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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.
E-Book Content
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<