Publisher's Synopsis
ÊJean Ritchie's Kentucky Mother GooseÊ is a collection of songs rhymes and stories recalled by Jean from her own childhood. The youngest of 14 children in a singing family from Viper Kentucky she grew up surrounded by the ballads hymns play-party songs singing games and dulcimer tunes that comprised the Ritchie Family repertoire. Her 1955 book ÊSinging Family of the CumberlandsÊ portrays the rich musical life of the Ritchies: Jean's mother Abigail; her father Balis who taught her the dulcimer; Uncle Jason a prolific collector of big ballads and songs; and her older siblings. Now in her 90s Jean has returned to the earliest recollections of her songs and the stories that surround them.ÞIn the foreword for Susan Brumfield's ÊHot Peas and Barley-O: Children's Songs and Games from ScotlandÊ Jean wrote The next thing I'm inspired to do is to recollect and write down all my memories of our childhood songs and games. Perhaps all of you will do the same. That was the first step toward this collaboration on ÊJean Ritchie's Kentucky Mother GooseÊ. The anthology contains transcriptions of the songs sung by Jean on the enclosed CD annotations and notes on the songs and related stories. The recordings include Jean singing for famed collector Alan Lomax in the 1940s and '50s and for Brumfield in the 2000s.ÞRichly illustrated with family photos from Jean's childhood and photos by her husband photographer and filmmaker George Pickow this book is a fascinating window into the musical beginnings of a true American treasure.ÞNote: Jean Ritchie passed away peacefully on the first of June 2015 shortly after the last draft of her ÊKentucky Mother GooseÊ was completed. She spent her last days at home in Berea surrounded by dear family members who filled the hours at her bedside singing their beloved Ritchie family songs. Jean was laid to rest beside her husband George Pickow in the beautiful hilltop cemetery near her family home in Viper Kentucky.
