SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY[102]
[102]This bibliography is not intended to cover all that has been written on Negro songs. It includes references to actual collections of songs and to a few other contributions which are of value to the serious student of Negro songs. Dozens of merely appreciative articles have been omitted. For a larger bibliography one may consult the latest issue of theNegro Year Book.
[102]This bibliography is not intended to cover all that has been written on Negro songs. It includes references to actual collections of songs and to a few other contributions which are of value to the serious student of Negro songs. Dozens of merely appreciative articles have been omitted. For a larger bibliography one may consult the latest issue of theNegro Year Book.
Abbot, F. H., andSwan, A. J.,Eight Negro Songs. Enoch & Sons, New York, 1923. Eight songs from Bedford County, Virginia. Explanatory comments and notes on dialect are given for each song.Allen, W. F., and others,Slave Songs of the United States. New York, 1867. Words and music of 136 songs are given.Armstrong, M. F.,Hampton and Its Students. New York, 1874. Fifty plantation songs.Ballanta, N. G. J.,St. Helena Island Spirituals. G. Schirmer, New York, 1925. A collection of 115 spirituals from Penn School, St. Helena Island. This island is off the coast of South Carolina, and its semi-isolation makes it an interesting field for the study of Negro songs. Ballanta’s work is prefaced by a valuable but somewhat pedantic discussion of Negro music.Burlin, Natalie Curtis,Negro Folk-Songs. G. Schirmer, New York, 1918-19. Four small volumes of Negro songs recorded at Hampton Institute. Volumes I and II are spirituals, volumes III and IV are work songs and play songs. These songs are of special value in that the late Mrs. Burlin came nearer than any one else to the accurate reproduction of Negro songs in musical notation.Campbell, Olive Dame, andSharp, Cecil J.,English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians. The student who is interested in the origin of Negro songs and their relation to English folk songs will find valuable data in this book.Cox, J. H.,Folk Songs of the South. Harvard University Press, 1924. Most of these songs are songs of the whites of the mountains, but they are particularly valuable in that they throw light on the origin of many Negro songs.Fenner, T. P.,Religious Folk Songs of the American Negro. Hampton Institute Press, 1924. (Arranged in 1909 by the Musical Directors of Hampton Normal and Industrial Institutefrom the original edition by Thomas P. Fenner. Reprinted in 1924.) This volume contains the words and music of 153 religious songs.Fenner, T. P., andRathbun, F. G.,Cabin and Plantation Songs. New York, 1891. Old Negro plantation songs with music.Hallowell, Emily,Calhoun Plantation Songs. New York, 1910. A number of songs with music collected from the singing of Negroes on the Calhoun plantation.Harris, Joel Chandler,Uncle Remus, His Songs and Sayings. New York, 1880. Nine songs.Harris, Joel Chandler,Uncle Remus and His Friends. New York, 1892. Sixteen songs.Higginson, Thomas Wentworth,Army Life in a Black Regiment. Boston, 1870. Chapter IX of this book is devoted to Negro spirituals as they were sung in Col. Higginson’s regiment during the Civil War.Hobson, Anne,In Old Alabama. New York, 1903. Ten dialect stories and songs.Johnson, James Weldon,The Book of American Negro Spirituals. Viking Press, New York, 1925. A collection of sixty-one spirituals. Most of these songs have been published in other collections, but the musical arrangements in this volume are new. While the melodies of the old songs are retained intact, an effort has been made to improve the rhythmic qualities of the accompaniments. The preface of the book is devoted to the origin, development, and appreciation of Negro spirituals.Kennedy, R. Emmet,Black Cameos. A. & C. Boni, New York, 1924. A collection of twenty-eight stories, mostly humorous, with songs interwoven. The words and music of seventeen songs are given.Kennedy, R. Emmet,Mellows: Work Songs, Street Cries and Spirituals. A. & C. Boni, New York, 1925. Several spirituals and street songs from New Orleans. The author includes character sketches of his singers. His discussion of the relation of Negro songs to printed ballad sheets is especially interesting.Krehbiel, H. E.,Afro-American Folk Songs. G. Schirmer, New York and London, 1914. A careful study of Negro folk songs from the point of view of the skilled musician. Songs and musicfrom Africa and other sources are analyzed and compared with American Negro productions. The music of sixty or more songs and dance airs is given.Marsh, J. B. T.,The Story of the Jubilee Singers. Boston 1880. An account of the Jubilee Singers, with their songs.Odum, Howard W., andJohnson, Guy B.,The Negro and His Songs. