Drag City’s approaching first-ever reissue of Dorothy Carter’s Troubadour (arriving August 30) is a merry moment to celebrate. Her 1976 debut found Dorothy hammering out a folk sound inclusive of the music she found out in the world: Appalachian folk tunes, ancient psalms and hymns, melodies from Scotland, Ireland, France, and a few of her own songs, too! Today, take your turn towards “Masquerade”, one of Dorothy’s original compositions.

Dorothy’s dulcimer shimmers reflectively on the instrumental “Masquerade”, joined in its dance by Sally Hilmer Baker’s tamboura. As the song’s descending line imparts, unexpected emotions pour out of Dorothy’s performance, as she and Baker are caught in a trance. The song held an enduring importance to her; Dorothy revisited “Masquerade” on her final release with more of a Caribbean rhythm, a show of the pan-cultural sympathies of her music.

Dorothy Carter’s worldly music traveled from many different paths, taking several forms: stories from a traveling troubadour, field notes from a carefully-studied folklorist, cheerful chants to lift spirits, somber songs that reach euphoric pillars. Brought forth again for generations to come and enjoy, Dorothy’s work now inspires a greater audience than ever before; the reissue of her early folk oeuvre Troubadour arrives on August 30, 2024.