Newspapers / Salem College Student Newspaper / April 11, 1969, edition 1 / Page 3
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1 I FHday,' ApriH I, 1969 THE SALEMiTE Page Three Bluegrass Music Union Grove Hosts Fiddlers By Jane Cross and Beth Hunter f" Union Grove, a cross-rbads com- [tiiunity Ibcated between' New Hope iiid Harmony,, wfts the ’scene of the 1,5th . Annual; : .QId .Tirhe .Fiddlers’ [Conventions ; 'The annual Union - Grove Old I'tiirie Fiddlers’ Convention was or- ized tack in 1924 by !Mr. H; P. [Vah ’ Hoy, ''a ’school' teacher and diampion, old. time fiddler. It was ifoposed . that''.; a; . fiddlin’; .contest Ryould be good entertainment and proceeds would go to the benefit of ■Unibri Grove SchooL It was every- fthiiig ’e'k p-e c t le d and’ more, land since has been held’ at the same I ,,t;imt! each .-year,..Easter ,'weekend, i-lthe .old,, auditorium where it, all j ^began 45 years ago now stands as rTii: an atandoned landmark on the iijfschDol'campus. . ; ( The Old Time . Fiddlers’ Conven- ^ tion has always been a non-profit |jentefprise svith the’ school sharing ‘yi'the net gate receipts’ on a' SO.'SO [basis with -the. musicians. The' ad- ■tjniinistrators; .and townspeople both i j.iigree that, the,, proceeds .from, the I annual gathering have been , a tre- [“jpiendon.s.; help and.:,supplement to the scli.QP.l.. .program, for, the youth .. |fit: the. comrnunity. , , . . 'J^hep ccjnyenti^n ., grew .from a ’nie2(ger.,75: ,in 1924- to an overwhelm ing 14,000 in 1968, Its growth is possibly due to a growing reputa tion which draws performers and spectators from all over the United States. For there is a curiosity, or a genuine love of the old time country a n'd bluegrass sounds. Due to the large crowds, the convention has out grown the schoolgrounds. The Van Hoy brothers have plans to develop an elaborate campsite on 44 acres of their land for what they term will be “the most up-to-date country music park in the world.’’ 'When completed the campground will hold 10,000 people, and will have bath houses, trailer sites with electric outlet and water connections. It could be used year-round and gives rise to the possibility of a fall festi val. Though the weather was foggy and wet, a few stronghearts ven tured into the community on Thurs day night, but by the weekend, despite bad weather, enthusiastic hordes of people had poured into the town. They set up camp around the Volunteer Fire Department, and later when that area was filled, they began pitching tents in the trailer park across the road from the schoolgrounds. Mostly hippies and college students camped out. It was an incongruous gathering, with an equally divided representation of the camps of George Wallace and Eugene McCarthy. Bound together by music, everyone seemed to get along just fine. The hippies, far mers, city folk, bluegrass musicians, even college professors (including Clauss and Thompson) circled around the huge green and yellow circus tent or gathered in small knots or, like Gibson, wandered around the scattered groups of bluegrass musicians. Saturday morning started off with a makeshift parade of old cars, horses and riders in Western re galia, a wooden cart drawn by a huge pair of oxen weighing over 3000 pounds each, an old truck with hound dogs yelping at a treed coon; bringing up the rear were the “Original Jokers” and the “Tas manian Devils,” both motor gangs. Competition began in the gym at 1:30 p.m., and continued with the main competition in the circus tent until the wee hours of the morning. The curiosity seekers left with an appreciation of the blue grass sound. Union Grove is a tradition secure in its growing reputation. Non-believers need only visit Union Grove, North Carolina, on any Easter weekend to be transported backwards into history. Fiddler at Convention plays . . . Music Depicts Hairy Generation By Crpss ■ fcord’ByCon .once'Wrote: There’s music in the sigliing of a reed; There’s music in the speaking of a rill; ; There’s music in all things if man had ears; The earth is but the music of the sphere's.’’' Perhaps this is what two actors, Gerome Ragni and James Rade had i in mind when they and Galt Mac- [Dermot, Staten Island composer, got together to combine their tal ents in what may well be the great est theatrical event of this decade.. , ' Hair is really a hetrogeneaus happening, a protest against social conventions, a scandal, a strand of grafitti, a masterpiece. A listener to the soundtrack of this Broadway tribal love-rock nausical is struck by many feelings. One rninute he feels the dismay of sllifCkUtht; next, fun, admiration, or even envy of the actors for their candid freedom in their pro-love, anti-establishment world. There is music in man’s hair; his skin color, his dreams; his successes, his failures; yes, even ; in his we es. ■hu.’ On the musical side, MacDermot uses Hair as a melting pot for varied sounds and rhythms reflec ted in electronic, rock, swing, coun try and western, and Oriental types of music. The music pulsates with the sounds of today. The lyrics re flect curiosity, tongue-in-chcek humor, innocence, candor, and the restlessness of today’s youth. Highlights from the album Hair include the following: which gives the tribe’s .answer to what they consider as society’s curse—alcohol. “Colored Spade” is described as “an ethnic experience” dedicated to ail the world’s “Uncle Toms” . . . Step 'n F'etchit, Aunt Jemima, Amos and Andy. “I’m Black” and “Ain’t Got No” are both powerful uncensored lists of some of the things denied to a man because of his skin color. “Initials” exhibits sheer fun with letters. “Hair,” the main theme of the musical, hails today’s phenomenon of the mind’s liberation, symbolized