VOA – CONNECT
EPISODE #110
AIR DATE 02 21, 2020
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Slacklife
((SOT))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
((The things we are doing are inherently dangerous, there are risks. If you mess up one
simple task can cost you your life.))
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
The Country Singer
((SOT))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
"I’m at American by birth and a Texan by the grace of a merciful and loving God. You
raise corn, you rear children. So I had a Christian rearing.”))
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Music for Two
((SOT))
((Masood Omari, Tabla for Two))
“Harmonium with this style, no one can play like this because she’s playing very soft,
graceful and gentle.”
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) Slacklife
((Banner: Slacklife)
((Reporter/Camera: Arturo Martinez)
((Map: Moab, Utah )
((Main characters: 1 male))
((Sub characters: 1 male))
((Drone footage: Sylvan Christensen, Mercadi Carlson))
((Banjo singer: Amelia Fatsi))
((Guitar song by: Patrick Thomas McCurry))
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
You really have to try and push past that mental blockage of everything telling you not
to go out there. And when you do that, when you push past that fear, you get to a sense
of flow state where everything else drops away and the only thing that matters is what
you're doing right now. And I think that's what really pushed me into highlining.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
My name is Sylvan Christensen and I am a canyoneering and climbing guide.
Slacklining is the act of balancing on either a one or two inch [25 or 50 mm] piece of flat
webbing using just your body.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
I was born here in Moab, Utah. And then we moved to Las Vegas. About a year after we
moved to Vegas, both of my parents passed away. It was ruled a murder-suicide. You're
faced with reality that life is fleeting. These people that mean the world to you and are
supposed to always be there sometimes go away. And I think that pushed me in the
direction of make the most out of life, push yourself, see what you're capable of.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
This slacklife, as we call it, called to me very strongly. You sort of go from normal,
everyday life into this state of high alertness high emotions. You are sort of exposed out
there, but the fact that you can calm that voice down in your mind and push yourself to
do it anyways is very empowering and it keeps you coming back.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Right now we are where I live, which is the slacklife headquarters, and we are all sort of
this combined force of athletic activities. Lots of skydiving, BASE jumping, rock climbing,
highlining, slacklining, canyoneering. You think of it, out here, somebody here does it.
((NATS))
((Andy Lewis, Slackliner))
I definitely was part of the golden era of highlining. So, as a pioneer, I definitely was
very creative. And now, it's just, everything has exploded in every direction. So, this
house has become like a community location, so, a lot of things happen from this spot.
So, that's why we've got the whole packing loft here. Sometimes it's very inspiring,
because like, I will have had a long day and then he'll come back and be, "Hey, we got
to rack for the next mission," and I'll think "Oh gosh,” but it keeps us both on our toes,
so.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Want to do some slacklining, love?
((Mercadi Carlson, Rock climber))
Yeah.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Lots of slacklines, got a couple of tightlines. As you can see we've got chickens. It's egg
laying time. They're singing the egg song.
((Mercadi Carlson, Rock climber))
Nice, baby.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
We've got a little bit of a midline, which is a slackline up in the tree. Get some exposure
training before you go out to the cliff.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Slacklining is actually been around since the 60s. Climbers in Yosemite started stringing
webbing up between trees as part of their off time activity to help with their balance and
help with their mental state, and it has since evolved into sort of its own sport. The
highlining in particular is sort of still a niche enough activity that, as we're pushing, we're
accomplishing records. We are existing in spaces where no other human has ever
existed before. And you feel that inspiration and it fuels to your activities. It fuels your
drive, your want for more.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
The things we are doing are inherently dangerous. There are risks. If you mess up in
one area, in one simple knot, didn't lock your carabiner, one simple task, if you mess
that up, it could cost you your life.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
It takes a lot of skill, a lot of practice, a lot of knowledge to know that you can safely rig
these lines up and be okay.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
It's your life, right? You've got to pay attention to it or else you might die.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Beautiful.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
It's nice to have people you can trust and rely on, you know? You come out here with
somebody, like Cady and I, and I can be like, "Hey, go build that anchor over there,"
and I know that that person is going to do it right and I can trust my life in their hands,
you know? That's the kind of friendships you're building.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Right now we are at the Fruit Bowl, the birthplace of GGBY.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
GGBY is one of the major slacklining festivals in the world. It's really a great area for
people to come out and congregate and highline together.
