New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-05-27

I convert them INTO art songs lndlstln-
guishable from the composed songs Of
the day"
Equally sound and sensible is Mr..
Sharp's advice as TO how folksongs
ought to be sung, and since the singing
of these songs in the concert room is
becoming more and more the vogue. the
advice is seriously to be commended TO
the givers of song recitals:
"Traditionslly, folksongs are sung
not only without gesture, but with the
greatest restraint in the matter of ex-
preston: indeed, the folk-singer Will
usually close his eyes and observe en-
impassive demeanor throughout his
performance. All who have heard HIM
sing in this way will, am confident,
bear witness to the extraordinary
effectiveness of this unusual mode OF
execution. Artistically, then, 1T Will,
think, be found that the most effective
treatment to accord to the folksong is
TO sing it as simply and as straight
forwardly as possible, and, while pay
, ing the closest attention to the clear
enunciation of the words and the pres
ervation of an even, pleasant tone, 10
forbear as far as may be from actively
and deliberately attempting to improve
| il by the introduction Of frequent
changes of time, crescendos, diminuen-
does and other devices OF like char
acter."
Mr.. Sharp has provided each song
and ballad with an historical note
touching its origin, and frequently
adds comment on the textual vari-
ants and the modal characteristics OF
the tunes. While in America he spent
some time in Asheville, n. G., editing
the large collection of English ballads
made by Mrs. John c. Campbell as they
have been preserved by the mountain
GERS Of the Appalachian country, and
adding to it songs which he took down
from the mountain singers. 1t was,
and no doubt still Is, his intention to
publish his collection, though his
labors in this direction were suspend
ed by a call TO attend a son grievous-
ly wounded in battle OH the French
front. Pending the appearance of his
volume, students of these interesting
relics Of ancient British balladry have
been given an opportunity 10 study
two collections independently made in
the mountains of Kentucky by Ameri-
caa musicians-Miss Josephine Nc
Gill, of Louisville, and Miss Lorraine
Wyman and Mr.. Howard Brockway, of
New York, the last two in collabora-
ton. Miss McGll was first in the
field, but her volume, "Folksongs of
the Kentucky Mountains" (Boosey e.
Co, New York, Toronto and London,
with an Introductory note by II. +.
KrehbieD, has but recently come from
the press, while that of Miss Wyman
and Mr.. Brockway, entitled Lonesome
Tunes; Folksongs from the Kentucky
Mountains" New York, the II. W.
Gray Company, appeared before the
close of last year. Some of the fruits
Of Miss McGill's iabors we're made
Known TO The Tribune's readers more
than o year ago, when the Edith Rubel
Trio included few of the melodies
in n unique concert of chamber music
in which folk melodies we're exploited,
and The Tribune discussed words and
tunes Of the songs. This discussion
was followed by a series Of articles in
the early summer of 1916 on other
ballads grsciously placed at our dis
rosal By Miss McGill. In the book
there are twenty songs and traditional
ballads of which Miss McGill collect
cd the words and melodies which she
has now presented in arrangement for
voice and pianoforte accompaniment
Her method is like that Of Mr.. Sharp
respect Of fermentation, though the
pianoforte part is less varied and elias
tic than his. Mr.. Brockway, who made
the settings for the songs of which
Miss Wyman collected the words, has
pursued a more independent course,
analogous 10 that Of Sir Charles Stan
ford in his Irish songs, but still more