Unbroken Circle at The Rhapsody Project

The Rhapsody Project named their “Unbroken Circle” program after a mighty song: “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” which originated as a hymn composed in 1907 by Ada R. Habershon (lyrics) and Charles H. Gabriel (music). We celebrate a few highlights of the song’s evolution below. That history helps demonstrate why the phrase was the perfect title for our program. 

It signifies the ongoing transmission of culture through generations of people, and across multiple cultures. 

Our program originated in 2018 as a (still ongoing) collaboration with Northwest Folklife, and now takes place weekly at our home, The Rhapsody Workshop at King Street Station. Prior to the pandemic, sessions took place all along the Rainier Valley, from NW Tap Connection studios to the Ethiopian Community Center, to the Hillman City Collaboratory and Washington Hall. 

In each session, we welcome a culture bearer – usually, but not always, a musician – who shares their story, presents their art form, and answers questions asked by participants. 

Usually, the culture bearer will provide instruction in specific musical or artistic techniques that students are working to learn, while also simply connecting as fellow humans and getting to know the people present. This can lead to a longer term relationship with one or more of the students, collaborative performance opportunities, or simply grow and deepen the network of artists, musicians, and culture bearers that The Rhapsody Project and NW Folklife foster to help support youth in our community. 

Our staff leaders remain in regular dialogue with students about which culture bearers they want to welcome back, and are always interested to welcome new participants and new culture bearers into the fold! People can register by clicking here (next round starts October 7), or email info@therhapsodyproject.org if there is an artist in the Seattle area that you think we should consider inviting to take part. 

Originally, this program was for youth only. But, in spring of 2024 staff and youth leaders of The Rhapsody Project realized that an all-ages group that centers young people is more appropriate to the multi-generational community building goals of the program. Thus, today, anyone can register, but 15 of the 25 available participant slots in the class are reserved for people 25 or younger. 

People over 25 are requested to cede space and airtime to the younger people, as they are the primary audience the program exists to serve. The program is also pay-what-works for youth, while people over 25 are required to pay to take part. 

The Evolution of an American Song

While the title, “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” remains the same as the original hymn, both the lyrics and melody of the song change in multiple permutations as the song entered the bloodstream of American popular music. While popular versions by the Carter Family (1927) and an album of that title by the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band (1972) have created a common association of the song with country music, it has been a living part of gospel music tradition in Black American communities for generations as well, at least since the time that The Staple Singers recorded a beautiful version (using verses similar to those recorded by the Carter Family) in 1966. The song’s continued evolution can be witnessed in this 2010 recording by the Tennessee Gospel Society. 

There are many wonderful versions of the song that show the breadth of its presence across a wide range of traditional music subcultures in the United States:

To name a few, there is a Cajun version, a folky version by Joan Baez, modern bluegrass gospel versions that use the original lyrics, and of course, unclassifiable versions by Doc Watson & Clarence Ashley, The Transatlantic Session version, not to mention live and album versions by Willie Nelson. There are many more fine versions, and we encourage you to share either your version – or discuss your favorite recorded version – by uploading a video and tagging @therhapsodyproject on Instagram or TikTok. 

In 1927, The Carter Family, commonly acknowledged as “The First Family of Country Music,” recorded a version of the song using the title “Can the Circle Be Unbroken,” that contains the verse lyrics and melody that are now popular today. 

A.P. Carter, who sang bass in the original Carter Family group, often collected songs by travelling alongside a Black songster named Lesley Riddle, who apparently was much more skilled than A.P. at retaining melodies to newly-learned songs. From 1927 – 1932, the two would travel the Appalachian hills together for up to two weeks at a time collecting songs. 

It’s unclear what the status of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken” was before the Carter Family recorded it in 1927 – was it just a variant of the countless gospel songs floating around their region, and A.P. did what he often did and rewrote the verses? Or, was it already common currency in their region and they were simply the first ones to record it as it had come to exist since being published as sheet music 20 years earlier? 

If you, or someone you know, has any information about the journey of the song during its first two decades, we would love to learn what you know! Please drop us a line. 

Anyhow, this excerpt from an article in “The Boot” highlights the enduring significance of the song to the most iconic venue in Country music:

“Any Grand Ole Opry regular can attest to the importance of “Will the Circle Be Unbroken,” the country music standard that often kicks off or closes an evening of performances on the genre’s most iconic stage. It was the last song to be performed on Ryman Auditorium stage before the Opry moved to its current home, the Grand Ole Opry House, in 1974, and the first song to be performed at the Opry House after it re-opened following Nashville’s devastating 2010 flood.”
–  ‘Will the Circle Be Unbroken’: Country Music’s Most Iconic Song | https://theboot.com/will-the-circle-be-unbroken-history-carter-family/?utm_source=tsmclip&utm_medium=referral

Bill Monroe, the father of bluegrass music, recorded the song in 1936 as a duet with his brother Charlie. They used lyrics that are very close to the original hymn, but a melody that is closer to that which became popular. 

Because there were so many people routinely making music as a both a social activity and a form of worship in the early 20th century, we will never know the whole story of this song’s evolution. What we do know is that it’s a great song for harmonizing, and the mystery bound up in it will never be fully unraveled. We embrace that mystery, and – given its proper respect – the song can get a little more resonant every time you sing it. 

– Joe Seamons, September 2024

As we mentioned, we can’t possibly share all the versions that form the history of the song, partly because many were never recorded, but we’ve done our best to give you an audio history through a playlist of “Will the Circle be Unbroken” over the years. Check it out!

Playlist by Ari, Junior Staff.

And don’t forget – our next round of Unbroken Circle starts on October 7 and you can register here!