Heard at Every Turn : Traditional Music in South Carolina

Abstract

The title of this catalog and exhibition reflects a frequent observation made by folks traveling through the South in the 19th century. They noted how rich and prevalent music was - it was "heard at every turn." In 1916, music scholar Cecil Sharp commented that singing was "as common and almost as universal a practice as speaking." This music was manifest in churches, juke joints, fiddlers' contests, county fairs, revival meetings, and community centers, among other venues.