unlocking rhythms from the american folklife center archives
TRANSCRIPT
Unlocking Rhythms from the
American Folklife Center Archives
Melanie Zeck, American Folklife CenterThank you for joining us!
We will begin at the top of the hour.
Housekeeping Q&A Box
Survey at the end
Video and slides will be shared with all participants tomorrow
Unlocking Rhythms from the
American Folklife Center Archives
Melanie Zeck, American Folklife Center
SONGS* and SOUND PROFILES
• Personal Experiences
• Components
• Historical and Cultural Meanings
*songs = pieces of music that contain words
Unlocking Rhythms: Uncovering Musical SecretsConsiderations
Unlocking Rhythms: Uncovering Musical SecretsUnguided Listening
“Michael Row the Boat Ashore”American Folk Music Revival
New York World-Telegram and the Sun Newspaper Photograph Collection, Library of Congress
Pete Seeger, 1955 Pete Seeger, 2000
Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
• MUSIC is a form of communication
• MUSIC functions like other resources
Unlocking Rhythms: Uncovering Musical SecretsTwo-part premise
QUANTITATIVE QUESTIONS*
• Who?
• What?
• When?
• Where?
QUALITATIVE QUESTIONS*
• Why?
• How?
Unlocking RhythmsMusical Research
*MUSIC can be used to answer these questions
Sound Profile #1: Template, “Michael Row the Boat Ashore”As rendered in the National History Day Webinar, October 21, 2020
BIG QUESTION More Specific Questions Observations
WHO
Possibility of Musician IdentificationQuantity of Musician(s)Gender of Musician(s)Name of Musician(s)Audience Profile
WHAT(Sound)
Sound—Voice• Whistling• Humming• Singing
Generic SyllablesWords
Sound—Beyond the Voice• Clapping• Stomping• Patting• Tapping• Playing an Instrument
Sound—Voice Sound—Beyond the Voice
WHAT(Result)
Song• Language
Word ComprehensionMeaning
• Unique Characteristics
Movement• Conducting• Cuing participants
Song Movement
WHEN
Specific DaySpecific DateAs part of a seasonAs part of a reason
WHERE
Sound Profile #1: Completed, “Michael Row the Boat Ashore”As rendered in the National History Day Webinar, October 21, 2020
BIG QUESTION More Specific Questions Observations
WHO
Possibility of Musician IdentificationQuantity of Musician(s)Gender of Musician(s)Name of Musician(s)Audience Profile
Yes—identifiable; musician is audible and visibleOne musicianFemaleMelanie Webinar participants
WHAT(Sound)
Sound—Voice• Whistling• Humming• Singing
Generic SyllablesWords
Sound—Beyond the Voice• Clapping• Stomping• Patting• Tapping• Playing an Instrument
Sound—VoiceWhistling, noHumming, only first timeSinging, yes
Generic syllables, noWords, yes;
Sound—Beyond the VoiceNo ClappingNo StompingNo PattingNo TappingNo Instrument
WHAT(Result)
Song• Language
Word ComprehensionMeaning
• Unique Characteristics
Movement• Conducting• Cuing participants
SongLanguage: English or English Creole; Meaning is understandable
MovementNo movement
WHEN
Specific DaySpecific DateAs part of a seasonAs part of a reason
WednesdayOctober 21, 2020NoYes, for a National History Day Webinar
WHERE Via computer
Sound Profile #2: Template, “Happy Birthday”As rendered in the National History Day Webinar, October 21, 2020
BIG QUESTION More Specific Questions Observations
WHO
Possibility of Musician IdentificationQuantity of Musician(s)Gender of Musician(s)Name of Musician(s)Audience Profile
WHAT(Sound)
Sound—Voice• Whistling• Humming• Singing
Generic SyllablesWords
Sound—Beyond the Voice• Clapping• Stomping• Patting• Tapping• Playing an Instrument
Sound—Voice Sound—Beyond the Voice
WHAT(Result)
Song• Language
Word ComprehensionMeaning
• Unique Characteristics
Movement• Conducting• Cuing participants
Song
LYRICS, Line 1LYRICS, Line 2LYRICS, Line 3LYRICS, Line 4
Movement
Line 1Line 2Line 3Line 4
WHEN
Specific DaySpecific DateAs part of a seasonAs part of a reason
WHERE
WHY
Sound Profile #2: Completed, “Happy Birthday”As rendered in the National History Day Webinar, October 21, 2020
BIG QUESTION More Specific Questions Observations
WHO
Possibility of Musician IdentificationQuantity of Musician(s)Gender of Musician(s)Name of Musician(s)Audience Profile
Yes, identifiable1 musicianFemaleMelanieWebinar participants
WHAT(Sound)
Sound—Voice• Whistling• Humming• Singing
Generic SyllablesWords
Sound—Beyond the Voice• Clapping• Stomping• Patting• Tapping• Playing an Instrument
Sound—Voice
No whistling, no humming.Yes, singing.Words, yes; Language: English or English Creole; Meaning is understandable
Sound—Beyond the Voice
Line 1—no, just singingLine 2—clapping rhythm
WHAT(Result)
Song• Language
Word ComprehensionMeaning
• Unique Characteristics
Movement• Conducting• Cuing participants
Song
LYRICS, Line 1—Happy Birthday to youLYRICS, Line 2—Happy Birthday to youLYRICS, Line 3—Happy Birthday, National History DayLYRICS, Line 4—Happy Birthday to you.
