“Songs of Slavery and Emancipation” Come to John Brown’s Hometown

When Mat Callahan started digging up songs that had been buried by history, he didn't know he'd eventually be standing in John Brown's hometown performing them. That's where we are now.

On June 22, The John Brown Project welcomes the Singing a Journey of Freedom tour to Torrington as part of a two-week journey tracing Underground Railroad routes in a loop through seven states, from Lexington, Kentucky to North Elba, NY and back to Harpers Ferry, West Virginia. The Torrington stop is one of nine on a tour timed to America's 250th anniversary.

Dr. Kathy Bullock, music historian, choral conductor, and Professor Emerita at Berea College, leads the choir through selections from the Songs of Slavery and Emancipation collection. Mat Callahan, whose research brought the songs back to light, speaks on the history of the songs and the process of interpreting them for a modern audience. The evening closes with a conversation open to everyone in the room.

The performance will be filmed as part of Pushing the Rock, The John Brown Project's forthcoming documentary series on systemic racism in America, supported by CT Humanities. Co-presented with Our Culture is Beautiful and the Torrington Historical Society.

Suggested donation: $20, or $10 if you bring a nonperishable food item for the local food pantry. Nobody turned away for cost.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher John Brown: America250