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Alan Lomax is a legendary figure in American folk music circles. Although he published many books, hundreds of recordings and dozens of films, his contributions to popular and academic journals have never been collected. This collection of writings, introduced by Lomax's daughter Anna, reintroduces these essential writings. Drawing on the Lomax Archives in New York, this book brings together articles from the 30s onwards. It is divided into four sections, each capturing a distinct period in the development of Lomax's life and career: the original years as a collector and promoter; the period from 1950-58 when Lomax was recording thorughout Europe; the folk music revival years; and finally his work in academia.
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ALAN LOMAX ALAN LOMAX SELECTED WRITINGS 1934–1997 Edited by Ronald D.Cohen With Introductory Essays by Gage Averill, Matthew Barton, Ronald D.Cohen, Ed Kahn, and Andrew L.Kaye ROUTLEDGE NEW YORK • LONDON Published in 2003 by Routledge 29 West 35th Street New York, NY 10001 www.routledge-ny.com Published in Great Britain by Routledge 11 New Fetter Lane London EC4P 4EE www.routledge.co.uk Routledge is an imprint of the Taylor & Francis Group. This edition published in the Taylor & Francis e-Library, 2005. “To purchase your own copy of this or any of Taylor & Francis or Routledge’s collection of thousands of eBooks please go to www.eBookstore.tandf.co.uk.” All writings and photographs by Alan Lomax are copyright © 2003 by Alan Lomax estate. The material on “Sources and Permissions” on pp. 350–51 constitutes a continuation of this copyright page. All of the writings by Alan Lomax in this book are reprinted as they originally appeared, without emendation, except for small changes to regularize spelling. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reprinted or reproduced or utilized in any form or by any electronic, mechanical, or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data Lomax, Alan, 1915–2002 [Selections] Alan Lomax : selected writings, 1934–1997 /edited by Ronald D.Cohen; with introductory essays by Gage Averill, Matthew Barton, Ronald D.Cohen, Ed Kahn, and Andrew Kaye. p. cm. Includes bibliographical references (p.) and index. ISBN 0-203-49255-2 Master e-book ISBN ISBN 0-203-57570-9 (Adobe eReader Format) ISBN 0-415-93854-6 (hardcover : alk. paper) 1. Folk music—United States—History and criticism. 2. Lomax, Alan, 1915–2002 I. Cohen, Ronald D., 1940–II. Title. ML3551 .L65 2003 781.62’00973–dc21 2002152034 Contents General Introduction by Ronald D.Cohen vii I. 1934–1950: The Early Collecting Years Introduction by Ed Kahn 1 1. “Sinful” Songs of the Southern Negro 9 2. Haitian Journey 33 3. Music in Your Own Back Yard 48 4. Songs of the American Folk 56 5. Preface: Our Singing Country 59 6. 14 Traditional Spanish Songs from Texas 67 7. Reels and Work Songs 69 8. Mister Ledford and the TVA 78 9. America Sings the Saga of America 88 Folk Music in the Roosevelt Era 94 10. II. The 1950s: World Music Introduction by Andrew L.Kaye and Matthew Barton 99 11. Tribal Voices in Many Tongues 109 12. Making Folklore Available 115 13. Galician Music 122 v 14. Italian Folk Music 128 15. The Folk Song of Italy 131<