Interview with hymn liner Troy Demps and his apprentice Brian Wright

General Note/Comment

• One DAT tape. Recorded at Demp's residence. Wright was funded to learn from Demps traditional hymn lining. Hymn lining, which began in the 1700s, involves the leader signing a line, and the congregation repeats it. For more information, see S 1644, box 11, folder 37. The Folk Arts Apprenticeship Program began in 1983 with a NEA grant of $22,000. The program provided an opportunity for master folk artists to share technical skills and cultural knowledge with apprentices in order to keep the tradition alive. Apprentices must have had some experience in the tradition and agreed to train for at least six months. The first project director was Blanton Owen, later replaced by folklorist Peter Roller, and then Robert Stone. The program was continued each year through 2004.