Lomaxs fivepart documentary series american patchwork was shown on pbs, exploring such topics as the blues, cajun culture and the british roots of. From 1978 to 1985 alan lomax traveled the american south and southwest with a television crew to document regional. 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. 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. Alan lomax, musicologist, was born in austin on january 31, 1915, the son of bess brown and john avery lomax. B this article has been rated as bclass on the projects quality scale. Alan lomax collection, manuscripts, american patchwork, 1978. 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. American flag patchwork with vertical and horizontal stripe and star forms, decorative fabric for upholstery and home accents, 3 yards, blue red. Image 12 of alan lomax collection, manuscripts, american. 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. Traces americas creative traditions back to their european and african roots and points out how each regions. No individual has done as much to catalog and preserve traditional american music as american folklorist alan lomax 19152002. May 15, 2014 from the alan lomax collection at the american folklife center, library of congress.
An american ethnomusicologist, one of the most dedicated and knowledgeable folkmusic scholars of the 20th century, alan lomax was born in austin, texas, in 1915, the third of four children born to bess brown and pioneering folklorist. Critical views of alan lomaxs work and legacy have most recently culminated in joshua clegg cafferys annotated compendium of song lyrics derived from the lomax recordings. His work includes the prizewinning 1990 pbs television series american patchwork and the multimedia interactive database the global jukebox, which he produced as an anthropologist for columbia university and hunter college. Traces americas creative traditions back to their european and. There are five films made from footage that lomax shot between 1978 and 1985 for the pbs american patchwork series, three of which are. Alan lomax all american collection new 4pc floral printed patchwork bluegreen curtain set. Lomaxs fivepart documentary series american patchwork was shown on pbs, exploring such topics as. 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. Promotional still for pbss american patchwork with alan lomax series public broadcasting service, 1991. Works by alan lomax association for cultural equity. Although john and alan lomax were taken to task on accusations of exploitation, failure to acknowledge coworkers contributions, and errors in documentation, they were even more widely hailed for their unparalleled accomplishments. Jul 19, 2002 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. Preachers, fiddlers, moonshiners, cloggers and square. 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.
From 1978 to 1985 alan lomax traveled the american south and southwest with a television crew to document regional folklore with deep historical roots. At the same time he continued work on the global jukebox an intelligent museum. Lomax later took him to new york where he performed to college audiences. A folklorist, pub lisher, author, and parttime musician, lomax was a driving force in the folk and blues boom of the 1950s and 1960s, and helped the world discover such artists as leadbelly, pete seeger, and muddy. In these documentaries, lomax largely ignores the giants of folk music and explores instead the. 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. 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.
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. Alan lomax collection, manuscripts, american patchwork, 19781991, appalachian journey. Thats what youll find in lomax s american patchwork series about american regional musics. Apr 08, 2015 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. The man was committed to capturing music as it was made in america and around the world real music. Nov 02, 2015 screenshot of alan lomax being interviewed by charles kuralt, 1991. From the alan lomax collection at the american folklife center, library of congress. Lomax, alan the handbook of texas online texas state. An american ethnomusicologist, one of the most dedicated and knowledgeable folkmusic scholars of the 20th century, alan lomax was born in austin, texas, in 1915, the third of four children born to bess brown and pioneering folklorist and author john a. Lomax produced recordings, concerts, and radio shows in the us and in. Thats what youll find in lomaxs american patchwork series about american regional musics.
Lomax doesnt shy away from a political interpretation of the music, theorizing that for the poor. Pantheon, 1993, a reflection on lomaxs encounters with africanafrican. January 31, 1915 july 19, 2002 was an american ethnomusicologist, best known for his numerous field recordings of folk music of the 20th century. Sonny boy nelson eugene powell, vocal and guitar, shot by alan lomax, john bishop, and worth long in greenville, mississippi, august 31, 1978. American flag patchwork with vertical and horizontal stripe and star forms, decorative fabric for upholstery. Alan lomax is within the scope of the wikiproject regional and national music, an attempt at building a resource on the music of all the peoples and places of the world please visit the projects listing to see the articles assessment and to help us improve the article as we push to. 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 the library in 1942.
Used courtesy of the association for cultural equity. The man was committed to capturing music as it was made in america and around the world real music, made by real people. He was also a musician himself, as well as a folklorist, archivist, writer, scholar, political activist, oral historian, and filmmaker. This material from alan lomaxs 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.
