Our Singing Country

Melodies and words for over 200 authentic folk songs and ballads from all parts of the country -- spirituals, hollers, game songs, lullabies, courting songs, work songs, Cajun airs, breakdowns, many more.

PREFACE. FLAX culture and praparation, though ranking amongst the oldest of the worlds industries, is nevertheIess very imperfectIy supplied with any publications which present in seriatim a compIetc description of thc essential and possiblc methods connected wit, h the selection of sced, suitability of land anti its prcparatiori, harvesting and handling of flax crops, incltxding rcttir g, s cutching, preparing the flax for the market and the saving of seed for subscqueut sowings or fcotiing purposes. It was with a vicw of ncutralixing to some extent this cleficiency, that I consented to propare for publication in Foolr form t, Ile results of a long and enthrasiastic study of the pro blems associated with the ultivat io a n n d preparation of this national, csscritial and commerciaI commodity. Speaking generally, I have long been ardcntly interested, theoretically and practically, in flax cultivation and prbeparation. As a result of much study, numerous discussions with prodrlcers arid experimenters, observations and tabulated experiences, I have naturally formed some definite conclusions, even on such a subjcct as Flax, in any branch of which, every experimenter and obscrvcr has a different opinion to offer. The substance of thcsc cxpcricnces I have embodied in my lectures to the students at the Municipal Technical Institute, Belfast. These classes have recently been particularly wcll attended by successive groups of demobilized officers and men arid farmers sons who have gone, or are going out to British East Africa to grow flax, among other crops, for thornothcr country. This volume embodics not only the above-mentioned lectures, but also includes an exhaustive description of the .usual methods practised md the recent dcveloprnents and modem1 methods of httudling flax arid thc possiFiIitjes connected with flax cultivation from seed, to seed and fibre Tncidentally, the future of the Linen Irldustry depe ltls primariIy for its continued success and increase upon the supply of its raw rna, teriaI-flax, and it is hoped that this treatise will contribute to encourage many to grow flax who hitherb0 never a, ttempted to do so, pcrha. ps, from a lack of holdedge of the subjcct, its natural importance a, nd its rern nerat iivpeo ssibilities. At the sa, me time the work shoultl be helpful in its suggestions to a11 otllera interested in thc growth, preparation, spinning, weaving and distribution of lirleri rna, teriala. RIy tha, nks are due to Mr. A. R, ...

Melodies and words for over 200 authentic folk songs and ballads from all parts of the country — spirituals, hollers, game songs, lullabies, courting songs, work songs, Cajun airs, breakdowns, many more.

PREFACE. THE Author of this very practical treatise on Scotch Loch - Fishing desires clearly that it may be of use to all who had it. He does not pretend to have written anything new, but to have attempted to put what he has to say in as readable a form as possible. Everything in the way of the history and habits of fish has been studiously avoided, and technicalities have been used as sparingly as possible. The writing of this book has afforded him pleasure in his leisure moments, and that pleasure would be much increased if he knew that the perusal of it would create any bond of sympathy between himself and the angling community in general. This section is interleaved with blank shects for the readers notes. The Author need hardly say that any suggestions addressed to the case of the publishers, will meet with consideration in a future edition. We do not pretend to write or enlarge upon a new subject. Much has been said and written-and well said and written too on the art of fishing but loch-fishing has been rather looked upon as a second-rate performance, and to dispel this idea is one of the objects for which this present treatise has been written. Far be it from us to say anything against fishing, lawfully practised in any form but many pent up in our large towns will bear us out when me say that, on the whole, a days loch-fishing is the most convenient. One great matter is, that the loch-fisher is depend- ent on nothing but enough wind to curl the water, -and on a large loch it is very seldom that a dead calm prevails all day, -and can make his arrangements for a day, weeks beforehand whereas the stream- fisher is dependent for a good take on the state of the water and however pleasant and easy it may be for one living near the banks of a good trout stream or river, it is quite another matter to arrange for a days river-fishing, if one is looking forward to a holiday at a date some weeks ahead. Providence may favour the expectant angler with a good day, and the water in order but experience has taught most of us that the good days are in the minority, and that, as is the case with our rapid running streams, -such as many of our northern streams are, -the water is either too large or too small, unless, as previously remarked, you live near at hand, and can catch it at its best. A common belief in regard to loch-fishing is, that the tyro and the experienced angler have nearly the same chance in fishing, -the one from the stern and the other from the bow of the same boat. Of all the absurd beliefs as to loch-fishing, this is one of the most absurd. Try it. Give the tyro either end of the boat he likes give him a cast of ally flies he may fancy, or even a cast similar to those which a crack may be using and if he catches one for every three the other has, he may consider himself very lucky. Of course there are lochs where the fish are not abundant, and a beginner may come across as many as an older fisher but we speak of lochs where there are fish to be caught, and where each has a fair chance. Again, it is said that the boatman has as much to do with catching trout in a loch as the angler. Well, we dont deny that. In an untried loch it is necessary to have the guidance of a good boatman but the same argument holds good as to stream-fishing...

This is the first publication of an annotated monograph by the noted composer and folksong scholar Ruth Crawford Seeger. Originally written as a foreword for the 1940 book Our Singing Country, it was considered too long and was replaced by a much shorter version. According to her stepson, Pete Seeger, when the original was not included "Ruth suffered one of the biggest disappointments of the last ten years of her life. It just killed her . . . She was trying to analyze the whole style and problem of performing this music." Along with her children Mike and Peggy Seeger, he has long desired to see this work in print as it was meant to be read. The manuscript has been edited from several varying sources by Larry Polansky, with the assistance of Seeger's biographer Judith Tick. It is divided into two sections: I. "A Note on Transcription" and II. "Notes on the Songs and on Manners of Singing." Seeger examines all aspects of the relationship between singer, song, notation, the eventual performer, and the transcriber. In Section I, Seeger develops a complex and well-organized system of notation for these songs which is meant to be both descritive (transcription as cultural preservation) and prescriptive (she intended that others would be able to perform these songs). In Section II, she provides an interpretive theory for performance of this music, and suggests how performers might make the songs "their own" through a deep knowledge of the original styles. Ruth Crawford Seeger considered this work to be both a major accomplishment and a central statement of her own ideas on the topic. Larry Polansky is Associate Professor of Music at Dartmouth College, and a well-known composer and theorist on American music. Judith Tick is Professor of Music at Northeastern University and author of the first major biography of Ruth Crawford Seeger.