After being denied a promotion at the university where she teaches, Doctor Lily Penleric, a brilliant musicologist, impuslively visits her sister, who runs a struggling school in Appalachia. There she stumbles upon the discovery of her life – a treasure trove of ancient Scots Irish ballads. She finds herself increasingly enchanted – not only by the raw purity of the music, but also by the raw courage and endurance of the local people as they carve out meaningful lives against the harshest conditions. It is not, however, until she meets Tom – a handsome, hardened war veteran and talented musician – that she’s forced to examine her motivation.