Original performance and interview audio recordings, audio outtake materials, program masters, and finished program tapes from the Smithsonian Institution/National Public Radio series WADE IN THE WATER. Collection documents the influence of religion on various African American sacred and secular music styles, including gospel, spirituals, classical, popular, and jazz.
Arrangement:
Collection is arranged into one series.
Provenance:
Made at the national Museum of American History, 1992.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. Unrestricted research use of reference audio cassettes only. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Rights:
Reproduction fees for commercial use. Copyright restrictions. Contact repository for information.
xxxiii, 281 pages illustrations (some color) 31 cm + 4 audiocassettes, in container (31 x 26 x 3 cm) + 1 score, 79 pages, in container (31 x 26 x 3 cm)
Similar to RSN 7339. Associated number 238-C. Currently stored in box 1.1.25A [36].
Collection Restrictions:
Collection is open for research but is stored off-site and special arrangements must be made to work with it. The original glass plate is available for inspection if necessary in the Archives Center. A limited number of fragile glass negatives and positives in the collection can be viewed directly in the Archives Center by prior appointment. Contact the Archives Center for information at archivescenter@si.edu or 202-633-3270.
Collection Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
10 Film reels (5 hours, color sound; 10,800 feet, 16mm)
Type:
Archival materials
Film reels
Date:
1986
Scope and Contents:
Full film record documents the cultural ecology of a Sherpa village at the head of the Helembu Valley, Nepal.
Footage begins with shots of Rhesus monkeys at the Buddhist shrine of Swayambanath in Kathmandu valley as part of research project observing the behavior of temple monkeys. Footage in the Melemchi village focuses on both subsistence and religious aspects of Helembu Sherpa culture. Documentation of subsistence includes herding and domestic activities of the Sherpa patrilineal households; harvesting changa, the high altitude barley from which the staple food, thombu is made; women threshing wheat in fields; women dairying in family pastures; spinnig lambs wool; weaving jackets; grindng grain and flour on the grindstone; women making yoghurt, butter and cheese; weaving bamboo mats. Documentation of religious and ritual depicts the coexistence of Buddhist and local Bon animist practices; a Nyin Lo ceremony conducted by a bombo (shaman) to exorcise bad spirits; the the torma (a ritual object representing a temporary house for the gods); man in trance drumming and calling spirits; chicken sacrifice; beating a woman with steamed branches to expunge the evil spirits from her; a Mikha Kyurgen puja done to reverse the negative effects of gossiping; the TupuTsezchu Festival, one of four festivals held annually in Melemchi to commemorate the work of Guru Rempeche, the Bodhisattva who brought Buddhism to Tibet; the Nara festival which honors the founding of the gomba(local Buddhist temple); the decapitation ofa yak as an offering. Also documented is the funerary practice composed of the procession where the deceased is carried in a chair to the funeral ground for cremation. Sequences also depict men carving decorations for the woodwork adorning houses; an arranged marriage; Sherpa man teaching a class to young students; playing the "adorje," a trumpet made out of a human thigh bone; lama reading Tibetan texts.
Legacy Keywords: Language and culture ; Temples prayer wheels Nepal ; Harvests barley Nepal ; Barley method of harvest Nepal ; Animal husbandry milking cows Nepal ; Seances spirit mediums ritual Nepal ; Mediums ritual spirit communication Nepal ; Spirits mediums communication with Nepal ; Ritual spirit mediums seances Nepal ; Chanting as part of ritual Nepal ; Musical instruments drums cymbals horns bells Nepal ; Agriculture corn barley grains Nepal ; Food preparation churning butter cheese Nepal ; Altars seances Nepal ; Animal sacrifice as part of ritual Nepal ; Purification ritual Nepal ; Mills grinding flour water driven Nepal ; Weaving wool looms Nepal ; Pastoral activities herding miling grazing Nepal ; Bells for keeping birds from crops Nepal ; Quarrying boulders for building stones Nepal ; Mortuary practices pallequin procession cremation Nepal ; Funerals cremation Nepal ; Priest lama chanting Nepal ; Temple gompa ceremony Nepal ; Bread ceremonial Nara bread gompa Nepal ; Dancing ritual social Nepal ; Woodworking carving Nepal ; Altars gompa Nepal ; Flags prayer flags raising of Nepal ; Potatoes cultivation of Nepal ; Shrines gompa Nepal
Local Numbers:
HSFA 1987.7.1
Collection Restrictions:
The collection is open for research. Please contact the archives for information on availability of access copies of audiovisual recordings. Original audiovisual material in the Human Studies Film Archives may not be played.