((NATS - Banjo song))
No more shackles on my feet
I'll fly away
I'll fly away, oh Glory
I'll fly away in the morning
When I die hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away
When I die hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away
((JP Baric – Slackliner))
I don't think I've really experienced something like this in my life. It’s in the middle of
nowhere. Like, we're out here, no cell phone coverage, you know, hundreds of people
camping. You had to hike to the area. But you're really out, kind of, just removed from
society, which can be great to kind of sit back and relax and really just reflect on life and
what you're looking to do and what you've done in the past.
((Crowd at festival))
It's definitely like a big family. Like, everyone's just here to hold each other up and just,
like, support each other. Yeah, you definitely feel that, every time you're out there.
((Patrick Thomas McCurry – Slackliner))
When I go out there, my heart's racing, and it feels amazing when you come off of it,
you feel like you're high on life. Seven years ago or so I wouldn't ever have thought I
would be doing something like this. You know, I didn't think I even had that sort of skill.
((Crowd at festival))
How does it feel?
((Slackliner))
Terrifying.
((NATS – Guitar music by Patrick Thomas McCurry))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
The fact that I went through such a tragic experience at a young age, I was 11, it could
have taken me down a very different path. I could have let that hate build up and, you
know, I could have ended up in similar situation, addicted to drugs, but getting into the
slacklife I think really changed my life.
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Love through song
((SOT))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
"When your baby girl has a baby girl, nothing else can be compared to love squared.“
BREAK ONE
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK B
PKG ((Larry Gatlin; Country Music Singer))
((Banner: Music in the Veins ))
((Executive Reporter: Marsha James))
((Camera: Kaveh Rezaei)
((Map: Nashville, TN ))
((Main characters: 1 Male))
((NATS playing guitar))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
I enjoy songwriting more than I can even begin to express. It is a spiritual experience for
me. I wrote realizing that thousands of songs are never going to be heard. I wrote a
song, I don't remember the exact melody. I'll make it up now. (Singing) Few will hear,
fewer will care. Still, fewer will understand. So I ask God, why am I doing this? He
answered, because you can. That’s why I do it. I'm grateful for it, giving him the glory
but I'll take the credit.
See, the songs, every word you need for those songs is in the dictionary. Poppa knows
what order they come in.
((NATS playing guitar))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
I'm an American by birth and a Texan by the grace of a merciful and loving God. I was
raised by hardworking people, God fearing people. Hand raising, shouting and singing
and praising God people. See, in Texas you raise corn, you rear children. So I had a
Christian rearing.
((NATS Music))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
The music that was in our house was church music. It was the songs out of the hymn
book. My grandfather Clib 'Teapot' was his nickname Doan. He was a wonderful man
and he was a great singer. He could hit a high 'woo woo woo woo' a high B flat on the
day he died at 84 years old. He taught us to sing out of that church hymn book.
((NATS Music))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
That and gospel quartet music. So that's what I was raised in. In addition to that, one of
my earliest great influences, my crazy Uncle James, was a great jazz pianist. He
introduced me to incredible jazz and pop music. For which I’m very grateful.
The other influence that was just about the time that rock and roll was happening
((NATS Music))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
Of course, Elvis,
((NATS Music))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
'Isn't that right, Elvis? All right, son'
((Sings and impersonates Elvis))
‘Love me tender... Thank you very much.'
((NATS Music))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
I think my love for the word. Kind of came when I heard this song and I was just a kid.
And I think it may very well be the most incredible lyric in the English language. Listen to
this.
((Sings))
Could we with ink the ocean fill?
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry,
nor could the scroll contain the whole,
though stretched from sky to sky.
