While completed the music in his life time, chapin did not live to see its first performance. Cotton patch gospel matthew clarence jordan hopefaithprayer. Ive loved this since i saw the broadway cast do it nearly 40 years ago. Review by patti king, greenmont oakpark community church, kettering, oh cotton patch gospel is a delightful retelling of the story of christ mixing humor and poignancy. Harry chapin cotton patch gospel dvd for sale online ebay. Pick one thats 25 characters or less and includes a letter. A filmed stageplay recounting the story of jesus as set in modern day georgia with music and reverent humor added. A highly talented and popular singer, he gained much fame for his selfdescribed story song, a narrative form that borrowed heavily from older talking blues primarily dealing with themes related to lost opportunities, cruel ironies and lifes hypocrisies. Cotton patch gospel, a new musical with songs by the late harry chapin, is a downhome retelling of the new testament, a kind of crackerbarrel turnabout of alec mccowens st. This greatest story ever retold is based on the book the cotton patch version of matthew and john by clarence jordan in which the gospel is presented in a setting of. It brings the far awayplaces of nazareth, jerusalem, and bethlehem closer to home atlanta and valdosta. Cotton patch gospel played to packed houses and unanimous critical praise from numerous publications, including. These songs were the last composing that harry chapin ever did.
Born out of the civil rights struggle, these now classic translations of much of the new testament bring the faraway places of scipture closer to home. Recorded by wayne powell on march 14, 2010 using a flip video camcorder. Cotton patch gospel streaming video purchase by michael meece. Cotton patch gospel cotton patch gospel has been highly acclaimed by critics and public alike. The cotton patch gospel, by koinonia farm founder clarence jordan, recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of paul and peter into the language and culture of the mid20th century south. Something brewing in gainesville i did itmama is here it isnt easy.
Tom key who stars in this production wrote a play based on jordans cotton patch gospels, and then harry chapin supplied the music that turned the play into a fullblown offbroadway musical. Check out cotton patch gospel by harry chapin on amazon music. The cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of paul and peter into the language and culture of the mid20th century united states south. Sep 08, 2014 more than a decade later, these writings provided the inspiration for the cotton patch gospel, a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics by harry chapin, that is a mainstay in community theatres across the country. All the lyrics and translations to the album cotton patch gospel by harry chapin.
Apr 30, 1985 harry chapin carved a small niche for himself in pop history as a sort of folkrock sherwood anderson. Written by tom key and russell treyz, and with music and lyrics by harry, the musical adapted clarence jordans cotton patch versions of the gospels of matthew and john for the stage. Cotton patch gospel the column online by john garcia. Cotton patch gospel playing in chicago the harry chapin archive. Dave marsh of rolling stone describes the songs in cotton patch gospel some of the best songs harry chapin ever wrote. The music and lyrics were completed by folk singer harry chapin shortly before his. Cotton patch gospel, a musical production of the gospels of matthew and john, is coming to the varsity center in carbondale and bringing with it a cast handpicked by the. The music and lyrics were completed by folk singer harry chapin shortly before his death in 1981. Cotton patch would be fun for a church or youth group to see as part of a lenten or summer series of films on the life of christ.
The cotton patch version of the new testament rockhay. Now for the first time collected in a single, hardcover volume, this edition comes complete with a new introduction by president jimmy carter, a foreword by will d. The play is based on clarence jordans book the cotton patch version of matthew and john. Chicago tribune, chicago sun times, chicago reader, lerner publications and. Apr 5, 2012 more than a translation, the cotton patch gospel continues to make clear the startling relevance of scripture for today. It brings the far away places of nazareth, jerusalem, and bethlehem closer to home atlanta.
Harry chapin cotton patch gospel vhs, 1989 for sale. Harry chapin cotton patch gospel album lyrics letssingit. It is a rare dramatic presentation that succeeds in both entertaining us and sharing fresh insight into the gospel the greatest story ever told. Somethins brewin in gainesville baby born to god i did it mama is herei did it reprise it isnt easy sho nuff from that day on turn it around when i look up aint no busy signals spitball miracle on stone mountain love the lord your god blind date goin to atlanta. What is unique about the cotton patch gospel is that it brings the language, setting, time and place into the midst of the racial tension developing in the south in the 1950s and 1960s. Aug 21, 2010 the cotton patch gospel was written by a local atlanta talent, tom keys.
