The Joyful Sound

Welcome back to Points South! In this first episode of our third season, OA contributor David Ramsey revisits the Old Regular Baptists of Blackey, Kentucky, to hear the congregation’s distinctive style of singing and preaching. In Old Regular Baptist churches, the human voice is the sole instrument, singing lined-out hymnody, a tradition that began in parish churches in England in the early 1600’s.  You’ll hear the voices of the Old Regular Baptists as they sing, new interviews with music scholar Jeff Titon, and Dave Ramsey’s own reflections about his experience with these rare and unique sounds. Read David’s 2017 Music Issue story on the Old Regular Baptists, “Tuned Up in the Spirit,” on our website. 

This episode was produced by Sara A. Lewis, Christian Brown, David Ramsey, and Veronica Salinas, with Christian Leus and Patrick McDermott. Adam Forrester and Sydney Nichols are our Points South interns. Recordings were captured by Christian Brown. Thanks to Mount Olivet Church in Blackey, Kentucky for inviting us to record their service and speak with their members. Special thanks to Smithsonian Folkways and Jeff Titon. Thank you to Trey Pollard and Curtis Fye at Spacebomb for post-production, score, and sound design. 

This episode is supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. Hear more Points South and see bonus content at https://oxfordamerican.org/pointssouth.