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
Could we with ink the ocean fill? That that is Shakespearean. You know, that is John
Milton. That is great poetry. And it was found written on the walls of an insane asylum
by an anonymous scribe. Nobody knows who wrote that. It kind of makes you wonder
who was crazy
((NATS Music – Broken Lady She’s a broken lady…))
((Music: Broken Lady by Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers - Courtesy Larry
Gatlin))
((Stills: Courtesy Larry Gatlin))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
Brother Steve and Rudy and I have had a wonderful career. We're grateful for it. They're
my best friends. We give each other room. That's how we have stayed in business and
been singing together for sixty three years. I'm 70. We started when I was six and a half,
Steve was four and a half and Rudy was two. One little talent show in Abilene, Texas.
((NATS Music – audio from Gatlin Brothers talent show))
((NATS Music – All the Gold in California All the gold…))
((Music: All the Gold in California by Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers -
Courtesy Larry Gatlin))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
My lord, we had 40 top 40 records, eight number one records. I wrote all of them.
((NATS Music – All the Gold in California …in California is in a bank in the…))
((Music: All the Gold in California by Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers -
Courtesy Larry Gatlin))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
I left Nashville in 92 because I felt it going, you know, you reach a peak.
((NATS Music – American with a Remington You’re not the first that’s ever tried
to kill me. ))
((Music Video: American with a Remington by Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin
Brothers - Courtesy Larry Gatlin))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
So far, the brothers and I have not had to quit. We can still sing the notes every night,
every night. But the dates are a little fewer and farther between. We love the heartland
of America.
((NATS Music – American with a Remington Cause I’m an American with a
Remington. ))
((Music Video: American with a Remington by Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin
Brothers - Courtesy Larry Gatlin))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
We’ll go sing at little five and six hundred seat theaters. And we won't make hundred
fifty thousand dollars a night. We'll take what God gives us. I have seen in this town
people, old stars, hang on, hang on. There's nothing worse than seeing somebody past
their time. Get out of the way. You've taken up the spotlight and taken time. Let the
young bucks and young ladies come in. You've had your time now.
((NATS Music – American with a Remington You’re not the first that’s ever tried
to kill me. ))
((Music Video: American with a Remington by Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin
Brothers - Courtesy Larry Gatlin))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
On the Opry, the folks who run it have brought in new artists.
A lot of people say, ‘Well, it's not country music anymore. They don't have…’ I am not
going to be an old curmudgeon and stand on the sidelines and say, ‘By God it ain’t
country music anymore’. No, they don't have a lot of steel guitars and fiddles on there.
They're doing it their way. Cheer for them. Root for them. Hope their dreams come true.
((NATS Music Grand Ole Opry))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
((Singing)) When your baby girl has a baby girl, nothing else can be compared to love
squared. Our daughter, Kristen, had two baby girls, Parker and Campbell, our
granddaughter. And my son's new son; my son, Joshua Cash Gatlin; his name is Cash
Caldwell Gatlin. And holding that little boy and having him say, ‘Poppa’. And sitting there
and play on my guitar playing (Singing) Jesus loves me. And he goes, he stares kind of
like Elvis. The first time I did it, I held him in my lap and played Jesus Loves Me, he
turned around and did not blink for the entire song, did not blink his eyes. It was like…
And I play it for him every morning.
So that... Your family, your blood. Yeah, awards are fine. We make a good living. But
your blood, your blood, your family comes first.
((NATS Music))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Tabla for Two
((SOT))
((My most respected teacher, Masood Omari, he is originally from Afghanistan))
BREAK TWO
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
BLOCK C
((PKG)) Tabla for Two
((Banner: Tabla for Two))
((Reporter/Camera: June Soh)
((Map: Washington, D.C ))
((Main characters: 1 Male, 1 Female
((NAT of Music))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
I think that it's a very big deal culturally, what we're doing, to bring these, especially
Afghanistan and America, together in music because music speaks all languages.
((NAT of Music))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
I am from Erie, Pennsylvania and living here in the Washington, D.C. area. My most
respected teacher Masood Omari, he is originally from Afghanistan.
