Between 1846 and 1966, in the unlikely creative world of Bartholomew County, Indiana, innovation prevailed and quality of life was pursued. We can't divorce innovation then from what is available now; the past led to the present, and the present shapes the future. Performers, educators, and philanthropists of a bygone era actively brought forth new ideas. Worlds of church, school, and community overlapped and interacted almost seamlessly for decades as a backdrop for musical creativity.
There were no "stodgy" old-timers as a cursory view of music history might falsely suggest. Joseph I. Irwin, A. D. Fillmore, Francis J. Crump, John Smith Crump, J. G. Schwartzkopf, Benjamin Hutchins, William and Jennie Bates, Arthur Mason, Will Harding, Jessie Kitchen, Ida Edinburn, G. Chester and Elise Kitzinger, Gary F. Davis Sr., Elsie Sweeney, Nettie Sweeney Miller, J. Irwin Miller, the Barbour brothers, and E. Wayne Berry, and many more, were innovators (often in their twenties and thirties!), not maintainers of a sacred status-quo.
So is our world of instant musical gratification better, richer, and more diverse? The final answer is ours to decide. Putting our minds and imaginations in the world of some outstanding people during the 120-year scope of this book can enrich our viewpoint and help us assess our self-indulgent musical souls. As you read this book, escape your present by turning to the past, then return to your present with a fresh perspective on what to do with it.