A sense of humor and a hunger and thirst for the relevance and application of the gospel are needed if cotton patch is to be enjoyed and appreciated. Provided to youtube by the orchard enterprises something brewing in gainesville harry chapin cotton patch gospel. Cotton patch gospel provision theater company the revamped version of this entertaining musical features the reverential retelling of the gospels of matthew and john in a contemporary southern setting, set to bluegrass music. Hes a hugely engaging personality with serious acting chops. I have been having an intriguing time this winter studying the commercial versions, from an early 1950s release called day of triumph to jesus of montreal as part of my doctor of ministry study of images of. Jud is performed by alicia davis as the messenger angel. This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the same title. With tom key, scott ainslie, pete corum, jim lauderdale. Cotton patch gospel continues until july 1 at huron country playhouse, grand bend. Along the way, he plays a multitude of characters from governor pilate of. Choose from 6 of our scratch made entrees, including the new chipotle maple chicken, all served with a homestyle fixin. The cotton patch gospel, by koinonia farm founder clarence jordan, recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of the new testament into the language and culture of the midtwentiethcentury south born out of the civil rights struggle, these nowclassic translations of much of the new testament bring the faraway places of scripture closer to home. A visionary during the struggle for the civil rights of all gods children, he founded an interracial community called koinonia.
Cotton patch gospel premiered at the lambs theater in new york city on october 21, 1981. While theres laughs about georgiathe south, the serious lessons from jesus are brought home by beautiful music and dialogue. Featuring the musical talents of john and beth chase, experience the. Neighbor news bethany arts series to feature harry chapins offbroadway smash hit cotton patch gospel. Harry chapin consideredhimself born to write music for cotton patch gospel. Tragically, his fatal automobile accident occurred before he could ever see the show performed live. Cotton patch gospel, a new musical with songs by the late harry. The cotton patch gospel was written by a local atlanta talent, tom keys. In over performances, key has created the role of matthew and twenty one others. Cotton patch gospel offers downhome spin on story of jesus. Cotton patch gospel by harry chapin on amazon music amazon. John chase first performed cotton patch gospel as matthew with studio. Harry chapin was the composer and lyricist for the play.
The productions country songs move the characters through the stages. Sniper was finally rereleased in june, 2002 originally given a working title of sweet city suite, the album tells the story of various characters one might run into in a city. This awardwinning musical drama is a legslappin, toetappin, handclappin hoedown of a story the retells the gospels of matthew and john translated into present day southern vernacular. Cotton patch gospel at the dallas theatre recent topics. This production now has added four performers, forming a small gospel choir. Cotton patch gospel is musical play about the life of jesus christ. And chapins show cotton patch gospel a crackerbarrel retelling of the new. The popular music songwriter harry chapin collaborated with key and treyz. This award winning musical drama is a legslappin, toe tappin, hand clappin hoedown of a story that retells the gospels of matthew and john translated into present day southern vernacular.
Tragically, his fatal automobile accident occurred before he. Born out of the civil rights struggle, these now classic translations of much of the new testament bring the faraway places of scripture closer to home. Cotton patch gospel is a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics written by harry chapin and produced by philip m. Slightly overproduced and having a little of the forced feel that some of harry s studio albums possess, this album does not capture the powerfully live harry chapin. Provided to youtube by the orchard enterprises jubilation harry chapin cotton patch gospel. Both actors perform interchanging characters and voices throughout the twoact production, which is for ages 12 and older. Nonetheless, it captures harry s great iconoclastic songwriting harry takes the story song to new heights here. A musical, cotton patch gospel 1982, written by atlantabased actor tom key and stage director russell treyz, was based on jordans version of the gospels of matthew and john.
