Traditional Singing and Apprenticeship

Subject: RE: Traditional Singing and Apprenticeship
From: Stringsinger
Date: 19 Jun 09 - 06:11 PM

An observation about Peg Seeger. Her mother transcribed in musical notation many of the songs that she grew up learning. Peg was able to learn them as her mother dropped the needle over and over again on the passage to be transcribed.

It brings me to this point. The style of singing is wholly dependent on the music that's being sung. In traditional music, the interest lies in the actual notes of the rendition, not just the manner of singing. Learning the actual notes being sung accurately through transcriptions is valuable as an insight into style. Most of the notes can be expressed through pitches in music notation although phrasing, breathing and ornamental slides are harder to catch and record in notes. Charles Seeger had a machine that actually transcribed pitches. It was like an oscilloscope which was able to measure precisely relational pitches. It printed graphs on paper which he eventually learned to read and sight sing. This would be a useful device for trad vocal singers. You could actually transcribe quarter or micro-tones and learn to reproduce them.

The problem with trying to sound "authentic" is that without proper vocal health care, you can ruin your voice. One famous revivalist folk singer who is well-known did just that. He can't sing well any more. Another problem is that if you try too hard to emulate another's voice and style you run the risk of sounding phony. (This is often a subjective appraisal, however.)

I would think a better solution than just listening and apprenticing with one singer would be to acquaint your ear with various singers in that specific tradition. This is analogous
to what many blues guitarists have done. There are those not from that tradition that can sound convincing in their interpretations. Ry Cooder and Taj Mahal come to mind.

That said, it would be advantageous to be in the same room with a traditional singer. I learned so much listening here in the States to Horton Barker (now deceased) and Nimrod Workman (also now gone). Both had full resonant voices until the last.

Alan Mills from Canada also recreated the tradition of his region well. Jean Carignan accompanied him to the States. " Jeanny" was one of the greatest Acadian fiddlers of his generation.

One of the interesting aspects of trad singing is ornamentation. How to use it tastefully requires getting the notes down in the first place to see what they are.


Frank Hamilton