Evening star., 1933-11-28
SYMPHONY TO TELL
John HENRY STORY
Work of Lamar Struggled to
Relate CoIored Hero'S Tale
in New Form.
BY the Associated Press.


CHAPEL HILL, NJ c., November 2S
They have written stories and drama
and sung folk songs about John
Henry" and now the cycle Is complete
with symphonic ballad based on the
doings of the Negroes mythical hero
and strong man.
The work was done by Lamar String
field, Southern composer and musician,
and will be included in the Winter
repertoire of the North Carolina SYM
phony Orchestra which he conducts.
Casting about for a folk epic as the
background for music typically South
ern. the composer decided upon the life
and herculean deeds of the Mississippi
Valley giant whose hands were big as
hams" who toted cotton bales like
other colored men toted sacks of flour.
Before jotting down single note
Struggled spent several months study
ing the legends Of John Henry" re-
garded by some as having been Of flesh
and blood. by others as the fictitious
creation Of imaginative Negroes bent on
flaVlng Q racial Superman.
Used Bradford Story.
A volume published in 1919 by Prof.
Guy B. johnson Of the University of
North Carolina was the basis OF the
composers .2nl study. In addition. the
John Henry stories by Roark Brad
ford proved helpful.
Meanwhile, Paul Green. the play-
wright. who lives here. is dramatizing
tales OF the giants wandering, toll and
philosophy.
This subject Is, beyond q doubt, the
StrinDfeId -,
many available melodies and verses I
nave had to make q selection of those
which best carried the spirit Of the
John Henry legend, which best sue.
gested the towering form and the sup
pie muscles Of the hero and which were
most suitable for elaboration"
SouInern people, who were born and
reared IN centers OF Negro population
and therefore know the traits of the
race. are awaiting performance Of the
oallad With a touch Of curiosity. Above
all, they are eager to learn whether
Negro Va '11'
Not Typical Southerner.
Although born and reared in the
oouth. ne Is not a typical Southerner
~ the story-oook sense of the word
Inc greater part Of his youth was spent
' t"oio 11iI, COilege Town In the
mountains of Western North Carolina
Few Negroes live there and the best
plantation traditions are foreign to the
village. VAC
Whatever he knows about congrerate
Negro life was learned after he reached
maturity and quit the mountain town.
Just prior to the World War he saw
service In Army bands along the Mexi-
can border. The 10th Cavalary. COM
posed OF Negroes. was stationed in the
same general sector and Stringfeld's
friends believe he may have had con-
facts with them that gave him an in
sight the public doesn't know about.
Won Pulitzer Prize.
Later he studied the flute in New
York and did several years of concert
work there. In 1923 he was awarded
the Pulitzer prize for the best American
composition OF that year-his suite,
From the Southern Mountains" The
last movement Of the suite is the widely
popular Cripple Creek" inspired by
the old breakdown" banjo tunes which
Stringfield learned from mountaineer
neighbors in his childhood.
Soon after coming to Chapel Hill as
conductor of the North Carolina SYM
phony Orchestra he composed and pro-