Maggi Smith-Dalton: The answer is blowin' in the wind — Mary Travers 1936-2009 - Salem, MA - Salem GazettePosted using
ShareThisMaggi Smith-Dalton: The answer is blowin' in the wind — Mary Travers 1936-2009
By Maggi Smith-Dalton/ Naumkeag Notations
Thu Oct 01, 2009, 04:42 PM EDT
Salem - “These people,” Ted said, as we unpacked our guitars, banjos, mandolins and assorted paraphernalia in the front of the sunlight-splashed classroom, “these people don’t just play and sing about the topics we’ve been covering in our history class, but they live what they sing.”
As I unzipped my 12-string guitar case, I glanced up, surprised and thrilled. Our partner in this educational artist-in-residence class on the 1960s had just given us the highest accolade of all. Ted was a Connecticut high school teacher who had hosted us in his classroom for several years through a creative arts in education program, and he was the kind of passionate teacher we loved working with.
His students studied the decades of the 1960s academically, and we generally came in near the end of their semester to give living musical and narrative voice to those tumultuous and momentous times. Our music, most of which was “news” to our young students, in turn evoked the years which formed our own earliest impressions of the world — and the role and responsibilities of music in that world.
My introduction to this particular suburban class of privileged young people began as always, with every audience, everywhere. “Someday, sometime, somewhere, in your life,” said I, surveying the array of young faces (some studiously affecting a state of pre-determined boredom, some awake and alight) “and, make no mistake, you will face this at least once in your life — someday, you will come to a place where you must stand up, speak out, be counted, for what you believe in your heart. You must speak up, stand up, no matter what the crowd, the consensus, or your own head tells you is the safer, saner, more socially-acceptable path. It will be the pivotal event in your life, defining who you really are. We are about to visit courageous people who did just that: they stood up; they spoke out; they sang out; and they were counted.” And then Jim and I began.
Every singer lights their unique candle from the flames of those who filled the world with song before them. And so, I must by every true light, give voice and testimony to the influence of Mary Travers, late and lamented songstress of Peter, Paul and Mary.
Mary Travers was “song in action.” She was not, despite the early emphasis the media placed on her good looks and lovely voice, merely a great “chick singer.” The power of music wedded to words ensured that the stands that Travers and her colleagues made would resonate with power to change hearts and open minds. Their support for civil-rights and antiwar movements, whether they were performing at the 1963 March on Washington or joining in the 1965 Selma to Montgomery voting-rights march, was part and parcel of their calling as musicians.
Most importantly, while never abandoning the pure pursuit of artistic excellence, Peter, Paul and Mary stood up as full participants in our democracy at political rallies and social-justice demonstrations in the United States and abroad. When the group disbanded, Travers continued to perform at political events around the world and continued her career as a solo act, to further artistic success. She was a powerful example of woman as leader.
The thorniest problems of life will always be with us. Human life can be a difficult proposition, and it requires thoughtfulness, mindfulness, at all times. Social justice promotes understanding, and leads to a better chance for peaceful co-existence.
I know without question that music requires, above all, a mature and active sense of responsibility. The power of music is such that, when you step on a stage to perform, joyfully sharing your talents and brains and dedication to your craft, you must never lose sight of the fact that you are a conduit of emotional and intellectual forces which have the power to completely change lives. I have always regarded music not merely as a profession, but as a calling.
That responsibility is even more importantly remembered in situations where you have the chance to promote enlightened human virtues in the face of hate, ignorance, or fear.
For this understanding, which has guided my own life as an artist, and will continue to guide my life as a full-fledged participant in our democracy, I send my heartfelt thanks to Mary Travers, and all the brave women and men of song who shaped the person I am today. I will miss her living voice as we all navigate the blowin’ winds of change — but will always hear her in my heart.
***
Musician, historian and prize-winning author, Maggi Smith-Dalton is a specialist in 19th- and 20th-century music, history and culture from parlor and stage. In addition to musical performance, lecturing and teaching, she has experience as a public radio host, in theatrical and television performance and in a variety of media and art projects.
Maggi, with partner and husband Jim, has performed and taught American and Celtic music and history, in concert and by giving public history courses, nationwide. Published authors and recording artists, they are currently preparing a book and a recording on music in Salem’s history. Maggi is cofounder and codirector of imhct.org/The American History and Music Project and founding president of the Salem History Society. E-mail Maggi directly at Maggi@singingstring.org.