Collection Rights:
Contact the repository for terms of use.
Collection Citation:
John and Naomi Bishop collection, Human Studies Film Archives, Smithsonian Institution
Sponsor:
Cataloging supported by Smithsonian Institution Women's Committee.
Sam DeVincent loved music and art and began collecting sheet music with lithographs at an early age.
Series 10: Sacred Music and Religious Themes contains approximately 4,000 pieces of sheet music, much of which is traditional Christian music, but also documents popular attitudes towards religion in the United States.
An overview to the entire DeVincent collection is available here: Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music.
Scope and Contents note:
Series 10, Sacred Music and Religious Themes, 1822-1986, undated, contains approximately 4,000 pieces of sheet music, much of which is traditional Christian music, but also documents popular attitudes towards religion in the United States. Note that the Christmas and Easter subseries include their secular aspects. The materials are arranged by subject. The dates always refer to copyright of the music and not to the subject on the cover, songwriter's life, or other events. In addition, there is one box of ephemera arranged in the same subseries order as the music listing, which is described following the container list. A large part consists of Christmas items, both secular and religious.
Subseries 1, Adam, Eve, and Eden, 1882-1971. This couple and their first home are of endless fascination, with the religious aspect not being the main subject. There are sixteen Broadway shows and revues represented in this subseries.
Subseries 2, Angels, 1849-1961, undated. Almost all the sheets have "angel" in the title; the few that do not have angels depicted on the cover. More "angel" titles are also in subseries 8, Devil and Satan. Songs referring to girlfriends or mothers as angels can be found in Series 9:6, Domestic and Community Life.
Subseries 3, Bells and Chimes, 1848-1956, undated. All titles contain either "bells" or "chimes" which toll from cathedrals, convents, missions, and temples, and at various times of day. "Chime" titles are also in Series 14, Calendar, Time and Weather, subseries 5, Clocks and Time.
Subseries 4, Biblical Characters and Stories, 1876-1986, undated. Noah and Salome account for the largest portion. Others include Hagar, Hezekiah, Joshua, and Shadrach.
Subseries 5, Cathedral, Chapel, and Church, 1866-1966, undated. All titles contain one of these three words. Most of the songs are quite nostalgic, and many refer to the "little" church. Images of these buildings are on covers throughout the series, particularly in subseries 3, Bells and Chimes. Also see Series 14, Calendar, Time and Weather, subseries 4, Days of the Week/Sunday.
Subseries 6, Choir, 1880-1937. These songs are about choirs, and all titles contain the word "Choir." Three publications dedicated to choirs are included. Choral arrangements are integrated throughout the series and have their own folders in subseries 21.
Subseries 7, Christmas, 1828-1984, undated. This music accounts for twenty-eight percent of the entire series. Much of it has to do with the non-religious side of Christmas, such as the tree, family, Santa Claus, and toys.
Subseries 8, Devil and Satan, 1865-1979, undated. Over half the titles contain the word "devil" and are in Folder A. Other songs refer to demon, Satan, and hell, or have devilish covers. Also included are operas and professional copy scores.
Subseries 9, Easter, 1872-1975, undated. Most of this subseries is concerned with the religious context, but note the separate folder for Bunnies, Rabbits, and Eggs.
Subseries 10, Evolution, 1925-1963. This is a small grouping, with half of the titles including "monkey." Other monkey titles are in Series 12, Plants and Animals, subseries 3, Animals, Folders DD-GG.
Subseries 11, Heaven, 1866-1975, undated. Songs referring to "heaven" in a romantic context are in Series 9.6.