((NAT of Music))
Our band is called Tabla for Two. The tabla that Masood is playing and I also play, the
tabla is an Eastern percussion instrument. It’s a drum.
((Masood Omari, Tabla for Two))
This is the goat skin. And the middle part, the black here, burning the steel and it’s
coming from the steel powder and then pasting with a strong glue and put it in the
center here. And it makes a cosmic sound, you can see?
((NAT of Music))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
We play three different kinds of music. We play classical music. And we play traditional
music of Afghanistan and India. And we play new music for the New World, we call it.
It's our signature music and it is composed by Masood. It's for two tabla players.
((NAT of Music))
((Popup Banner: The duo play every day in Greenway’s basement outside
Washington.))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
Throughout this downstairs, which we call the Tablasphere, we create the music and
practice the music and occasionally have guests.
((NAT of Music))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
I met Masood approximately eight years ago here in Washington. And it was a
showroom of beautiful Afghan antiques and clothing and rugs and jewelry. I have never
in my life seen their culture in that way. And I realized that he was this amazing tabla
player and I asked for lessons. I didn't know at the time where this was going. All I
knew is that I had a huge desire and a force pushing me to learn to play the instrument.
((NAT of Music))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
After a life as a visual artist and coming from a family of artists, I grew up listening to
classical music and American Jazz. And my father was a classical violinist. I really was
very close to music.
((NAT of Music))
((Masood Omari, Tabla for Two))
When I saw first Abigail, she doesn’t understand the language of Afghanistan. She
understand the beat and melody. She was very exciting to learn. She learned quickly.
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
I felt this amazing challenge and I wanted to play the music. I just couldn't. I wasn't
getting there fast enough for me. I wanted to get there now. I practiced many, many
hours. I practiced every day.
((NAT of Music))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
And then, he said I should learn to play the harmonium. I never thought I would be
playing the harmonium. So, I had my first lesson on the harmonium. I fell in love with it.
((Masood Omari, Tabla for Two))
Abigail playing harmonium this style. No one can play like this because she is playing
very soft, graceful and gentle.
((NAT of Music))
((Popup Banner: Omari fled Afghanistan to Islamabad, Pakistan when he
was 15 where he studied to receive his tabla mastership before coming to the United
States in 2002))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
What's really extraordinary is that Masood is singing on top of his playing. He sings on
top of the classical songs. He's singing any song and playing tabla at the same time.
((NAT of Masood Omari singing))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
We play at the embassies often. We play at the museums, at universities. And we play
here in the Tablasphere for special invited guests.
((Mandatory: YouTube logo))
People can see us on our YouTube channel, which is our same name, Tabla for Two.
((NAT of Music))
((Masood Omari, Tabla for Two))
I believe that I have an important role playing and preserving the music of my country,
Afghanistan, and sharing it with the world.
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
It's just the beginning. I've just started learning about a place that I knew nothing about
that has been so ravaged. And I'm thrilled to show Afghanistan in a positive, beautiful
light.
((NAT of Music))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Next Week: Journey for Peace
((SOT))
There’s so much that we can be as humans and to each other, and he represents that.
I hope that that’s the message that our people receive.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Next Week: Church in the Dirt
((SOT)
Interesting thing, those horses always remind me of people. You saw how those horses
just sort of moseyed off, we got people at church that do that. Eventually God will get
that halter on them, as soon as that halter is on them, you know you’ve been caught. So
that halter is that holy spirit.
((Banner))
Next Week: Islam Beyond Sects
((SOT)
I’m for prayer, I pray while I’m driving. I kind of have perfect concentration. When
you’re worshipping a God that does not have form, then why should we stick to the
form.
CLOSING ((ANIM))
voanews.com/connect
BREAK
BUMP IN ((ANIM))
SHOW ENDS
EPISODE #110
AIR DATE 02 21, 2020
TRANSCRIPT
OPEN ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Slacklife
((SOT))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
((The things we are doing are inherently dangerous, there are risks. If you mess up one
simple task can cost you your life.))
