Teacher Planbook: Integrating Folk Music,
Folklore and Traditional Culture Instruction Into K-12 Education
ALAN LOMAX REMEMBERED
1915 - 2002
"I
say then that cultures do not and never have flourished in isolation,
but have flowered in sites that guaranteed their independence and at
the same time permitted unforced acceptance of external influences."
This is a much more realistic formulation than either cultural
separatism or cultural assimilation.
~ Alan Lomax
"
Appeal for Cultural Equity" (Journal of Communication, Spring 1977) In
his notes for the record album American Folk Songs for Children
(Atlantic 1350)
Criticism of Lomax
John and Alan Lomax, who also devoted
themselves to collecting and preserving traditional folk music, took the controversial
step of
copyrighting in their own names the songs they collected, as if they
had written the songs themselves.
They even copyrighted original songs collected
from other singers, such as Leadbelly's "Good Night Irene." This prompted Leadbelly to add a verse to "De Ballad of De Boll Weevil":
Lomax the Song Hunter FILM SYNOPSIS PBS
"Lomax the Songhunter" premiered on P.O.V. on August 22, 2006. Check your local Station for time.
Alan Lomax (1915-2002) earned a singular place for himself in
American culture and arts. Building on the pioneering work of his
father, John, whom he accompanied on folk-song recording tours of the
American South and Southwest in the 1930s and '40s, Alan set out after
World War II to do nothing less than draw the folk music map of the
world. Sensing that the world's indigenous music was on the point of
being swept away by mass commercial culture, Lomax brought considerable
energy and urgency to his awesome task. He also brought an infectious
love for the varied homespun musical traditions, especially the songs
passed mouth to ear for generations.
YOU CAN BE A SONG HUNTER http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/NCFR/
PRESERVE OUR AMERICAN VERNACULAR SONGS - OUR ORAL CULTURESpecial Thanks to my Friend Gina for sending the info.
Gina Boltz
Director, Native Village Publications
Director, Youth Forum for International Council of 13 Indigenous Grandmothers
http://www.nativevillage.org
Secretary, Link Center Foundation
http://linkcenterfoundation.org