Nov 22, 2011 an american patchwork how do you describe alan lomax. An american patchwork how do you describe alan lomax. From the resulting 500 hours of footage lomax wrote, produced, directed, and narrated five onehour documentary films focused on african american, appalachian. Appalachian journey is one of five films made from footage that alan lomax shot between 1978 and 1985 for the pbs american patchwork series 1991. From the resulting 400 hours of footage came the fiveprogram series american patchwork, which aired on pbs in 1991. While in his sixties, lomax embarked on a final series of field trips to the american south and southwest, this time with a film crew and script ideas for exploring several fertile regional and ethnic american musical cultures. Alan lomax collection, manuscripts, american patchwork, 19781991, dreams and songs of the noble old view this item on. John and alan lomax were also responsible for collecting a number of the songs of the ritchie family of kentucky. Sounds of the south, recorded by alan lomax grapewrath. 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.
The son of pioneering american scholar and advocate of folk culture john a. Contains two of the american patchwork collection on laserdisc. Preachers, singers, fiddlers, banjo pickers, moonshiners, cloggers, and square dancers recount the good times and the hard times of rural. Between jack and woody, and hours spent at lomaxs west third street apartment listening to alans copy of harry smiths anthology of american folk music, dylan mined more than enough of the raw materials he needed to steer before, of course, spurning the new york folk scene into mainstream consciousness. Title alan lomax collection, manuscripts, american patchwork, 19781991, land where the blues began contributor names lomax, alan, 19152002 collector. Telly addict andrew collins casts his critical eye over new worlds above, klondike, the trip to. Not everyone has heard of alan lomax, but the austin native has been one of the most influential men in american music this century.
Alan lomax, musicologist, writer, and producer, travels through the hills and hollers of the southern appalachiansgeorgia and the carolinas, investigating the. Austin, texas, 1915 spent over six decades working to promote knowledge and appreciation of the worlds folk music. 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 is within the scope of the wikiproject regional and national music, an attempt at building a resource on the music of all the peoples and places of the world.
For more information about the american patchwork fi. Please visit the projects listing to see the articles assessment and to help us improve the article as we push to 1. American patchwork quartet apq is on a mission to reclaim the immigrant soul of american roots music. 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. 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. American patchwork was a major project that provided rich glimpses into postbicentennial multicultural america. 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 audio. American patchwork, lomaxs prizewinning fivehour television series on american musical regional cultures, aired on pbs in 1990. Title alan lomax collection, manuscripts, american patchwork, 19781991, administrative contributor names lomax, alan, 19152002 collector. Alan lomax 19152002 was a folklorist, an ethnomusicologist, a record producer, and a network radio host and writer. In the 1970s and 1980s lomax advised the smithsonian institutions folklife festival and produced a series of films about folk music, american patchwork. Nov 30, 2015 promotional still for pbss american patchwork with alan lomax series public broadcasting service, 1991.
About alan association for cultural equity alan lomax. The legacy of alan lomax american libraries magazine. Alan lomax, canray fontenot, bois sec ardoin, et al. Critical views of alan lomax s work and legacy have most recently culminated in joshua clegg cafferys annotated compendium of song lyrics derived from the lomax recordings. 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. From 1978 to 1985 alan lomax traveled the american south and southwest with a television crew to document. This resulted in american patchwork, a prizewinning fivehour television series, which aired on pbs in 1990. Screenshot of alan lomax being interviewed by charles kuralt, 1991. He was a folklorist, ethnomusicologist, archivist, writer, scholar, political activist, oral historian, and filmmaker. It offers songs, dances, stories, and religious rituals of the southern appalachians. Jul 06, 1990 in its affable, roughedged way, american patchwork is strong stuff for public television.
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 biography the american folklife center library. Alan lomax travels through the hills and hollers of the southern appalachians investigating the songs, dances, and religious rituals of the descendents of the scotchirish frontiers people who have made the mountains their home for centuries. Lomax doesnt shy away from a political interpretation of the music, theorizing that for. 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. A musicologist who brought onceobscure blues and folk musicians into the mainstream eye, alan lomax has been referred to as the father of the american folk song revival for his introduction of. In its affable, roughedged way, american patchwork is strong stuff for public television. Placestories project alan lomaxs american patchwork. 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. 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. Alan lomax travelled to britain during the 50s and collaborated with ewan maccoll on the radio series ballads and blues. He was a folklorist, ethnomusicologist, archivist, writer, scholar, political. The man was committed to capturing the music of ordinary people around the world.
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