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
The Country Singer
((SOT))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
"I’m at American by birth and a Texan by the grace of a merciful and loving God. You
raise corn, you rear children. So I had a Christian rearing.”))
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Music for Two
((SOT))
((Masood Omari, Tabla for Two))
“Harmonium with this style, no one can play like this because she’s playing very soft,
graceful and gentle.”
((Open Animation))
BLOCK A
((PKG)) Slacklife
((Banner: Slacklife)
((Reporter/Camera: Arturo Martinez)
((Map: Moab, Utah )
((Main characters: 1 male))
((Sub characters: 1 male))
((Drone footage: Sylvan Christensen, Mercadi Carlson))
((Banjo singer: Amelia Fatsi))
((Guitar song by: Patrick Thomas McCurry))
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
You really have to try and push past that mental blockage of everything telling you not
to go out there. And when you do that, when you push past that fear, you get to a sense
of flow state where everything else drops away and the only thing that matters is what
you're doing right now. And I think that's what really pushed me into highlining.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
My name is Sylvan Christensen and I am a canyoneering and climbing guide.
Slacklining is the act of balancing on either a one or two inch [25 or 50 mm] piece of flat
webbing using just your body.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
I was born here in Moab, Utah. And then we moved to Las Vegas. About a year after we
moved to Vegas, both of my parents passed away. It was ruled a murder-suicide. You're
faced with reality that life is fleeting. These people that mean the world to you and are
supposed to always be there sometimes go away. And I think that pushed me in the
direction of make the most out of life, push yourself, see what you're capable of.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
This slacklife, as we call it, called to me very strongly. You sort of go from normal,
everyday life into this state of high alertness high emotions. You are sort of exposed out
there, but the fact that you can calm that voice down in your mind and push yourself to
do it anyways is very empowering and it keeps you coming back.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Right now we are where I live, which is the slacklife headquarters, and we are all sort of
this combined force of athletic activities. Lots of skydiving, BASE jumping, rock climbing,
highlining, slacklining, canyoneering. You think of it, out here, somebody here does it.
((NATS))
((Andy Lewis, Slackliner))
I definitely was part of the golden era of highlining. So, as a pioneer, I definitely was
very creative. And now, it's just, everything has exploded in every direction. So, this
house has become like a community location, so, a lot of things happen from this spot.
So, that's why we've got the whole packing loft here. Sometimes it's very inspiring,
because like, I will have had a long day and then he'll come back and be, "Hey, we got
to rack for the next mission," and I'll think "Oh gosh,” but it keeps us both on our toes,
so.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Want to do some slacklining, love?
((Mercadi Carlson, Rock climber))
Yeah.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Lots of slacklines, got a couple of tightlines. As you can see we've got chickens. It's egg
laying time. They're singing the egg song.
((Mercadi Carlson, Rock climber))
Nice, baby.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
We've got a little bit of a midline, which is a slackline up in the tree. Get some exposure
training before you go out to the cliff.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Slacklining is actually been around since the 60s. Climbers in Yosemite started stringing
webbing up between trees as part of their off time activity to help with their balance and
help with their mental state, and it has since evolved into sort of its own sport. The
highlining in particular is sort of still a niche enough activity that, as we're pushing, we're
accomplishing records. We are existing in spaces where no other human has ever
existed before. And you feel that inspiration and it fuels to your activities. It fuels your
drive, your want for more.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
The things we are doing are inherently dangerous. There are risks. If you mess up in
one area, in one simple knot, didn't lock your carabiner, one simple task, if you mess
that up, it could cost you your life.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
It takes a lot of skill, a lot of practice, a lot of knowledge to know that you can safely rig
these lines up and be okay.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
It's your life, right? You've got to pay attention to it or else you might die.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Beautiful.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
It's nice to have people you can trust and rely on, you know? You come out here with
somebody, like Cady and I, and I can be like, "Hey, go build that anchor over there,"
and I know that that person is going to do it right and I can trust my life in their hands,
you know? That's the kind of friendships you're building.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
Right now we are at the Fruit Bowl, the birthplace of GGBY.
