The advent of new technologies opened up new worlds for lomax, and in the 70s and 80s he made a series of journeys back to the south to videotape traditional musical performances for the pbs series american patchwork, completed and broadcast in 1990. The best pieces of music inspired by american folk tunes. This material from alan lomax s independent archive, begun in 1946, which has been digitized and preserved by the association for cultural equity, is distinct from the thousands of earlier recordings on acetate and aluminum discs he made from 1933 to 1942 under the auspices of the library of congress. In its affable, roughedged way, american patchwork is strong stuff for public television. In 2004, through the generosity of an anonymous donor, the american folklife center at the library of congress acquired the alan lomax collection, which comprises all the material lomax collected after he left. Alan lomax, musicologist, was born in austin on january 31, 1915, the son of bess brown and john avery lomax. Shot throughout the american south and southwest over the course of seven years 19781985 in preparation for a pbs series, american patchwork, which aired in 1991, these videos consist of performances, interviews, and folkloric scenes culled from 400 hours of. Used courtesy of the association for cultural equity. When alan lomax was assistantincharge for the library of congresss. The songs gathered on michiganio illustrate the diverse patchwork quilt of ethnic settlement in the region.
The alan lomax video collection here are a collection of videos featuring alan lomax, one of the great american field collectors of folk music in the 20th century. January 31, 1915 july 19, 2002 was an american ethnomusicologist, best known for his numerous field recordings of folk music of the 20th century. Lomax later took him to new york where he performed to college audiences. Goodbye, babylon exists as one of the most esteemed spiritual music collections ever released. From the resulting 500 hours of footage lomax wrote, produced, directed, and narrated five onehour documentary films focused on african american, appalachian.
There are five films made from footage that lomax shot between 1978 and 1985 for the pbs american patchwork series, three of which are. Eli leon, scholar and collector of african american quilts. Eli leon, a bronxborn, oakland psychotherapist who quit to devote his life to becoming a foremost scholar and collector of african american quilts, has died at 82. His musical repertoire included traditional english and scottish ballads, appalachian folk songs and original compositions. From the resulting 400 hours of footage came the fiveprogram series american patchwork, which aired on pbs in 1991. Austin, texas, 1915 spent over six decades working to promote knowledge and appreciation of the worlds folk music. From the alan lomax collection at the american folklife center, library of congress. Please practice handwashing and social distancing, and. From 1978 to 1985 alan lomax traveled the american south and southwest with a television crew to document regional folklore with deep historical roots. Photos from cajun louisiana abbeville, lafayette, and mamou, among other locales shot as lomax and film crew produced footage of cajuns at work and play for what would become the cajun country episode of the american patchwork television series on pbs. Lomax, alan the handbook of texas online texas state. Alan lomax collection, manuscripts, folk songs of north. Alan lomax was an american ethnomusicologist, best known for his numerous field recordings of folk music of the 20th century.
In these documentaries, lomax largely ignores the giants of folk music and explores instead the. American patchwork quartet apq is on a mission to reclaim the immigrant soul of american roots music. The legacy of alan lomax american libraries magazine. This quilt certainly attracts my eye and i find it intriguing, but it gave me a disturbing feeling even at first glance. It was made for the lands end all american quilt contest in 1996 by lori chase of deer isle. Lomax, alan, with his father, began a major effort in 1933 to record living folk music and to develop the archive of american folk song at the library of congress.
Alan lomax collection, manuscripts, american patchwork, 1978. This whirlwind burst of orchestral colour and american folk song dates from 1939 and was commissioned by alan lomax for his cbs series american folk songs and wellsprings of music. Title alan lomax collection, manuscripts, american patchwork, 19781991, land where the blues began contributor names lomax, alan, 19152002 collector. The son of pioneering american scholar and advocate of folk culture john a. He was also a musician himself, as well as a folklorist, archivist, writer, scholar, political activist, oral historian, and filmmaker. A fair beauty bright arrangement of song published in folksongs of north america dated. This finecrafted cedar box, packaged with raw cotton, contains 5 cds, totaling 5 songs recorded from 19021960, and 1 cd featuring 25 sermons from 1926 through 1941. Thats what youll find in lomax s american patchwork series about american regional musics.
Hall, stephanie, songs of the abundant ocean, folklife today, june 8, 2014. He began his career in 1933 alongside his father, the pioneering folklorist john avery lomax, author of the bestselling cowboy songs and other frontier ballads 1910. The two were romantically involved and lived together for some years. Download image of alan lomax collection, manuscripts, folk songs of north america, 1960. Alan lomax collection, manuscripts, american patchwork.