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 1925. A study of the origin and characteristic of Negro songs from the historical and sociological point of view. The words of 200 songs are given. The songs are discussed under three general classes: spirituals, social songs, and work songs.Peterson, C. G.,Creole Songs from New Orleans. New Orleans, 1902.Pike, G. D.,The Jubilee Singers. Boston and New York, 1873. Sixty-one religious songs.Scarborough, Dorothy,On the Trail of Negro Folk-Songs. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1925. One of the most important contributions yet made to the study of Negro songs. This book presents some 200 secular songs, including the music of most of them. Especially interesting is the chapter on “The Negro’s part in the Transmission of Traditional Songs and Ballads.” The lack of any sort of index somewhat decreases the value of the book for purposes of reference and comparison.Talley, Thomas W.,Negro Folk Rhymes. Macmillan, New York, 1922. This volume contains about 350 rhymes and songs and a study of the origin, development, and characteristics of Negro rhymes. Besides a general index of songs, a comparative index is included.Work, John Wesley,Folk Songs of the American Negro. Fisk University Press, Nashville, 1915. The words of fifty-five songs and music of nine, together with a study of the origin and growth of certain songs.
Abbot, F. H., andSwan, A. J.,Eight Negro Songs. Enoch & Sons, New York, 1923. Eight songs from Bedford County, Virginia. Explanatory comments and notes on dialect are given for each song.
Allen, W. F., and others,Slave Songs of the United States. New York, 1867. Words and music of 136 songs are given.
Armstrong, M. F.,Hampton and Its Students. New York, 1874. Fifty plantation songs.
Ballanta, N. G. J.,St. Helena Island Spirituals. G. Schirmer, New York, 1925. A collection of 115 spirituals from Penn School, St. Helena Island. This island is off the coast of South Carolina, and its semi-isolation makes it an interesting field for the study of Negro songs. Ballanta’s work is prefaced by a valuable but somewhat pedantic discussion of Negro music.
Burlin, Natalie Curtis,Negro Folk-Songs. G. Schirmer, New York, 1918-19. Four small volumes of Negro songs recorded at Hampton Institute. Volumes I and II are spirituals, volumes III and IV are work songs and play songs. These songs are of special value in that the late Mrs. Burlin came nearer than any one else to the accurate reproduction of Negro songs in musical notation.
Campbell, Olive Dame, andSharp, Cecil J.,English Folk Songs from the Southern Appalachians. The student who is interested in the origin of Negro songs and their relation to English folk songs will find valuable data in this book.
Cox, J. H.,Folk Songs of the South. Harvard University Press, 1924. Most of these songs are songs of the whites of the mountains, but they are particularly valuable in that they throw light on the origin of many Negro songs.
Fenner, T. P.,Religious Folk Songs of the American Negro. Hampton Institute Press, 1924. (Arranged in 1909 by the Musical Directors of Hampton Normal and Industrial Institutefrom the original edition by Thomas P. Fenner. Reprinted in 1924.) This volume contains the words and music of 153 religious songs.
Fenner, T. P., andRathbun, F. G.,Cabin and Plantation Songs. New York, 1891. Old Negro plantation songs with music.
Hallowell, Emily,Calhoun Plantation Songs. New York, 1910. A number of songs with music collected from the singing of Negroes on the Calhoun plantation.
Harris, Joel Chandler,Uncle Remus, His Songs and Sayings. New York, 1880. Nine songs.