Movement
Line 3—ConductingLine 4—Cuing participants
WHEN
Specific DaySpecific DateAs part of a seasonAs part of a reason
WednesdayOctober 21, 2020NoYes, for a National History Day Webinar
WHERE Via computer
WHY To celebrate a birthday
Sound Profile #3: Template, “Happy Birthday”As rendered at a Chicago Pentecostal Church Service, 1977
BIG QUESTION More Specific Questions Observations
WHO
Possibility of Musician IdentificationQuantity of Musician(s)Gender of Musician(s)Name of Musician(s)Audience Profile
WHAT(Sound)
Sound—Voice• Whistling• Humming• Singing
Generic SyllablesWords
Sound—Beyond the Voice• Clapping• Stomping• Patting• Tapping• Playing an Instrument
Sound—Voice Sound—Beyond the Voice
WHAT(Result)
Song• Language
Word ComprehensionMeaning
• Unique Characteristics
Movement• Conducting• Cuing participants
Song
LYRICS, Line 1LYRICS, Line 2LYRICS, Line 3LYRICS, Line 4
Movement
Line 1Line 2Line 3Line 4
WHEN
Specific DaySpecific DateAs part of a seasonAs part of a reason
?? Sunday??1977NoYes, in the context of a worship service
WHERE Chicago, Illinois, at a Pentecostal church
Sound Profile #4: Comparison, “Happy Birthday”Rendering 1, National History Day Webinar, October 21, 2020 // Rendering 2, Chicago Pentecostal Church Service, 1977
NHD: 10.21.2020 Pentecostal Church Service: 1977
Yes, identifiable1 musicianFemaleMelanieWebinar participants
Yes, identifiable by soundMore than 1 musician, total number unknown (2 main singers, possible audience)1 female, 1 male, possibly members of a congregationUnknown from recordingMembers of congregation
No whistling, no humming.Yes, singing.Words, yes; Language: English; Meaning is understandable
LYRICS, Line 1—Happy Birthday to youLYRICS, Line 2—Happy Birthday to youLYRICS, Line 3—Happy Birthday, Dear National History DayLYRICS, Line 4—Happy Birthday to you.
No whistling, no humming.Yes, singing.Words, yes; Language: English; Meaning is understandable
LYRICS, Line 1—Happy Birthday to youLYRICS, Line 2—Happy Birthday to youLYRICS, Line 3—Happy Birthday, God Bless YouLYRICS, Line 4—Happy Birthday to you.
Line 1—just singingLine 2—clapping rhythmLine 3—ConductingLine 4—Cuing participants
No clappingNo stompingNo pattingNo tappingYes, guitarUnknown, conductingUnknown, cuing
WednesdayOctober 21, 2020NoYes, for a National History Day Webinar
unknown1977NoYes, in the context of a worship service
Via computer Chicago, Illinois, at a Pentecostal church
Field NotesChurch service at Northside United Pentecostal Church, Chicago, Illinois, part 1
Notes
- Northside Pentacostal (In Church), part 1
- Part 1 of a 4-part recording of the Sunday service at Northside Pentecostal Church, 1527 E. Edgewater Ave. in
the Edgewater neighborhood; the leader and pastor was Bobby Goddard; recorded on a stereo Nagra IV with a
Sennheiser 402 microphone at the pulpit and, for most of the recording, a second Sennheiser 402 directed
toward the congregation, with some variation as noted; this part includes Goddard’s greetings, and a prayer with
voiced heard from the congregation; song "We're together again," led by Paul Dean and Joann Bolen, both with
vocal and guitar; hymn "I'll be Somewhere Listening to My Name" (number 25 in the hymnal Pentecostal
Praises) led at the pulpit by a woman with Goddard standing behind her and singing as well; hymn “The
Fullness of Godhead is all in Him” (number 29); Goddard makes a birthday call and a boy and girl come forward
and drop one penny for each year into a glass, as BG rings a little bell, congregation then sings "Happy Birthday
to You"; Goddard states a welcome and transitions to Sunday School; Paul Dean remarks on the making of this
recording (right channel only, the fieldworker then moves one microphone); Dean begins the adult Sunday
School lesson, preceded by a hymn duet by Dean and Bolen (right channel), both playing guitars, "What a
Glorious Day that Will Be"; Dean’s Sunday School lesson, about the Pentecostal doctrine concerning speaking
in tongues, baptism, and the doctrine of the Trinity (right channel only); Dean’s lesson continues in part 2.
