Hi,

We know that Dan Emmett and others borrowed from traditional African-American sources. The extent of the intermingling of traditional and composed music we will never know.

We only know that the African-American influence on all American music and much of the music overseas was and is enormous. By the early 1900s many of the folk rhymes and songs Talley collected that came from minstrel sources had entered tradition.

By looking back we can see where the songs started. More importantly- we can use the songs today- creating new songs from the old that are a testiment to our musical heritage.

Richie