Harris, Joel Chandler,Uncle Remus and His Friends. New York, 1892. Sixteen songs.
Higginson, Thomas Wentworth,Army Life in a Black Regiment. Boston, 1870. Chapter IX of this book is devoted to Negro spirituals as they were sung in Col. Higginson’s regiment during the Civil War.
Hobson, Anne,In Old Alabama. New York, 1903. Ten dialect stories and songs.
Johnson, James Weldon,The Book of American Negro Spirituals. Viking Press, New York, 1925. A collection of sixty-one spirituals. Most of these songs have been published in other collections, but the musical arrangements in this volume are new. While the melodies of the old songs are retained intact, an effort has been made to improve the rhythmic qualities of the accompaniments. The preface of the book is devoted to the origin, development, and appreciation of Negro spirituals.
Kennedy, R. Emmet,Black Cameos. A. & C. Boni, New York, 1924. A collection of twenty-eight stories, mostly humorous, with songs interwoven. The words and music of seventeen songs are given.
Kennedy, R. Emmet,Mellows: Work Songs, Street Cries and Spirituals. A. & C. Boni, New York, 1925. Several spirituals and street songs from New Orleans. The author includes character sketches of his singers. His discussion of the relation of Negro songs to printed ballad sheets is especially interesting.
Krehbiel, H. E.,Afro-American Folk Songs. G. Schirmer, New York and London, 1914. A careful study of Negro folk songs from the point of view of the skilled musician. Songs and musicfrom Africa and other sources are analyzed and compared with American Negro productions. The music of sixty or more songs and dance airs is given.
Marsh, J. B. T.,The Story of the Jubilee Singers. Boston 1880. An account of the Jubilee Singers, with their songs.
Odum, Howard W., andJohnson, Guy B.,The Negro and His Songs. University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 1925. A study of the origin and characteristic of Negro songs from the historical and sociological point of view. The words of 200 songs are given. The songs are discussed under three general classes: spirituals, social songs, and work songs.
Peterson, C. G.,Creole Songs from New Orleans. New Orleans, 1902.
Pike, G. D.,The Jubilee Singers. Boston and New York, 1873. Sixty-one religious songs.
Scarborough, Dorothy,On the Trail of Negro Folk-Songs. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 1925. One of the most important contributions yet made to the study of Negro songs. This book presents some 200 secular songs, including the music of most of them. Especially interesting is the chapter on “The Negro’s part in the Transmission of Traditional Songs and Ballads.” The lack of any sort of index somewhat decreases the value of the book for purposes of reference and comparison.
Talley, Thomas W.,Negro Folk Rhymes. Macmillan, New York, 1922. This volume contains about 350 rhymes and songs and a study of the origin, development, and characteristics of Negro rhymes. Besides a general index of songs, a comparative index is included.
Work, John Wesley,Folk Songs of the American Negro. Fisk University Press, Nashville, 1915. The words of fifty-five songs and music of nine, together with a study of the origin and growth of certain songs.
