The Collection of Folk-Song (Three French-Canadian Melodies)
by Phillips Barry
Source: The Journal of American Folklore, Vol. 27, No. 103 (Jan. - Mar., 1914), pp. 77-78
THE COLLECTION OF FOLK-SONG
BY PHILLIPS BARRY, A.M.
AMERICA with its cosmopolitan population affords for the folk-lorist a unique opportunity for research and usefulness. Much has been done to collect the traditions, myths, and songs of the Indian and of the Negro; more yet remains to be done in the way of enlarging the records of European material current in our midst. In the case of folk-song in particular, a good beginning has been made, as a result of the widespread and growing interest in British balladry and folkmusic.[1]
In large measure still unrecorded, however, are the songs and stories of those of our fellow-citizens whose power of English
speech is an acquired trait. Evidence of the richness of the treasure awaiting the activities of a systematic collector, is afforded by the few published folk-songs which we owe to American singers whose native speech is German,[2] French,[3] Spanish,[4] Gaelic,[5] and Yiddish.[6]
Nor is it likely we should be disappointed were we to look for native folk-songs among the new settlers of our crowded cities,-- Italians, Greeks, Armenians, Slavs, Magyars, Syrians, just to mention a few. In the hope that the interest of readers of the Journal may grow into a collecting-enthusiasm, three French-Canadian melodies may herewith be put in evidence.
I. LA BELLE CANADIENNE.[7]
[music]
2. OLD CANADIAN FRENCH SONG.[8]
Mlixolydian
{music]
3. LA FILLE BLONDE.[9]
[music]
I640 CAMBRIDGE STREET,
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
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Footnotes:
1 H. M. Belden, "Balladry in America" (this Journal, vol. xxv, pp. 1-23).
2 H. L. Fischer, Kurzweil un zeitfertreib, odder Pennsylfaanisch deutsche folkslieder.
3. E. Gagnon, Chansons Populaires du Canada (Quebec, I894); P. E. Prevost, Chansons
Canadiennes (Montreal, 1907); R. Renault, "French Canadian Songs" (Le Courrier de
Livre, January, I9goo).
4. SC. F. Lummis, The Land of Poco Tiempo, pp. 215-25o; A. Farwell, Folk-Songs of
the West and South; Eleanor Hague, "Spanish-American Folk-Songs" (this Journal, vol.
xxiv, pp. 323-33I).
5. A. Fraser, "The Gaelic Folk-Songs of Canada" (Proceedings and Transactions of the
Royal Society of Canada, ser. 2, vol. ix, pp. 49-60o).
6. J. L. Cahan, Yiddish Folk-Songs (New York, I912); L, Wiener, "Popular Poetry of
the Russian Jews" (Americana Germanica, II., I, pp. 1-26, 2, pp. 31-38).
7. From E. E. M., Marlboro, Mass.
8. Manuscript of G. H. B., Westminster, Mass.
9. From R. J. P. (Bury, P.Q.), as sung by a Frenchwoman in Beecher Falls, Vt.