Feb 23, 2017 this post was contributed by a community member. Bethany arts series to feature harry chapins offbroadway smash hit cotton patch gospel march 12 at 4 pm at the bethany lutheran church, 76 w. It is a rare dramaticpresentation that succeeds in both entertaining us andsharing fresh insight into the gospel the greatest storyever told. The popular music songwriter harry chapin collaborated with key and treyz on the adaptation, which they completed in june 1981. Born out of the civil rights struggle, these now classic translations of much of the new testament bring the faraway places of scripture. Mar 07, 2017 bethany lutheran church will feature the bluegrass musical cotton patch gospel as part of their 2017 bethany arts series. This awardwinning musical drama is alegslappin, toetappin, handclappin hoedown of a storythe retells the gospels of matthew and john translatedinto present day southern vernacular. It ran offbroadway at the lambs theatre for 193 performances beginning in october 21, 1981. Its the story of jesus, only the times and places have been changed his life takes place in georgia.
I was moved and inspired by this modern day version of the timeless message of the gospel of matthew. Aug 07, 2014 juds betrayal of jesus scene in the august 2012 production of cotton patch gospel at the elbert theatre in elberton, ga. Oct 22, 1981 cotton patch gospel, a new musical with songs by the late harry chapin, is a downhome retelling of the new testament, a kind of crackerbarrel turnabout of alec mccowens st. Harry chapins score adds to the jubilation of the gospels as well as the flipside moments the times of loss and loneliness jesus came to save us from.
Book by tom may and russell treyz lambs theatre, offbroadway 21 october, 1981 193. The cotton patch approach to the new testament is to allow the same sense of participation in them which the early christians must have had. Performed by joey fargar and hal wells at social circle theatre. The award winning musical is based on the book the cotton patch gospel of matthew and john by clarence jordan, a bible scholar and civil rights. Harry chapins songs stream online music songs listen. Even without the video, these songs by harry chapin tell the cotton patch gospel story well. More than a decade later, these writings provided the inspiration for the cotton patch gospel, a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics by harry chapin, that is a mainstay in community theatres across the country. The music and lyrics were completed by folk singer harry. Happy hour just got a lot more exciting with the new early bird dinner menu. The cast that surrounds him has been expanded cotton patch can be performed either with just one guy and a quartet of actormusicians or with a larger company. The cotton patch gospel recasts the stories of jesus and the letters of paul and peter into the language of the mid20th century south. Not your average musical theatre fare, cotton patch gospel is a refreshing change and a reminder of why the literature of the new testament has endured. Cotton patch gospel puts jesus in civil rights era south.
Bethany art series to feature cotton patch gospel sunday. Gainesville, selma, birmingham, atlanta, washington, d. Enter your location to see which movie theaters are playing cotton patch gospel near you. Both a biblical scholar and a prophetic man of action, clarence jordan lived out the new testament in the soil of rural georgia. Harry chapin cotton patch gospel dvd for sale online. This is a song that needs no explanation jubilation this is a song that i hoped that time would bring jubilation this is a song i c. Apr 17, 2015 cotton patch would be fun for a church or youth group to see as part of a lenten or summer series of films on the life of christ. C05000 to help you find the perfect musical for your next performance, we have provided this overview of the vocal and orchestral demands for this title.
The cast of virginia repertory theaters cotton patch gospel works with great songs written by folk rock musician harry chapin just before his death in 1981 from a. Essentially a one man show with a cast of four musicians fleshing out many of the biblical characters. Cotton patch gospel provision theater company chicago. Thirty years would pass before the album would ever reach the cd format. The scenes are from the cotton patch gospel, a musical by tom key and russell treyz with music and lyrics by harry chapin. It has been said that chapin viewed his work for the cotton patch gospel as being his magnum opus. Clarence jordan died suddenly of a heart attack in 1969.
Dont let people miss on a great quote from the cotton patch gospel movie add it here. The cotton patch gospel is a colloquial translation of most of the new. Harry chapin was an american singersongwriter famous for his folk rock songs like taxi, wold, and sniper. Thanks to the legendary skill of harry chapin, the real star of this show should be the music. Mar 19, 2010 the story of jesus as if born into modernday rural georgia. Tracklist with lyrics of the album cotton patch gospel 2011 from harry chapin. New harmony theatre presents cotton patch gospel, tom key, russell treyz and harry chapins stage musical based on the new testaments books of matthew and john. A commercial cast album and video of the play are also available. As this gospel begins, they sing that somethins abrewin in gainesville. Harry chapin considered himself born to write music for cotton patch gospel. But you can pick one thats 25 characters or less and includes a letter.
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