Will the Circle be Unbroken, a photo from Tennessee, South

Photographer's Note

The Country Music Hall of Fame and Museum, in Nashville Tennessee, explores the vibrant and interesting history of country music in the United States, from its roots in the Appalachian folk songs of Scotch-Irish immigrants to the US, to its current place as an economic powerhouse within the music industry.

This shot is of the museum's rotunda, where the actual Hall of Fame is located. Surrounding the room are plaques honoring the great artists of country music's past (and, in a few cases, present). In the center of the room, coming down from the ceiling, is an inverted radio tower; there is also one atop the building at that very spot. This, I assume, shows the very central place of radio in the emergence of country music as a form in the 1930s, 40s and 50s.

The words around the walls read 'Will The Circle Be Unbroken', a reference to an old Christian hymn from the turn of the 20th century which has become one of country music's most covered songs. One of the oldest - and I still think the best - is the Carter Family's recording of the song from 1935. It is a reworking of the original, with different lyrics, giving the song a mournful theme and sound. The title, in their version, becomes 'Can the Circle Be Unbroken'.

The Carter Family is one of the most important and influential country music acts in history. Generally classified more as Appalachian or Hillbilly music, the Carters became the first family of country music; deeply rooted in gospel, they emerged a a radio hit just before the Great Depression, and continued recording into the 1950s. The youngest daughter of the Carter Family, June, went on to marry Johnny Cash

The lyrics to 'Can The Circle Be Unbroken?' are below, and the link will take you to Grooveshark to hear the original.

Can The Circle Be Unbroken?, The Carter Family, 1935

I was standing by the window
On one cold and cloudy day
And I saw the hearse come rolling
For to carry my mother away

Can the circle be unbroken
Bye and bye, Lord, bye and bye
There's a better home a-waiting
In the sky, Lord, in the sky

Lord, I told the undertaker
Undertaker, please drive slow
For this body you are hauling
How I hate to see her go

I followed close beside her
Tried to hold up and be brave
But I could not hide my sorrow
When they laid her in the grave

Went back home
Lord my home was lonesome
All my brothers sisters crying
What a home so sad and lone

This is my last shot from Nashville itself for now; next, into Alabama and then on to Memphis!

Larger version on Flickr, here.

bukitgolfb301, Bergenphotos, Schnappilic, krzychu30, delpeoples, timecapturer, kasianowak, abmdsudi, Sonata11, macjake, macjake, Hansaphotos has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

EstudioChispa (2182) 2013-03-19 9:18

Andrew...
I always have difficulty conveying large indoor spaces, so I recognize this as an EXTREMELY well-executed depiction of this magnificent space. Besides showing the architecture, you've got the whole title phrase, too! Well done!
And I try to stay away from "lens envy," but I did note that you used the right tool for the job. ;-)
As always (we can tell you're an educator!), the write-up was informative and entertaining. Inverted radio tower -- of course it is! But if you hadn't pointed it out, I may have seen the thing and still missed the connection.
Best,
Russ
Austin, Texas

bukitgolfb301 (53894) 2013-03-19 10:01

Hi dear Andrew

Ya aother wise framework setting by nice usage of curved advertisement boad via fisheye appraoching.
Nice work at all. Thanks a lot and have a good day!

Takero from warming Tokyo

mjw364 (1466) 2013-03-19 11:19

Hello Andrew

Interesting shapes, lines and curves in this image. Interesting note to about the Hall of Fame. I like that red upturned radio tower - maybe it's transmitting to hell - trying to usurp rock n roll as the devil's music!

You were right about my POV being to the left in my last post. I'm surprised you could remember it seems ages ago since I posted that!

Enjoy your day.

TFs

Mike

Bergenphotos (3326) 2013-03-19 12:21

Hi Andrew!

I just have to comment this as I was actually listening to this song earlier today while sitting on a quiet summit near Bergen. It's one of my favorite songs of all time!

Thanks for sharing this reference. Technically this is a good image in hard light conditions, and I see that you found a good composition which enhances the text as well as the people enjoying the museum. Well done, and thanks for the note as well!

