I was sorry to read in the C&F Newsletter that American ethnomusicologist Alan Lomax had passed away. I have spent many an hour engrossed in his and his father’s books on American traditional music.
I had read some time back of his stroke. I think that he did a great service to the academic world in bringing the old songs, tunes, and ballads to a broad audience. Not only that, many of the songs he collected became classic standards, such as “Rising Sun Blues.”
I, too, was greatly saddened to hear of the death of Alan Lomax although I’d not heard anything about his recent activities for quite a long time. I was more influenced by his field recordings than his books, I think, but through both he gave us a glimpse of a disappearing world. It’s deeply ironic that the very media that allow us to eavesdrop on rural American blues singers and Gaelic singalongs were the media that brought that period of local styles and do-it-yourself entertainment to an end. But it could easily have gone unrecorded and have been lost forever, just as the popular folk styles of bygone ages have been. It was only through the awareness, energy and dedication of a small number of people like Alan Lomax that we and future generations will know what entertainment was like before popular culture went through the Golden Arches to … wherever it is now.
I couldn’t agree more, Wombat. Anybody with an interest in Traditional Irish Music owes Alan Lomax and his colleagues a sincere debt of gratitude. Who knows how many songs were saved soley by his efforts.
On 2002-10-07 18:11, Paul wrote:
… Who knows how many songs were saved soley by his efforts.
Yes, especially since he had Seamus Ennis by his side in Ireland.
From what I hear he was remarkable not only for his work & skill, but also for his integrity: an invaluable assets when you are recording and preserving folk music.
I worked my way backwards to Alan Lomax’s field recordings from Led Zep, Clapton and the Stones to Willie Dixon and Robert Lockwood to Muddy Waters to Leadbelly and finally to Robert Johnson, Charly Patton and Son House. I wonder if those British guys hadn’t had access to the Lomax recordings how the history of rock and roll would have been different. Even the Beatles, when they first arrived in the U.S., asked right away if someone could arrange for them to meet Muddy.
I have a deep respect for Alan Lomax and his work. I’m glad to hear you guys do too.
Give Robert Palmer’s Deep Blues a read if you haven’t already. It’s a great history of the Delta Blues, and gives major props to Mr. Lomax.
Lomax will always be an institution, what an amazing acomplishment his life was!
On 2002-10-07 18:21, Bloomfield wrote:
From what I hear he was remarkable not only for his work & skill, but also for his integrity: an invaluable assets when you are recording and preserving folk music.
This is quite right. It comes across most strongly, I think, on the CDs on which individual artists are allowed to chat about their work. They talk, they sing a bit, they talk some more. And it’s all done in a kitchen or lounge room somewhere. Check out his recording of the great Scottish traveller singer Jeannie Robertson (once recognised in the Queen’s honours list by the way so she’s at least as respectable as Mick Jagger). The rapport he had with her is entirely evident. As she relaxes, discusses her life and the songs, the warmth of the occasion is palpable. It takes a rare talent to capture that on tape. As you would expect, she sings wonderfully on this occasion.
[ This Message was edited by: Wombat on 2002-10-08 02:19 ]
Jean Ritchie, one of the many outstanding people brought to the world’s attention by John and Alan Lomax, has a downloadable Alan Lomax tribute video at her website: http://www.jeanritchie.com/lomax.htm