TOUCHED BY FIRE: BLEEDING KANSAS: The Free Staters, The Gum Springs Serenaders, Song of the Redeemed

Touched by Fire: Bleeding Kansas

The Free Staters, The Gum Springs Serenaders, Song of the Redeemed

© 2005 Lone Chimney Productions (783707119601)

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Popular American music from the mid 19th century complete with fretless banjos, fiddles, rib bones & parlor guitar. These are the songs that took the country by storm, and the ones that settlers carried West.

notes

In 1854, a shooting war developed between pro-slavery men in Missouri and free-staters in Kansas over control of the territory. It was a time when Americans first learned how to hate and kill one another. The prize was whether Kansas would be a slave or free state when admitted to the Union, a question that could decide the balance of power in Washington.

An impressive cast of characters make up the story: Robert E. Lee, William Tecumseh Sherman, Sara Robinson, Jeb Stuart, Abraham Lincoln, Horace Greeley, Jim Lane, Julia Lovejoy, William F. Cody.

And casting his long, dark shadow over all is the strange, haunting figure of a man hailed as a prophet by some and madman by others - John Brown.

In more ways than one, had there been no "Bleeding Kansas," there would have been no American Civil War.

Tom Goodrich - Author of "War to the Knife."

"Touched by Fire" is a collection of songs that could have been heard in the tumultuous time period known as Bleeding Kansas 1854-1861. Three groups performed on the soundtrack.

The Gum Springs Serenaders - Hailing from the Kansas/Missouri border region, The Gum Springs Serenaders have been entertaining Jayhawk and Ruffian alike since 2001. "One of the very best," says Clarke Buehling, world renowned Minstrel and Classical Banjoist. The Gum Springs Serenaders are: Carl Anderton - banjo; Edward Richardson - tambourine; Dave Ryan - guitar; Scott Miller - bones. Check them out online at www.gumspringsserenaders.com.

Song of the Redeemed - This group of talented friends and family have been singing in church choirs since they were young. In addition to their church singing, the group provided two traditional Negro spirituals for the soundtrack. The group lives in Wichita, KS. Song of the Redeemed are: Elweard & Doris Garrett, Tina Waller, Linda Paschal.

The Free Staters - The Free Staters play music from the front porch of mid 19th century America, focusing on the songs that were popular during this unique time period including comic minstrel tunes and ballads that speak of hard times, loss, love, immigration and Westward expansion. The group calls Central Kansas home and has been together since 2003. The Free Staters are: Jonathon Goering - banjo; Betsey Goering - fiddle; Ryan Mackey - guitar, bass; Tom James - bones, spoons, jawbone. Check them out online at www.thefreestaters.com.

The Film:
"Touched by Fire" is a documentary produced by Lone Chimney Productions of Wichita, KS. The 80-minute film tells the story of Bleeding Kansas 1854-1861 and includes more than 100 historic photographs, noted historian interviews, dramatic reenactment footage including the John Brown hanging, and period music. For more information on the film or to order your DVD copy, please go to www.lonechimney.com.

The Songs:

1. Star of the County Down - also known as "Gilderoy" c.1726

2. The Kansas Emigrant Song - words by John Greenleaf Whittier to the traditional tune "Auld Lang Syne," 1854

3. Steal Away to Jesus - traditional Negro spiritual

4. Nelly Was a Lady - written and composed by Stephen Foster, 1849.

5. Arkansas Traveler - traditional fiddle tune, c.1850

6. Sweet Betsy From Pike - traditional ballad also known as "Villikens and His Dinah," c.1849

7. Hard Times - written and composed by Stephen Foster, 1854

8. Sheebeg and Sheemore - music by Turlough O' Carolan c.1691

9. The Freeman's Song - to the traditional Scottish tune "Scots Wha Hae Wi' Wallace Bled," 1854

10. Git up in de Mornin'/Getting Up Stairs - Briggs Banjo Instructor 1855 and Phil Rice's Method for the Banjo 1858

11. Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier - traditional Irish ballad

12. Ho! For the Kansas Plains - music by James G. Clark, 1856

13. Devil's Dream - traditional Irish tune

14. Mrs. McGrath - traditional Irish ballad, c.1815

15. Shenandoah - traditional, origin unknown

16. Down by the Riverside - traditional Negro spiritual

17. Darkey Fisher's Hornpipe/Sailor's Hornpipe - Briggs Banjo Instructor 1855 and Winner's Perfect Guide for the Violin 1889

18. Lucy of the Tallgrass - Jonathon Goering, 2004

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