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As the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, many communities are seeking opportunities to reflect on the origins, promises, tensions, and continuing evolution of American democracy. Atlanta Area Friends of Folk Music (AAFFM) will contribute to that conversation with a free public program, THE SCOTS-IRISH AND DEMOCRACY IN AMERICA: Tuesday, November 17, 6:00 PM, in the auditorium of Decatur Public Library, 215 Sycamore St., Decatur.For a 100-year period beginning in 1717, more than a half-million people left Ireland’s northern province of Ulster for America. They and their descendants came to be known as the Scotch-Irish or, later, Scots-Irish. Informed both by the democratic principles of the Presbyterian Church and the Scottish Enlightenment, they played important roles in shaping the Declaration of Independence, winning the Revolutionary War and spreading Jeffersonian-Jacksonian democracy. They arguably helped shape strands of American individualism, frontier culture, and populist political traditions that evolved in very different directions over time.
This 90-minute program will feature lecture, video, and live traditional music performance to recount how the Scots-Irish experience shaped American civic life, democratic traditions, and folk music culture from the colonial era to the present day.
The program is based on AAFFM President Emeritus Chris Moser’s forthcoming public television documentary THE SCOTS-IRISH: A MUSICAL JOURNEY, which explores the influence of the Scots-Irish on America’s democratic traditions, values and conflicts. The film combines historical narrative and traditional music performance by a stellar professional ensemble led by the legendary folk singer/musician John McCutcheon.
At the Decatur Library program, Chris will present an historical overview and show video clips from the in-production film. Redwine Jam—Chris and Carol Moser with guest performer Linda Hoopes—will perform several of the ballads that will be included in the film.
This program is supported by a generous grant from The Community Corps.
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Event venue
215 Sycamore St, Decatur, GA 30030-3413, United States
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