Looking forward to see the Memphis pictures as I've been there :)

PS. I see that you are a history teacher. I am currently studying American History, so I was just thinking about asking you a question. How important has music been to the US history, and how has it been important? I would appreciate if you had time to answer (doesn't have to be a long answer...), but of course I would understand if you don't.

Have a great day,
Fredrik

Schnappilic (9692) 2013-03-19 14:09

Hello Andrew,

I like your spectacular composition and message. Well done!

Best regards,

Ovidiu

fabbs99 (17179) 2013-03-19 18:59

Hi Andrew,

Great shot.Sharpness and clarity are perfect.Impressive image with nice warm colors.Very well done.TFS.

Regards
Farhat

krzychu30 (15512) 2013-03-20 1:49

Hello Andrew,
another composition from Nashville and another time we have a proof how much is associated the city with the music.And concerning the image itself-I really like the way you composed the scene and framed this oval rotunda with the whole inscription.
Brilliant presentation!

Have a nice day
Krzysztof

delpeoples (60326) 2013-03-20 2:52

Hi Andrew

How weird, when I first saw this in thumbnail, it reminded me of a mosque! Could you get two more different places? :) Anyway, good low POV, excellent perspective and the little bit of distortion works well and it gives it an arty look. Good light management and colour too.

Cheers and have a happy day
Lisa

timecapturer (49288) 2013-03-20 7:18

Hi Andrew
an intriguing and beautifully creative composition. Superb use of the Sigma lens that always comes up trumps, but it is the clarity and light here that make this shot work so effectively. An original and imaginative presentation. Like it a lot!

Brian.

kasianowak (15760) 2013-03-21 3:12

Hi Andrew
Another great addition to your new series with musical theme. I really like the composition here, lovely geometry and the people placed randomly but in the right places.
I think a graduated filter would have made it even better but I'm not sure. But I guess it wouldn't have been possible to use a tripod there. I've shot handheld with ND grads but it's rather inconvenient.
Have a lovely day
Kasia

jcpix (14030) 2013-03-21 3:51

Hi Andrew,

Superbly chosen lens for this shot, I was immediately drawn to this photo for the perspective it offers. It's almost dizzying, but it works so nicely to create a sense of circular shape juxtaposed to the vertical columns. Looks to have been some rather difficult light, but managed well to not have any highlights blown out and there's still detail in the shaded areas. This definitely looks to have been a thoughtful composition, so "kudos" for a job well done! Love your notes too, always informative. Have a great day.

All the best from out West,

Jason

abmdsudi (88423) 2013-03-21 7:23

Hi Andrew
Lovely indoor shot seen from low point of view resulting in a very strong impact in great depth and perspective. This image renders a pleasing geometrical effect emphasizing its repeated strong rectangles, lines and curves in bold contrasting colors, pin sharp in excellent clarity. A striking image and your effort is well paid off with this fine artistic result. Great shot my friend. TFS
Best regards

Sonata11 (34119) 2013-03-21 20:04

Hello Andrew,
interesting indoor architecture of this rotunda. Wonderfully executed and presented this place. Great that you add people for scale. Like the color, sharpness, POV. Well done. Tfs.
Kind regards,
Barbara

macjake (96151) 2013-03-24 15:40

Hi Andrew
nice little scene.
I'm sure most other people commented on it too, but i do have to say it...I really enjoy the way the scene seems to wrap itself around, its just too bad you couldn't get the entire 100% of the "will" on the far left, but its certainly not a deal breaker.
and as you know, I don't really have many people in my scenes, but here it adds to the overall impact especially for size perspective.
you had a good photo time in Tennessee!
cheers
craig

Hansaphotos (11379) 2013-03-29 9:28

Hello Andrew

Good use of the wide angle lens to create such an effective composition from this interesting museum. As a curiosity I can mention that I have a version of the song "Will the circle be unbroken" on an old CD named Bergen Roots History, a local tribute to that genre. A nice upwards POV you have chosen here. A nice combination of architecture and at the same time convey the interesting story. By the way, thanks for the lesson you gave my son, Fredrik:) Fine work! TFS. I wish you a happy Easter.

Best regards, Erling