'New Harmonies' Exhibit Traces Roots Music at West Deptford Library

In a few days, you won’t have to make the four-hour drive through Beltway traffic to check out the Smithsonian.

You’ll just have to cruise down Crown Point Road to the West Deptford Free Public Library, which is hosting the Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit, New Harmonies: Celebrating American Roots Music from April 26 through June 6, in conjunction with the New Jersey Council for the Humanities (NJCH).

West Deptford’s version of the traveling exhibit will include memorabilia from the RCA Victor company, which had its origins in Camden as the Victor Talking Machine Company, as well as photos of local artists and a showcase of roots music instruments.

The main exhibit, which is part of the Museum on Main Street project, looks at the progression of American roots music–blues, country western, folk and gospel music, as well as zydeco, Tejano, bluegrass and klezme–and tells the story through music, photographs, instruments, lyrics and artist profiles.

“The idea is to look at the history of America through roots music,” Mary Rizzo, NJCH’s associate director.

Rizzo said the program is wide-ranging, dealing with everything from how culture shaped roots music to its influence in politics.

New Harmonies is part of a three-year tour, and is the sixth program taken on by the Museum on Main Street project.

The free program events in West Deptford include:

• Friday, April 29 from 6:30-8:30 p.m.: Opening reception with Kathy DeAngelo and Dennis Gormley of McDermott’s Handy, providing Celtic music
• Saturday, April 30, 1:30 p.m.: Traditional instruments of Appalachia with David Field
• Thursday, May 5, 7 p.m.: Klezmer & beyond with Odessa Klezmer Band
• Saturday, May 7, 10 a.m.: South Jersey Coffeehouses revisited–concert reunion
• Thursday, May 12, 7 p.m.: Bugle calls of the American Civil War with George Rabbai
• Saturday, May 14, 1:30 p.m.: An afternoon of blues with Ronald Campbell
• Sunday, May 15, 1:00 p.m.: From the Atlantic to Appalachia: Traditional music of the British Isles in early America with Charlie Zahm
• Thursday, May 26, 7 p.m.: Traditional music and the wedding celebration with Rita Moonsammy
• Monday, June 6, 7 p.m.: An evening of gospel with Katrice Cornett & Highest Praise

Admission to the exhibit is free, but registration is requested for all special programs. For more information, visit westdeptford.lib.nj.us and to register, call the library at 856-845-5593.