((NATS))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
GGBY is one of the major slacklining festivals in the world. It's really a great area for
people to come out and congregate and highline together.
((NATS - Banjo song))
No more shackles on my feet
I'll fly away
I'll fly away, oh Glory
I'll fly away in the morning
When I die hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away
When I die hallelujah by and by
I'll fly away
((JP Baric – Slackliner))
I don't think I've really experienced something like this in my life. It’s in the middle of
nowhere. Like, we're out here, no cell phone coverage, you know, hundreds of people
camping. You had to hike to the area. But you're really out, kind of, just removed from
society, which can be great to kind of sit back and relax and really just reflect on life and
what you're looking to do and what you've done in the past.
((Crowd at festival))
It's definitely like a big family. Like, everyone's just here to hold each other up and just,
like, support each other. Yeah, you definitely feel that, every time you're out there.
((Patrick Thomas McCurry – Slackliner))
When I go out there, my heart's racing, and it feels amazing when you come off of it,
you feel like you're high on life. Seven years ago or so I wouldn't ever have thought I
would be doing something like this. You know, I didn't think I even had that sort of skill.
((Crowd at festival))
How does it feel?
((Slackliner))
Terrifying.
((NATS – Guitar music by Patrick Thomas McCurry))
((Sylvan Christensen, Slackliner))
The fact that I went through such a tragic experience at a young age, I was 11, it could
have taken me down a very different path. I could have let that hate build up and, you
know, I could have ended up in similar situation, addicted to drugs, but getting into the
slacklife I think really changed my life.
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Love through song
((SOT))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
"When your baby girl has a baby girl, nothing else can be compared to love squared.“
BREAK ONE
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PKG ((Larry Gatlin; Country Music Singer))
((Banner: Music in the Veins ))
((Executive Reporter: Marsha James))
((Camera: Kaveh Rezaei)
((Map: Nashville, TN ))
((Main characters: 1 Male))
((NATS playing guitar))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
I enjoy songwriting more than I can even begin to express. It is a spiritual experience for
me. I wrote realizing that thousands of songs are never going to be heard. I wrote a
song, I don't remember the exact melody. I'll make it up now. (Singing) Few will hear,
fewer will care. Still, fewer will understand. So I ask God, why am I doing this? He
answered, because you can. That’s why I do it. I'm grateful for it, giving him the glory
but I'll take the credit.
See, the songs, every word you need for those songs is in the dictionary. Poppa knows
what order they come in.
((NATS playing guitar))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
I'm an American by birth and a Texan by the grace of a merciful and loving God. I was
raised by hardworking people, God fearing people. Hand raising, shouting and singing
and praising God people. See, in Texas you raise corn, you rear children. So I had a
Christian rearing.
((NATS Music))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
The music that was in our house was church music. It was the songs out of the hymn
book. My grandfather Clib 'Teapot' was his nickname Doan. He was a wonderful man
and he was a great singer. He could hit a high 'woo woo woo woo' a high B flat on the
day he died at 84 years old. He taught us to sing out of that church hymn book.
((NATS Music))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
That and gospel quartet music. So that's what I was raised in. In addition to that, one of
my earliest great influences, my crazy Uncle James, was a great jazz pianist. He
introduced me to incredible jazz and pop music. For which I’m very grateful.
The other influence that was just about the time that rock and roll was happening
((NATS Music))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
Of course, Elvis,
((NATS Music))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
'Isn't that right, Elvis? All right, son'
((Sings and impersonates Elvis))
‘Love me tender... Thank you very much.'
((NATS Music))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
I think my love for the word. Kind of came when I heard this song and I was just a kid.
And I think it may very well be the most incredible lyric in the English language. Listen to
this.
((Sings))
Could we with ink the ocean fill?
And were the skies of parchment made;
Were every stalk on earth a quill,
And every man a scribe by trade;
To write the love of God above would drain the ocean dry,
nor could the scroll contain the whole,
though stretched from sky to sky.