by the display of hair. From Side Two: “Be-In” is a raga-rock which might be appropriate for a tribal love-in. “Where Do I Go,” a lovely song which brings home the message of th6 perennial quest of youth, has poignant lyrics. “Black Boys” is a hilarious tune dedicated to George Wallace. It’s ’ my favorite. “Walking In Space” is a beautiful selection, yet difficult to describe . . . about the tribe’s attempt to ex plain their use of miud-expauding drugs. ■ . “Three-Five-Zero-Zero” is filled with weird sounds—it’s an almost surrealistic anti-war song. “VViiat a Piece of Work in Man” utilizes lyrics by Shakespeare. “Good Morning Starshiiie” and the “Flesh Failures” (Let the Sun shine In) are both stirring poems which glow, shimmer, and shine . . . Both' usher ih the happiness which is predicted by the Age of Aqua rius. Hair and is highly entertaining. Though, in my opinion, the voices of the cast do not sound as professional as the Fifth Dimension singing a medley of the show’s songs, or the Cowsills singing the main theme, I find that listening to the sound track is a real experience and gives an indication of the honesty and fun which characterize Hair’s cast and amuse its audience. The Salemite wishes to express its most genuine appreciation to Miss Nellie Jo Lee, United States Student Press Association Field Representative, for her construc tive criticisms, helpful suggest ions and enthusiastic encourage ment concerning The Salemite and its new staff. while others take time to rest. Gramley Answers Salem College Finances Herself IS full of musical richness (Editor’s note: See related letter to the Editor on page 2} In response to students’ recent questions and complaints concern ing Salem’s policy on accepting federal aid. Dr. Gramley has com mented on what this policy is, and why Salem pursues it. Dr. Gramley pointed out that Salem’s financial status at present is very good. We have no debts to any bank or creditor. Our new Fine Arts Center is entirely paid for, as are all the other buildings on campus. He stated that since 1958 the col lege has received National Defense Student Loan money, and funds for “Aquarius” is a tribute to the Age of Aquarius, the water-bearer, which began in 1924. It is char acterized by “harmony and under standing peace and love . . . de scribing a mystical, wonderful age where everyone can live together in harmony. It contains a haunting melody and visionary lyrics. It is one of the most popular on the album. Salemites Spend Spring Break At Charlotte, Atlanta Meetings “Donna,” a rock tune about a I sixteen-yeaii-old ‘ ■;vlrgiti; - asks the poignant q.ucfStionji ‘^Is the missing Donna my, madcinna ?” • “Hashish” is a turned-on ,,sound Salem’s recent spring recess be gan and ended wdk conventions for several students interested in teach ing. First, the Student North Caro lina Education Association con vened in Charlotte, March 21-22. 'One week later, March 28-29, the Southeastern Regional Conference of the Student National Education Association met in Atlanta. Salem ites attending in Charlotte were Pat Carter, Carol Carter, Jane Horton, and faculty representatives, Dr. Lucia Karnes and Mrs. Harriett Garrett of the Education Depart ment. One representative, Jane Horton, participated in the Atlanta meeting. Continued on Page € the purchase of books for the lib rary. A similar application for aid will be made this year. Other than these funds, and federal aid which a chemistry professor received for a private research project some years ago, Salem has received no federal funds. There are several reasons for this. First of all, most federal aid programs are adapted to . large, re search-oriented , universities,, rather than a small undergraduate—teach ing college such as Salem. If any one would then ask “Why don’t we apply for State'aid ?” , it is due to the fact that state aid to private schools is non-existent. The state is facing difficulties just keeping state-supported institutions running. Government grants, money which is interest free, for classroom build ings or libraries pay only a fraction of the total costs of these build ings; the rest of the money must be raised by the college before any federal aid whatsoever can be ob tained. This is often very difficult to do. Even assuming that federal aid is obtained, all the money must be used for the exact purpose for which it was originally intended. In short, there can be no redistri bution of funds if the need arises. The government carefully audits all accounts. Also, before two years ago, government grants could only be obtained for income-producing buildings, such as dormitories or student unions. It is interesting to note that Salem’s proposed indoor ..swimming pool does not qualify for federal aid under present regula tions. Government loans at low interest ■. rates may also be obtained for con structing . new buildings, but these loans have the stigma of a forty year mortgage attached. Dr. Gram- ley says that it is pre ferable to raise gift money to con struct a building (as was done with Gramley dormitory) rather than to burden the students of the next forty years with paying it off. Finally, Dr. Gramley commented on the rising cost of tuition at Salem each year. He said that this is merely another reflection of the inflation that is affecting every portion of our economy. Even with this galloping inflation, he is proud that Salem is able to pay most of its maintenance help higher than the required minimum wage, and has been able to raise professors’ salaries, too..,
Salem College Student Newspaper
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April 11, 1969, edition 1
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