philosophy.
Smithsonian Institute made a study of gospel music and researchers called Albert E. Brumley “the greatest white gospel songwriter before WWII”
Original Lyrics:
Old Glory Household Israel will Fly Away
Some glad morning when Diaspora is over,
I’ll fly away.
To a home on Israel’s distant shore,
I’ll fly away.
I’ll fly away, OLD GLORY,
I’ll fly away.
When I fly, Hallelujah, bye and bye,
I’ll fly away.
When liberty is lost in Stars and Stripes,
I’ll fly away.
Like a bird flushed, driven by the Hunter,
I’ll fly away.
I’ll fly away, OLD GLORY,
I’ll fly away.
When I fly, Hallelujah, bye and bye,
I’ll fly away.
Just a few more weary days and then,
I’ll fly away.
To Moriah where YaHWeH’s rule shall begin,
I’ll fly away.
I’ll fly away, OLD GLORY,
I’ll fly away.
When I fly, Hallelujah, bye and bye,
I’ll fly away.
The traditional Appalachian song “Down in the River to Pray” is well-known, especially since Alison Krauss and the movie “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”(released in 2000) popularized it. Yet, its composer remains a mystery, at least in some measure. Research indicates the song was written by slaves in the 19th Century who worked in the fields. Other people believe it was perhaps a derivative of a native American tribal song that was adapted with Christian lyrics. It was reportedly published in Southern Harmony, a 19th Century hymnal, prior to many African-American spiritual songs being gathered and published during the Civil War and the post-Civil War Reconstruction period. And, what if someone told you it was written by George H. Allan in Nashville, Tennessee during slavery in the South, and was published in a slave songbook in 1867? Its appearance in “Slave Songs of the United States” in 1867, with words uniquely colloquial to black slave spiritual songs of that period, seems to point us in that direction to this song’s genealogy. The song had a different name, too, than the one by which we commonly know it today.
The song as originally composed was known as “The Good Old Way”, and is attributed to a G.H. (George H.) Allan in the contents section of the slave song book of 1867. The song may also be known as “Come, Let Us All Go Down”, but has also been known as “Down to the River to Pray”, and alternately as “Down in the River to Pray”. However, as originally constructed by Mr. Allan (or perhaps some other contemporary, most likely a slave), the song entreats worshippers to go to a valley, not a river… Many a revival was filled with songs just like this one.
Christy Lane sings “One Day at a Time, Sweet Jesus.” This is one of my favorite Ole country gospels. There is a good message herein this old song I hope and pray that each of us will accept that one day at a time is sufficient. Just as Christ’s mercy and grace is sufficient. I hope you enjoy this song as much as I have. Amen.
Nothing speaks louder about life, love, sorrow or Heavens Grace than good ole mountain music. So, altruistico is presenting something refreshing and new for all of you folks who love good ole mountain gospel and country listens.
Appalachian Music
Music is very relaxing. After a day of studying hard, it is fun to listen to some music at home. You can even play a musical instrument for a while. Music relieves the tension caused by the problems of a long day of work. Music can cheer you up when you are sad.
There are many different types of music such as classical, popular, country, western and jazz. For example, country music features simple themes and melodies describing day-to-day situations and the feelings of country people. Many people appreciate this kind of music because of the emotions expressed in these songs. Some songs become popular all over the world.
Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. It has roots in traditional folk music, Celtic music, gospel music, and old-time music and evolved rapidly in the 1920s.The term country music began to be used in the 1940s when the earlier term hillbilly music was deemed to be degrading, and the term was widely embraced in the 1970s, while country and western has declined in use since that time, except in the United Kingdom and Ireland, where it is still commonly used.
The beginnings of art music in England can be traced to plainsong (plainchant). With the aid of monks and troubadours traveling throughout Europe, musical forms of many regions were freely intermingled and spread quickly. In the 16th and 17th centuries, England produced many notable composers, among them John Dowland, Thomas Morley, Thomas Tallis, and, perhaps greatest of all, William Byrd. The musical stature of the Baroque composers Henry Purcell and George Frideric Handel remains unquestioned.
Music in England reached another peak in the late 19th century, when comic opera attained near perfection in the work of William Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan. Later significant composers include Edward Elgar, Gustav Holst, William Walton, and Benjamin Britten.
I do enjoy music very much. I find that listening to a soloist playing and singing is an exciting experience. Whenever you feel sad, you can just turn on the radio and listen to some music. Nothing beats music when it comes to cheering someone up. Whenever you hear music, you can see people smiling and tapping their feet along with the beat.
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