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
Could we with ink the ocean fill? That that is Shakespearean. You know, that is John
Milton. That is great poetry. And it was found written on the walls of an insane asylum
by an anonymous scribe. Nobody knows who wrote that. It kind of makes you wonder
who was crazy
((NATS Music – Broken Lady She’s a broken lady…))
((Music: Broken Lady by Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers - Courtesy Larry
Gatlin))
((Stills: Courtesy Larry Gatlin))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
Brother Steve and Rudy and I have had a wonderful career. We're grateful for it. They're
my best friends. We give each other room. That's how we have stayed in business and
been singing together for sixty three years. I'm 70. We started when I was six and a half,
Steve was four and a half and Rudy was two. One little talent show in Abilene, Texas.
((NATS Music – audio from Gatlin Brothers talent show))
((NATS Music – All the Gold in California All the gold…))
((Music: All the Gold in California by Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers -
Courtesy Larry Gatlin))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
My lord, we had 40 top 40 records, eight number one records. I wrote all of them.
((NATS Music – All the Gold in California …in California is in a bank in the…))
((Music: All the Gold in California by Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin Brothers -
Courtesy Larry Gatlin))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
I left Nashville in 92 because I felt it going, you know, you reach a peak.
((NATS Music – American with a Remington You’re not the first that’s ever tried
to kill me. ))
((Music Video: American with a Remington by Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin
Brothers - Courtesy Larry Gatlin))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
So far, the brothers and I have not had to quit. We can still sing the notes every night,
every night. But the dates are a little fewer and farther between. We love the heartland
of America.
((NATS Music – American with a Remington Cause I’m an American with a
Remington. ))
((Music Video: American with a Remington by Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin
Brothers - Courtesy Larry Gatlin))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
We’ll go sing at little five and six hundred seat theaters. And we won't make hundred
fifty thousand dollars a night. We'll take what God gives us. I have seen in this town
people, old stars, hang on, hang on. There's nothing worse than seeing somebody past
their time. Get out of the way. You've taken up the spotlight and taken time. Let the
young bucks and young ladies come in. You've had your time now.
((NATS Music – American with a Remington You’re not the first that’s ever tried
to kill me. ))
((Music Video: American with a Remington by Larry Gatlin and the Gatlin
Brothers - Courtesy Larry Gatlin))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
On the Opry, the folks who run it have brought in new artists.
A lot of people say, ‘Well, it's not country music anymore. They don't have…’ I am not
going to be an old curmudgeon and stand on the sidelines and say, ‘By God it ain’t
country music anymore’. No, they don't have a lot of steel guitars and fiddles on there.
They're doing it their way. Cheer for them. Root for them. Hope their dreams come true.
((NATS Music Grand Ole Opry))
((Larry Gatlin, Country Music Singer/Songwriter))
((Singing)) When your baby girl has a baby girl, nothing else can be compared to love
squared. Our daughter, Kristen, had two baby girls, Parker and Campbell, our
granddaughter. And my son's new son; my son, Joshua Cash Gatlin; his name is Cash
Caldwell Gatlin. And holding that little boy and having him say, ‘Poppa’. And sitting there
and play on my guitar playing (Singing) Jesus loves me. And he goes, he stares kind of
like Elvis. The first time I did it, I held him in my lap and played Jesus Loves Me, he
turned around and did not blink for the entire song, did not blink his eyes. It was like…
And I play it for him every morning.
So that... Your family, your blood. Yeah, awards are fine. We make a good living. But
your blood, your blood, your family comes first.
((NATS Music))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
Coming up…..
((Banner))
Tabla for Two
((SOT))
((My most respected teacher, Masood Omari, he is originally from Afghanistan))
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((PKG)) Tabla for Two
((Banner: Tabla for Two))
((Reporter/Camera: June Soh)
((Map: Washington, D.C ))
((Main characters: 1 Male, 1 Female
((NAT of Music))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
I think that it's a very big deal culturally, what we're doing, to bring these, especially
Afghanistan and America, together in music because music speaks all languages.