Leader, Pastor, SINGER Bobby Goddard
2nd SINGERunidentified woman
2 celebrants:one boy, one girl, unidentified
Congregation singsguitar
Sound Profile #4: Comparison, “Happy Birthday”Rendering 1, National History Day Webinar, October 21, 2020 // Rendering 2, Chicago Pentecostal Church Service, 1977
NHD: 10.21.2020 Pentecostal Church Service: 1977
Yes, identifiable1 musicianFemaleMelanieWebinar participants
Yes, identifiable by soundMore than 1 musician, total number unknown (2 main singers, possible audience)1 female, 1 male, possibly members of a congregationUnknown from recordingMembers of congregation
No whistling, no humming.Yes, singing.Words, yes; Language: English or English Creole; Meaning is understandable
LYRICS, Line 1—Happy Birthday to youLYRICS, Line 2—Happy Birthday to youLYRICS, Line 3—Happy Birthday, National History DayLYRICS, Line 4—Happy Birthday to you.
No whistling, no humming.Yes, singing.Words, yes; Language: English; Meaning is understandable
LYRICS, Line 1—Happy Birthday to youLYRICS, Line 2—Happy Birthday to youLYRICS, Line 3—Happy Birthday, God Bless YouLYRICS, Line 4—Happy Birthday to you.
Line 1—just singingLine 2—clapping rhythmLine 3—ConductingLine 4—Cuing participants
No clappingNo stompingNo pattingNo tappingYes, guitarUnknown, conductingUnknown, cuing
WednesdayOctober 21, 2020NoYes, for a National History Day Webinar
unknown1977NoYes, in the context of a worship service
Via computer Chicago, Illinois, at a Pentecostal church
CELEBRATE: National History Day’s 40th Birthday CELEBRATE: Birthdays of two children
Guided Listening and Sound Profiles
• ASSESS • Historical musical situations
• Contemporary musical situations
• DESCRIBE • Musicals sounds
• Creation/performance of sounds
• CONTEXTUALIZE• Role of musicians
• Purpose of the music
• Rationale
Port Royal IslandBeaufort, South Carolina
Trench (Hilton Head Island,South Carolina
St. Simon’s Island,Georgia
Daufowske(Daufuskie) Island
Slave Songs of the United States
Compilers:• William Francis Allen• Charles Pickard Ware• Lucy McKim Garrison
Slave Songs of the United States
“Michael Row the Boat Ashore”
other songs from Sea Islands and region
Slave Songs of the United States: “Michael Row the Boat Ashore”
Slave Songs of the United States: “Michael Row the Boat Ashore”
“boat-song”
CONTEXT: working/rowing
APPLICATION: practical
WHEN: “when the load was heavy or the tide was against us”
WHERE: Beaufort, South Carolina
Slave Songs: Description of “shout”
WHEN: SundaysWHERE: “Praise-house” (church)
“shout”
CONTEXT: ceremony
APPLICATIONS: practical, traditional
• 1867: Publication of Slave Songs of the United States• PURPOSE of a “boat-song”—accompany rowing
• CONTEXT of shouting
• 1877: Recorded invented
• 1890s: Recorded sound becomes more available
Unlocking Rhythms: Uncovering Musical SecretsWhat we do and do not know . . .
Slave Songs of the United States: Transcription issues
. . . difficulty experienced in attaining absolute correctness is
greater than might be supposed . . .
. . .intonations and delicate variations of even one singer cannot be reproduced on paper.
Sound Profile IN PROGRESS: “Michael Row the Boat Ashore”What do we know so far?
BIG QUESTION Historical Version More Recent Versions
WHOPerformers: oarsmenTranscribers: Allen, Ware, Garrison
Pete SeegerFolk musiciansMelanie
WHAT(Sound)
NOT AVAILABLESound recording
AVAILABLETranscription*Description
*compilers note limitations/ problems with transcription
AVAILABLELibrary of Congress has resources related to multiple contexts in which “Michael” has been found (dated ca. 1950s—current)
WHAT(Result)
Result of Singing: SONG with multiple lyrics
Purpose of Song: to keep oarsmen rowing in unison
Result of Singing: SONG Purpose of Song:Depends on context—
WHENGeneral: prior to 1867General: While rowingSpecific: “When the load was heavy or the tide was against us”
General: 1950s, beginning with the American Folk Music RevivalSpecific: multiple
WHEREPort Royal Island, South CarolinaBetween Beaufort, South Carolina, and other ports
Multiple: depends on context
WHY To keep oarsmen rowing in unison Multiple: depends on context
Library Catalog: Keyword Searching
A. H . Stoddard Collection of Gullah Recordings
Alan Lomax, Zora Neale Hurston, and Mary Elizabeth BarnicleExpedition Collection
A. H Stoddard collection of Gullah recordings
Alan Lomax, Zora Neale Hurston, and Mary Elizabeth Barnicle expedition collection*
Voices Remembering Slavery
Wallace Quarterman: Beginning of Transcript
I Surrender
Oh, let me come on i-in. I surrender, and open the door. Let me come in open up. Yeah, let me come i-inn. Oh, let me come i-i-i-innn. I surrender, yes open the door, and let me come in. I said baby don't you cry, mothers and father are born to die. I surrender [recording gets stuck]. Oh, let me come i-inn. I surrender and open the door and let me come in.