Adventure Magazine.The files of this magazine for the last few years should be of considerable interest to the student of folk song. A department called “Old Songs That Men Have Sung” is conducted by Dr. R. W. Gordon, a Harvard-trained student of folk song. Many of the songs printed in this department are Negro songs or Negro adaptions.Backus, E. M., “Negro Songs from Georgia,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 10, pp. 116, 202, 216; vol. 11, pp. 22, 60. Six religious songs.Backus, E. M., “Christmas Carols from Georgia,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 12, p. 272. Two songs.Barton, W. E., “Hymns of Negroes,”New England Magazine, vol. 19, pp. 669 et seq., 706 et seq. A number of songs with some musical notation and discussion.Bergen, Mrs. F. D., “On the Eastern Shore,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 2, pp. 296-298. Two fragments, with a brief discussion of the Negroes of the eastern shore of Maryland.Brown, J. M., “Songs of the Slave,”Lippincott’s, vol. 2, pp. 617-623. Several songs with brief comments.Cable, George W., “Creole Slave Songs,”Century, vol. 31, pp. 807-828. Twelve songs with some fragments, music of seven.Clarke, Mary Almsted, “Song Games of Negro Children in Virginia,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 3, pp. 288-290. Nine song games and rhymes.Cox, J. H., “John Hardy,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 32, p. 505 et seq. Here will be found Cox’s discussion of the John Hardy or John Henry story, together with several versions of the song.Garnett, L. A., “Spirituals,”Outlook, vol. 30, p. 589. Three religious songs. However, they appear to have been polished considerably by the writer.Haskell, M. A., “Negro Spirituals,”Century, vol. 36, pp. 577 et seq. About ten songs with music.Higginson, T. W., “Hymns of Negroes,”Atlantic Monthly, vol. 19, pp. 685 et seq. Thirty-six religious and two secular songs, with musical notation.Lemmerman, K., “Improvised Negro Songs,”New Republic, vol. 13, pp. 214-215. Six religious songs or improvised fragments.Lomax, J. A., “Self-pity in Negro Folk Song,”Nation, vol. 105, pp. 141-145. About twenty songs, some new, others quoted from Perrow and Odum, with discussion.“Negro Hymn of Day of Judgment,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 9, p. 210. One religious song.Niles, Abbe, “Blue Notes,”New Republic, vol. 45, pp. 292-3. A discussion of the significance of the blues and the music of the blues. The style is somewhat too verbose and technical for the average reader.Odum, Anna K., “Negro Folk Songs from Tennessee,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 27, pp. 255-265. Twenty-one religious and four secular songs.Odum, Howard W., “Religious Folk Songs of the Southern Negroes,”Journal of Religious Psychology and Education, vol. 3, pp. 265-365. About one hundred songs.Odum, Howard W., “Folk Song and Folk Poetry as Found in the Secular Songs of the Southern Negroes,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 35, pp. 223-249; 351-396. About 120 songs.Odum, Howard W., “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”Country Gentleman, March, 1926, pp. 18-19, 49-50. Several religious songs with discussion.Odum, Howard W., “Down that Lonesome Road.”Country Gentleman, May, 1926, pp. 18-19, 79. Several secular songs, music of six, some new and some quoted fromThe Negro and His Songsand from the present collection.Peabody, Charles, “Notes on Negro Music,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 16, pp. 148-52. Observations on the technique of the Negro workman in the South, with some songs and music.Perkins, A. E., “Spirituals from the Far South,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 35, pp. 223-249. Forty-seven songs.Perrow, E. C., “Songs and Rhymes from the South,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 25, pp. 137-155; vol. 26, pp. 123-173; vol. 28, pp. 129-190. A general collection containing 118 Negro songs, mostly secular.Redfearn, S. F., “Songs from Georgia,” Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 34, pp. 121-124. One secular and three religious songs.Speers, M. W. F., “Negro Songs and Folk-Lore,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 23, pp. 435-439. One religious and one secular song.Steward, T. G., “Negro Imagery,”New Republic, vol. 12, p. 248. One religious improvisation, with discussion.Thanet, Octave, “Cradle Songs of Negroes in North Carolina,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 7, p. 310. Two lullabies.Truitt, Florence, “Songs from Kentucky,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 36, pp. 376-379. Four white songs, one of which contains several verses often found in Negro songs.Webb, W. P., “Notes on Folk-Lore of Texas,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 28, pp. 290-299. Five secular songs.
Adventure Magazine.The files of this magazine for the last few years should be of considerable interest to the student of folk song. A department called “Old Songs That Men Have Sung” is conducted by Dr. R. W. Gordon, a Harvard-trained student of folk song. Many of the songs printed in this department are Negro songs or Negro adaptions.
Backus, E. M., “Negro Songs from Georgia,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 10, pp. 116, 202, 216; vol. 11, pp. 22, 60. Six religious songs.
Backus, E. M., “Christmas Carols from Georgia,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 12, p. 272. Two songs.