Two white horses side by sideme and my lord gon take a ride. Works by alan lomax association for cultural equity. It is definitely an art quilt, but what is its message. Quilts and quiltmaking in america, 1978 to 1996 online presentation of quilts and quilters from the lands end all american quilt contest collection and the blue ridge parkway folklife project collection, library of congress.
The songs gathered on michiganio illustrate the diverse patchwork quilt of. American patchwork series from 1978 to 1985 alan lomax traveled the american south and southwest with a television crew to document regional folklore with deep historical roots. The man was committed to capturing music as it was made in america and around the world real music, made by real people. Crawford seeger 190153 soon moved on to her ultramodern style, but the short rissolty. Lomax produced recordings, concerts, and radio shows in the us and in. Highly acclaimed artists falu shah vocals, clay ross guitarvocals, clarence penn drums and yasushi nakamura bass showcase the dynamic diversity of contemporary culture by reimagining timeless songs from americas past. When we digitized the 400 hours of video that lomax shot on threequarterinch umatic tape between 1978 and 1984 that aired on his american patchwork pbs series in 1991, we initially planned to build a video catalog that would accompany our online photo and.
August 12th, 2010 the smart brothers played an intimate show at lestats before going on tour to promote their newest album. About the american patchwork series from 1978 to 1985 alan lomax traveled the american south and southwest with a television crew to document regional folklore with deep historical roots. Alan lomax collection, manuscripts, american patchwork, 19781991, appalachian journey. An american patchwork how do you describe alan lomax. Alan lomax also produced a five part pbs television series american patchwork, that over a decade ago looked at delta blues, cajun music, jazz parades in new orleans, appalachian old time music. Alan lomax s monumental work to characterize dance styles and. Traces americas creative traditions back to their european and african roots and points out how each regions. Nimrod workman november 5, 1895 november 26, 1994 was an american singer, coal miner and trade unionist. American patchwork was a major project that provided rich glimpses into postbicentennial multicultural america. Today, in partnership with the association for cultural equity, we are proud to announce alan lomaxs american patchwork project and the launch of its digital map on the.
Lomax doesnt shy away from a political interpretation of the music, theorizing that for the poor. Screenshot of alan lomax being interviewed by charles kuralt, 1991. About alan association for cultural equity alan lomax. Lomax is the person who put the archive of american. The man was committed to capturing music as it was made in america and around the world real music. John and alan lomax were also responsible for collecting a number of the songs of the ritchie family of kentucky. Alan lomax also produced a five part pbs television series american patchwork. From 1978 to 1985 alan lomax traveled the american south and southwest with a television crew to document regional. From the leadoff cajunsounding fiddle tunes black tar on a stick. Placestories project alan lomaxs american patchwork. The land where the blues began is one of five films made from footage that alan lomax shot between 1978 and 1985 for the pbs american patchwork series 1991.
Alan lomax developed a global vision for the protection of traditional cultures. Shot throughout the american south and southwest over the. A selfdescribed songhunter, alan lomax traveled the mississippi delta in the 1930s and 40s, at first with his father john lomax, later in the company sometimes of black folklorists like john w. He attended the choate school in connecticut and spent a year at harvard university, but enrolled at the university of texas in austin and graduated in 1936 with a philosophy degree.
Alan lomax had met 20yearold english folk singer shirley collins while living in london. The filmwork of alan lomax is a resource for students, researchers, filmmakers, and fans of americas traditional music and folkways. Explores americas diverse cultural heritage through song, dance, story, and festival. Beginning in 1978, alan lomax and his team shot ethnographic film and video footage in mississippi, arizona, philadelphia, louisiana, georgia, kentucky. He was a folklorist, ethnomusicologist, archivist, writer, scholar, political activist, oral historian, and filmmaker. Beginning in 1978, alan lomax and his team shot ethnographic film and video footage in mississippi, arizona, philadelphia, louisiana, georgia, kentucky, north carolina, virginia, and washington, d. Quilts for kids expectant mothers and little ones will love these handmade crib quilts. When lomax obtained a contract from atlantic records to rerecord some of the american musicians first recorded in the 1940s, using improved equipment, collins accompanied him. Alan lomax travelled to britain during the 50s and collaborated with ewan maccoll on. From cuddly baby quilts to quilted play throws, these quilts will be treasured for years to come. America has a patchwork culture made of the dreams and songs of all its people.
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