Songs of America's Railroads: A Chautauqua Event in Sunriver
Posted By: Lisa McGean
Date Posted: 5/18/2009
The Deschutes Public Library will sponsor an Oregon Chautauqua program from the Oregon Council for the Humanities “Magic Carpet Made of Steel: Songs of America’s Railroads”. This free, public program will take place on Friday, May 22nd, at 11:00 a.m. at the Sunriver Area Public Library.
Jeni Foster grew up on the high plains of Montana listening to the far-off whistles of trains that evoked images of exotic places and people who lives were very different from hers. The glory days of the great American Railway system are long gone, but hundreds of folk and popular songs remain to tell the story of our once-great romance with the rails. History resonates in the songs of construction gangs, Civil Rights workers, and American composers like Duke Ellington, Aaron Copland, Woody Guthrie, and Steve Goodman. Jeni Foster will discuss the folk music that served as a soundtrack and emblem for the golden era of railway travel and show how these songs reflect a particularly American sense of adventure, opportunity, and freedom.
OCH is an independent, nonprofit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities that is dedicated to the belief that knowledge and ideas are fundamental to the health of our communities.
For more information about this and other library programs, please visit the library at www.dpls.us or call Lisa McGean at 312-1034. Those wishing to attend events that have special needs resulting from a disability should contact Lisa McGean at 312-1034 at least three days prior to the event.