Subseries 12, Inspirational Singers, 1868-1977. Fanny Cosby and Stuart Hamblen have one folder each. Hamblen's secular music is in the Country, Western, and Folk Music Series. Note that the dates refer to the copyright of the music and not the lives of the singers.
Subseries 13, Madonna, The Virgin Mary, 1855-1953, undated. This small section all has to do with the Madonna, in various names. Note that the well-known "Ave Maria" is in subseries 21, Multiple Editions.
Subseries 14, Miracles, 1929-1959. These nine songs all have to do with specific places and/or events considered holy. Also see subseries 3, Bells and Chimes for specific churches or missions.
Subseries 15, Mormons, 1895-1933, undated. These few songs concentrate on polygamy and include one "coon" song.
Subseries 16, Paradise, 1900-1925, undated. There are just three titles in this subseries, one of which, "Dream of Paradise," has multiple editions Also see Series 9.6 for the romantic view of paradise.
Subseries 17, Pilgrim, 1868-1938, undated. This small folder contains five titles, one of which, "I'm a Pilgrim," has multiple editions.
Subseries 18, The Psalms, 1884-1980, undated. There are twelve different psalms represented, with Psalm XXIII having the most.
Subseries 19, Quakers, 1899-1940, undated. Most sheets have "Quaker" in the title. Two covers have girls dressed as Quakers, and one cover is of the Armstrong Quaker Orchestra.
Subseries 20, The Rosary, 1897-1953. In addition to several "Rosary" titles, there are nine composers of "My Rosary" (also, "The Rosary"), with words by Robert Cameron Rogers.
Subseries 21, General Religious Songs, 1822-1982, undated. Almost one half of the series is in this section. If you do not find a specific title in Folders A-BB, look under Buds and Blossoms editions in Folder CC, the multiple editions of twenty-eight individual titles in Folders DD-WW, or the choral arrangements in Folders CCC-EEE. Folios are in Folders XX-BBB.
Ephemera, 1899-1986, is in Ephemera Box 28. Christmas items account for about one half. The religious items include church programs, printed prayers, and newspaper articles.
Arrangement note:
Arranged in 22 subseries.
10.1: Adam, Eve, and Eden
10.2: Angels
10.3: Bells and Chimes
10.4: Biblical Characters and Stories
10.5: Cathedral, Chapel, Church
10.6: Choir
10.7: Christmas
10.8: Devil and Satan
10.9: Easter
10.10: Evolution
10.11: Heaven
10.12: Inspirational Singers
10.13: Madonna, The Virgin Mary
10.14: Miracles
10.15: Mormons
10.16: Paradise
10.17: Pilgrim
10.18: Psalms
10.19: Quakers
10.20: Rosary
10.21: General Religious Songs
10.22: Ephemera
Materials in Other Organizations:
Sam DeVincent Collection of American Sheet Music, Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana
This collection contains duplicates of materials in the Smithsonian collection, as well as materials acquired by Mr. DeVincent after the donation to the Smithsonian. The phonograph records described above were transferred to the University of Missouri at Kansas City.
Materials in the Archives Center, National Museum of American History:
Donald J. Stubblebine Collection of Musical Theater and Motion Picture Sheet Music and Reference Material, 1843-2010 (AC1211)
Forms Part Of:
Series 10: Sacred Music and Religious Themes forms part of the
Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music
.
An ongoing, updated list of DeVincent topical series is available via the Smithsonian finding aid portal.
Provenance:
This collection was purchased by the Smithsonian Institution in 1988 from Sam and Nancy Lee DeVincent.
Restrictions:
Collection is open for research.
Rights:
Collection items available for reproduction, but the Archives Center makes no guarantees concerning copyright restrictions. Other intellectual property rights may apply. Archives Center cost-recovery and use fees may apply when requesting reproductions.
Citation:
The Sam DeVincent Collection of Illustrated American Sheet Music, Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution
Traditional dance as intangible heritage : in defence of the perpetuation of traditional dance and music in Zimbabwe / Tapuwa R. Mubaya and Shadrick Dzingayi