Barton, W. E., “Hymns of Negroes,”New England Magazine, vol. 19, pp. 669 et seq., 706 et seq. A number of songs with some musical notation and discussion.
Bergen, Mrs. F. D., “On the Eastern Shore,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 2, pp. 296-298. Two fragments, with a brief discussion of the Negroes of the eastern shore of Maryland.
Brown, J. M., “Songs of the Slave,”Lippincott’s, vol. 2, pp. 617-623. Several songs with brief comments.
Cable, George W., “Creole Slave Songs,”Century, vol. 31, pp. 807-828. Twelve songs with some fragments, music of seven.
Clarke, Mary Almsted, “Song Games of Negro Children in Virginia,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 3, pp. 288-290. Nine song games and rhymes.
Cox, J. H., “John Hardy,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 32, p. 505 et seq. Here will be found Cox’s discussion of the John Hardy or John Henry story, together with several versions of the song.
Garnett, L. A., “Spirituals,”Outlook, vol. 30, p. 589. Three religious songs. However, they appear to have been polished considerably by the writer.
Haskell, M. A., “Negro Spirituals,”Century, vol. 36, pp. 577 et seq. About ten songs with music.
Higginson, T. W., “Hymns of Negroes,”Atlantic Monthly, vol. 19, pp. 685 et seq. Thirty-six religious and two secular songs, with musical notation.
Lemmerman, K., “Improvised Negro Songs,”New Republic, vol. 13, pp. 214-215. Six religious songs or improvised fragments.
Lomax, J. A., “Self-pity in Negro Folk Song,”Nation, vol. 105, pp. 141-145. About twenty songs, some new, others quoted from Perrow and Odum, with discussion.
“Negro Hymn of Day of Judgment,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 9, p. 210. One religious song.
Niles, Abbe, “Blue Notes,”New Republic, vol. 45, pp. 292-3. A discussion of the significance of the blues and the music of the blues. The style is somewhat too verbose and technical for the average reader.
Odum, Anna K., “Negro Folk Songs from Tennessee,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 27, pp. 255-265. Twenty-one religious and four secular songs.
Odum, Howard W., “Religious Folk Songs of the Southern Negroes,”Journal of Religious Psychology and Education, vol. 3, pp. 265-365. About one hundred songs.
Odum, Howard W., “Folk Song and Folk Poetry as Found in the Secular Songs of the Southern Negroes,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 35, pp. 223-249; 351-396. About 120 songs.
Odum, Howard W., “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot.”Country Gentleman, March, 1926, pp. 18-19, 49-50. Several religious songs with discussion.
Odum, Howard W., “Down that Lonesome Road.”Country Gentleman, May, 1926, pp. 18-19, 79. Several secular songs, music of six, some new and some quoted fromThe Negro and His Songsand from the present collection.
Peabody, Charles, “Notes on Negro Music,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 16, pp. 148-52. Observations on the technique of the Negro workman in the South, with some songs and music.
Perkins, A. E., “Spirituals from the Far South,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 35, pp. 223-249. Forty-seven songs.
Perrow, E. C., “Songs and Rhymes from the South,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 25, pp. 137-155; vol. 26, pp. 123-173; vol. 28, pp. 129-190. A general collection containing 118 Negro songs, mostly secular.
Redfearn, S. F., “Songs from Georgia,” Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 34, pp. 121-124. One secular and three religious songs.
Speers, M. W. F., “Negro Songs and Folk-Lore,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 23, pp. 435-439. One religious and one secular song.
Steward, T. G., “Negro Imagery,”New Republic, vol. 12, p. 248. One religious improvisation, with discussion.
Thanet, Octave, “Cradle Songs of Negroes in North Carolina,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 7, p. 310. Two lullabies.
Truitt, Florence, “Songs from Kentucky,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 36, pp. 376-379. Four white songs, one of which contains several verses often found in Negro songs.
Webb, W. P., “Notes on Folk-Lore of Texas,”Journal of American Folk-Lore, vol. 28, pp. 290-299. Five secular songs.