As close to authentic as is on recordings-Part I


Again, you say that you want the raw stuff, on a field-collected level. There's a lot of CDs issued for the re-enactor and history buff crowd, but some of the closest you'll find to what you want is music that was made despite "the hobby", as re-enactors call it, the history buffs and the general (or even private) audience, rather than because of it. Field recordings of second generation sources are out there, as recording technology and interest in recording traditional musicians didn't come in until most participants had passed on. These recordings of the type you want are scattered about and desperately need to be anthologized on CD in one place. I'll try ot give you some singers, players and recordings to tap into.

Besides the aforementioned Library Of Congress CD, the 2 CDs "Her Bright Smile Haunts Me Still: The Warner Collection Vol I (Applesed Recordings APR CD 1035) and "Nothing Seems Better To Me": The Warner Collection, Vol. II (Appleseed Recordings APR CD 1036) that make up the reissues of Frank and Anne Warner's field recordings both contain Civil War era tunes from the likes of Frank Proffit, Elizar Tillet and "Yankee" John Galusha. The trouble with this collection was that some of it was recorded with much more primitive equipment than the Lomaxes were able to aquire and half of the songs are two minute fragments that are valuable for securing the tune, but you will need Warner's songbook or other book or recorded sources for the complete texts, as his first machines could only record two minutes at a time.

There are fiddlers out there who have Civil War and prewar tunes in their repetoires, such as Owen "Snake" Chapman (on Rounder) John W. Summers (Label unknown for solo recordings) and Harvey Sampson (on Agusta Heritage, I believe). The Library of Congress collection of fiddle tunes (reissued by Rounder on CD and by the LOC on LP, as the previously mentioned LOC collection mentioned upscroll was) contains a lot of tunes that would be relevant.

The issue of what tunes were actually around before and during the war would make a fascinating thread on its own and is one that I would love to see!

The Popular/Parlor/Sheet music aspect is dealt with on parts of " 'Who Shall Rule The American Nation?:Songs Of the Civil War Era by Henry Clay Work" (Nonesuch H 71317 on LP, look up the CD) by Joan Morris, Clifford Jackson, William Bolcom and The Camerata Chorus Of Washington. However some of the songs were composed as late as 1883.

"...And The Band played 'Bully For You':Militia Fife & Drum Music of the American Civil War Era" by Old Line Field Music ( no #, Men Of Perth Productions 8109 Mandan Terrace, Greenbelt MD 20770) is an example of the recordings of fife and drum corps playing authentic arrangements. There are several bands also specializing in authentic Brass Band arrangements). (The ones I had were stolen from a friend's car so you'll have to find this type of thing on your own.)

This is taking time and effort and I have to go do things. Part two with listings of some of my favorite vocal and instrumental cuts scattered over many recordings on labels the likes of Folk-Legacy and Folkways will be posted soon. Also try some of the Civil War re-enactor or history sites for information and reccommendations.



Good luck with this stuff until then. More to come......