((NAT of Music))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
I am from Erie, Pennsylvania and living here in the Washington, D.C. area. My most
respected teacher Masood Omari, he is originally from Afghanistan.
((NAT of Music))
Our band is called Tabla for Two. The tabla that Masood is playing and I also play, the
tabla is an Eastern percussion instrument. It’s a drum.
((Masood Omari, Tabla for Two))
This is the goat skin. And the middle part, the black here, burning the steel and it’s
coming from the steel powder and then pasting with a strong glue and put it in the
center here. And it makes a cosmic sound, you can see?
((NAT of Music))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
We play three different kinds of music. We play classical music. And we play traditional
music of Afghanistan and India. And we play new music for the New World, we call it.
It's our signature music and it is composed by Masood. It's for two tabla players.
((NAT of Music))
((Popup Banner: The duo play every day in Greenway’s basement outside
Washington.))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
Throughout this downstairs, which we call the Tablasphere, we create the music and
practice the music and occasionally have guests.
((NAT of Music))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
I met Masood approximately eight years ago here in Washington. And it was a
showroom of beautiful Afghan antiques and clothing and rugs and jewelry. I have never
in my life seen their culture in that way. And I realized that he was this amazing tabla
player and I asked for lessons. I didn't know at the time where this was going. All I
knew is that I had a huge desire and a force pushing me to learn to play the instrument.
((NAT of Music))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
After a life as a visual artist and coming from a family of artists, I grew up listening to
classical music and American Jazz. And my father was a classical violinist. I really was
very close to music.
((NAT of Music))
((Masood Omari, Tabla for Two))
When I saw first Abigail, she doesn’t understand the language of Afghanistan. She
understand the beat and melody. She was very exciting to learn. She learned quickly.
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
I felt this amazing challenge and I wanted to play the music. I just couldn't. I wasn't
getting there fast enough for me. I wanted to get there now. I practiced many, many
hours. I practiced every day.
((NAT of Music))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
And then, he said I should learn to play the harmonium. I never thought I would be
playing the harmonium. So, I had my first lesson on the harmonium. I fell in love with it.
((Masood Omari, Tabla for Two))
Abigail playing harmonium this style. No one can play like this because she is playing
very soft, graceful and gentle.
((NAT of Music))
((Popup Banner: Omari fled Afghanistan to Islamabad, Pakistan when he
was 15 where he studied to receive his tabla mastership before coming to the United
States in 2002))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
What's really extraordinary is that Masood is singing on top of his playing. He sings on
top of the classical songs. He's singing any song and playing tabla at the same time.
((NAT of Masood Omari singing))
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
We play at the embassies often. We play at the museums, at universities. And we play
here in the Tablasphere for special invited guests.
((Mandatory: YouTube logo))
People can see us on our YouTube channel, which is our same name, Tabla for Two.
((NAT of Music))
((Masood Omari, Tabla for Two))
I believe that I have an important role playing and preserving the music of my country,
Afghanistan, and sharing it with the world.
((Abigail Adams Greenway, Tabla for Two))
It's just the beginning. I've just started learning about a place that I knew nothing about
that has been so ravaged. And I'm thrilled to show Afghanistan in a positive, beautiful
light.
((NAT of Music))
TEASE ((VO/NAT))
((Banner))
Next Week: Journey for Peace
((SOT))
There’s so much that we can be as humans and to each other, and he represents that.
I hope that that’s the message that our people receive.
((Animation Transition))
((Banner))
Next Week: Church in the Dirt
((SOT)
Interesting thing, those horses always remind me of people. You saw how those horses
just sort of moseyed off, we got people at church that do that. Eventually God will get
that halter on them, as soon as that halter is on them, you know you’ve been caught. So
that halter is that holy spirit.
((Banner))
Next Week: Islam Beyond Sects
((SOT)
I’m for prayer, I pray while I’m driving. I kind of have perfect concentration. When
you’re worshipping a God that does not have form, then why should we stick to the
form.
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