[Cap n Ball]

This is very interesting.

http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=84525&ran=187608

[dasmi]

That is amazing. So much history in this recording.

My aunt came to me a few years ago with casette tapes she made of her grandfather and grandmother telling the story of how they came from Switzerland to the US in 1901. The tapes had been made in 1983, and were starting to fall apart, and she wanted me to digitize them, so we could preserve them forever. There are now copies of this audio in safe deposit boxes at three different banks. It was amazing to hear my great grandparents telling their story. I only vaguely remember them, they died when I was young. I remember my great grandmother sneaking me candy when my mom wasn't looking. Hearing their voices again, after they've been gone for so many years was an incredible experience. We played them at the last family reunion, and it was a great thing for the whole family to hear where we came from.

Those of you who still have living parents, grandparents, or great grandparents, consider having them record their life story for you. It will be something you treasure forever.

[hillbilly]

To actually hear a bit of the recording, go here.


http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4600415

[Third_Rail]

dasmi, that's a fine idea. I think I'll suggest it to my folks. :)

[cookekdjr]

Its funny...one recording led me to another and then another...
Then I was listening to a recording of the "Rebel Yell" and reading an essay on it.
Of course, I already knew what it sounded like. I make that same sound everytime Georgia scores a touchdown. ;) (I always knew that's what it sounded like-AL and TN boys make they same scream at their football games, too).

[hillbilly]

cookekdjr....post the link to that recording of the "Rebel Yell," if you please.

hillbilly

[cookekdjr]

Hi Hillbilly.

I could not find the link I listened to earlier today, but here is another one:

http://www.26nc.org/History/RebelYell/main.htm

BTW, this veteran's yell was a little shorter than mine (and most Southern football fans) but it is remarkably similar.
I'll do a few more google searches and see what I come up with. If you do your own search, read some of the essays on the rebel yell. It seems the Yankee soldiers were very scared when they heard it. I don't know why its uniquely Southern, but I was born knowing how to do this and I know most Southern boys do, too.
-David

[cookekdjr]

Another Rebel Yell link:

http://home.freeuk.com/gazkhan/rebelyell.htm

This one has a good essay with it.
-David

[cookekdjr]

A quote from another essay:

We hear a great deal about the Rebel Yell, though no two people seem agreed on just what it was, or even on its origin. It has been variously described as "more overpowering than the cannon's roar" and "a mingling of Indian whoop and wolf-howl."; it was probably born on the hunting field.


Essay:

http://www.stonewallbrigade.com/articles_rebelyell.html

[Tinker]

Thanks for those links. That was real interesting. I really liked hearing that old man's accent. Recording your old folks is a real good idea no matter if just mundane stuff. It will be valuable to someone in the future.

[cookekdjr]

Hey Tinker,
You are right about recording old folks. I miss the rhythm and intonation of my granddaddy's voice, and his colorful expressions.
If I hear my 3 year old son say "Hey guys" instead of "Hey y'all" one more time, I think I'm going to pull my %#$#/* hair out. :cuss:
-David

[hillbilly]

That "rebel yell" is the same sound the whole Marching Razorback Band used to make to show approval of a good football play at the University of Arkansas.

It's basically just a series of high-pitched whoops and hollers.

My reaction upon hearing the recordings was, "you mean there are folks out there who don't holler like this when they are in a group and really excited about something?"

I've been rebel yelling my whole life and never knew it.

hillbilly

[Tinker]

cookekdjr,

Know what you mean about missing a an old relative's voice. I did get to catch my Alabama granny on video a couple of years before she died.. Thing is, she, like other older folks I've video'd for posterity, get real conspicuous and self conscieous when they know you're filming them. She clammed up. I wish I had audio of her saying the word "son". When she called you that you really felt like someone's son.