New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-25
The Cherry-Tree Carol
In Kentucky Mountains
Relics of English Ballads in America-New Phases of the
Folksong Observation-Disclosures Busly at
Work Gathering Tunes and Texts
BY II. E. KREHBIEL..

April 50 OF The lrlDunc printed the
w and of several English ballads they have
been handed down orally for generations among the
nounaneers OF Kentucky, comment briefly made
the peculiar which has attended the efforts collect these
relics Of song the Southern States An explanation OF
the phenomenon was found Cor at sought in the
stance there has been larger survival OF the old English and
Scottish ballads the regions OF Kentucky Ten
nessee Virginia Georgia and the Caonas than elsewhere the
country OF the isolation which their inhabitants lived
There can doubt however that much OF the OF the
Southern collectors their extraordinary zeal stimulated
that romantic elements have attended their researches
which are cities and popuOus rural districts
ban peoples little traditions OF any kind Their
full OF contempoaneouS Distraction diversion and
teanment Moreover he who foksongs go after
them his search be aborously and Systematically
Quoted Professor Child OF Harvard University made his
monumental collection and still monumental comparative
study thrown chiefly upon the manuscript and printed col
econs which he could find Europe He did not have such an
admirable agency the present English FoSong Society to
bep him by collecting songs from of osong singers
i'm Britain and for traditional American versions he was
wholly upon chance and the interest OF few friends Had
he undertaken of the country and appealed his
hearers to make him repository OF their memories he would
have richer harvest Such least has been expert
nce Some years ago talked considerable number OF clubs
schools popular audiences between the Atlantic and the Mis-
,ssppi River on subject Of Wandering Ballads and sell
dom left meeting without contribution port
oos Some ballads thus collected be given to
the readers OF The Tribune along with few ballads from
the Kentucky mountains which behoden Miss Jose
ne McGil OF Louisville: and with the words shall PRINT the
melodies since song without its only hall song
The Journal OF American Folklore has done good work
IN the fosong field for decade past but the contributions nave
been desuorv though the musical side OF the quest has not
been neglected altogether the record OF variant texts has beel
much larger than the record melodies Now the musical side
of the study receiving attention OF musical experts The
melodies of large collection OF ballads made by Mrs John e.
ampbe OF Ashevile ~ c. undergoing scrutiny and revision
under the ewes OF Mr. Cecil Sharp acknowledged English
authority who hopes colate them with oral tradition Nm
the last two months Mr. Howard Bocvay and Miss Lorraine
van have visited the Kentucky which Miss McO
has cleaned McG expects publish her collection
in ARRANGEMENTS voice and pancOrte and doubt some OF
her songs will find into the and thus at
tain to new life and wide currency From lindman, ky
hear that an English example has been followed and the ballad
tunes are sung at Settlement School, which has been the head
quarters OF collectors year ago Professor Reed Smith re-
ported in the Journal Folklore that the tunes OF
ballads collected in Georgia sung the Mount Berry School
in that state and last spring the varsity quartet OF the Omyer
t OF South Carolina sang five ballads the meeting OF the
state Teachers Association The Tribune has directed attention
m the unique and agreeable enterprise the Edith Rube Trio
Having artistic arrangements OF OF the Kentucky ballads
IFS concerts Interest is also growing in AroAmerican osong
The house of Schrmer just published arrangements for
conpanied mixed of the fine "spuals Father Abra
ham and "Im So Sad by Harry T. Bureigh and O. Ri
ord & Co., from whom usually expect Italian operas has
issued solo arrangement made by the excellent musician
~ that marveousy pathetic and beautiful negro song Deep
River" Plainly foksong having real awakening and IN
rest in it is no longer be merely scientific and literary anG
confined the few.