MMario's first post in this thread contained this line: > I believe there are records of Elizabeth I and her court in what sounds like "collecting" behavior to meI think that you could legitimately misread this the way that I, who am slightly paranoid most of the time, did...
As to Brecht, his work with Hans Eisler came later, and, for the most part after, his wonderful collabortations with Kurt Weill--initially, Brecht wrote poems to the melodies of folksongs, and ballads, as well as classical chorales, and hymns--he wrote melodies himself as well, including the melody to the "Alabama Song", which is probably his second most popular song (and the only song that I could never figure out the chords to)
Brecht was known to sing his poems to the accompaniment of his guitar, and was described by the scholar, Leon Feuchtwanger, as " lean, sullen, badly shaven, in leather jacket and cap...hair growing way down on his forehead..It was a queer thing that he should be so popular with the women..the man literally reeked of sweat,and he smelled of unmistakeably of revolution..Obviously, it must be his vulgar ballads that fascinated them..whenever he sang them in his booming voice, the women were swept out of themselves."
Sound familiar? Remind you of anyone you know? And his songs were very political--
I appreciate that some of you are looking back to what I actually said, in order to frame your answers--Expand a little, I of course am aware that John Lomax and Carl Sandburg (and a number of others)traveled the lecture circuits with their songbags and guitars, presenting their collections for both the entertainement and education of their audiences--I would and any comments about them or others who did what they did would be appreciated--
As we all know, the Nineteenth Century was a time when explorers, archeologists, and plunderers of one sort or another were all the rage--there were music collectors before Sharp and Child--I am particularly aware of " Songs of the United States" by William Francis Allen, Francis Pickard Ware, and Lucy McKim Garrison originally published in 1867, and which introduced many songs that later came to be considered to be among America's favorite songs--(Joshua fit the Battle of Jericho and Michael, Row the Boat Ashore made their first appearance there)
Any insight into how these songs were first received, and first performed in the mainstream society (as opposed to the folk culture where they originated) would be appreciated--
Yes, I do want to know how this music developed into coffee house music, and I want names, places, and dates, whenever possible--
As to the labor union songs, I am aware that many of the immigrant cultures) used singing and songwriting as a vehicle for social and political commentary--
Now to the why of all this--I am not idle in my question--I am really trying to draw out history and information on how all of the things that we consider to be "folk music" came to be--so that people can begin to consider options for the future--
Not that I am advocating any collective action, I just think that when you see what has been done, and how it has been done, it makes it easier to see what you can do--