Wallace Quarterman, Frederica, Georgia, June 1935
Lomax Collection of Photographs depicting musicians, primarily in the southern United States and the BahamasLibrary of Congress Prints and Photographs Division
Sound Profile IN PROGRESS: “Michael Row the Boat Ashore”What do we know so far?
• HISTORICAL RESOURCES• 1867 transcription, description
• 1935 sound recording of formerly enslaved Sea Islander
• ORAL HISTORY/ PERSONAL MEMORIES
• KNOWLEDGE OF RECENT USES
• ACCESS TO DOCUMENTATION
• ADDITIONAL KEYWORDS• Daufuskie, South Carolina
• St. Simon’s Island, Georgia
• Gullah-Geechee
• Shout
https://guides.loc.gov/
https://guides.loc.gov/gullah-geechee-history/introduction
Gullah/Geechee people of today are descendants of enslaved Africans . . . Forced to work on the plantations of . . . South Carolina, Georgia . .
https://guides.loc.gov/gullah-geechee-history
https://guides.loc.gov/gullah-geechee-history/digital-collections
https://guides.loc.gov/gullah-geechee-folklife/collection-highlights
McIntosh County ShoutersHome Grown Concert Series, Library of Congress, 2010
McIntosh County ShoutersDiscussion of Shout
McIntosh County ShoutersDiscussion of “Gullah,” Performance of Shout “Move Daniel”
Sound Profile #5: In Progress, ShoutingAs rendered at by the McIntosh County Singers, 2010 (Library of Congress)
BIG QUESTION More Specific Questions Observations
WHO
Possibility of Musician Identification Quantity of Musician(s)Gender of Musician(s)Name of Musician(s)
WHAT(Sound)
Sound—Voice• Whistling• Humming• Singing
Generic SyllablesWords
Sound—Beyond the Voice• Clapping• Stomping• Patting• Tapping• Playing an Instrument
WHAT(Result)
Song• Language
Word Comprehension MeaningUnique Characteristics
Movement
WHEN: VIDEO 2010 WHEN: HISTORICAL CONTEXT
WHERE: VIDEO Library of Congress WHERE: HISTORICAL CONTEXT
yes
4 male; 5 female, (1 female narrator)
9+ 1 narrator
Group:McIntosh County Singers
Yes, with words
Yes, describe: Yes, describe:
Yes, describe: Yes, describe:
No, but stick keeps the beat
• Some performers stand in one place, while clapping, sing, stomping, beating stick
• Some performers shuffle in a ring
GullahShout
Selected Additional Resources (with an emphasis on teaching and/or audiovisual materials)
• American Folklife Center• https://www.loc.gov/folklife/
• Music Division• https://www.loc.gov/rr/perform/
• Teaching with the Library of Congress• http://blogs.loc.gov/teachers/• https://www.loc.gov/programs/teachers/about-this-program/
Questions?
Please complete our feedback survey:https://tinyurl.com/NHDwebinars
• Field notes—set of descriptive information about a recording made on location
• Field recording—recording made on location
• Genre—category (in our case, “boat-song” is a genre, or category, of song)
• Lyrics—words of a song
• Metadata—set of technical information about an item (in our case, about an archival collection)
• Scope notes—set of descriptive information about an item (in our case, about an archival collection)
• Rhythm—repeated pattern of sound or movement
• Song—piece of music that contains words
• Tempo—speed or pacing of sound
• Transcription—process and result of writing down what was heard
Unlocking Rhythms: Uncovering Musical SecretsGlossary
• Ask a Librarian: American Folklife Center
• https://ask.loc.gov/american-folklife/
• Library of Congress Catalog
• https://catalog.loc.gov/
• Index of Library of Congress Research Guides
• https://guides.loc.gov
• Selected Gullah-Geechee Research Guides
• https://guides.loc.gov/gullah-geechee-history/introduction
• https://guides.loc.gov/gullah-geechee-folklife/collection-highlights
Unlocking Rhythms: Uncovering Musical SecretsLinks to Resources