Cecil Sharp Diaries going on-line

Subject: Cecil Sharp Diaries going on-line
From: Vic Smith
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 02:25 PM

EFDSS Press Release:-


EFDSS (English Folk, Dance & Song Society) release Cecil Sharp's Diaries On-line


Cecil James Sharp (1859 - 1924) was England's most prolific folk music and dance collector. The 22nd November will mark his birthdate and Sequicentinnial (150th Anniversary). In celebration of his achievements and the impact he continues to have on folk music to this day EFDSS have announced the launch of his only surviving personal diaries. Written between (1915 - 1918) they include descriptions of his collecting experiences in the Appalachian Mountains of North America.

Between the time of his first serious collecting experience in a vicarage garden in August 1903, until his death on Midsummer Eve 1924, he amassed a total of 4,977 tunes in England and North America, many of which were published in various forms in order to promote and revive what was perceived to be a fading part of traditional culture.

He was not alone by any means, following as he did the likes of Lucy Broadwood, Frank Kidson and Sabine Baring-Gould to name a few. However, his mission to revive the music placed him very much at the forefront of a movement which has attracted a great deal of attention over the past thirty years, but for which many primary sources have been difficult to access .

How on earth did this asthmatic, 56 year-old vegetarian survive in the heat and altitudes of North Carolina, Kentucky, Virginia, Tennessee and West Virginia, along with his young assistant, Maud Karpeles? How did he feel when he heard the news of the death of many of the young men of his English Folk Dance Society demonstration team in the trenches of the Great War? And what did it mean to collect 1,600 tunes from people he considered direct descendants and carriers of British cultural traditions?

The first of the series of diaries will be launched online on Sunday 22nd November, 2009 followed by announcements of more events and content over the coming months. It is also planned to add a full, annotated transcription in time for Sharp's next birthday in 2010.

Thanks to Cecil Sharp's grandchildren, Briony Jose and Richard Sharp, for allowing EFDSS to host the diaries online; to the managers of his estate, Bird & Bird, for helping us find them; to Chris Roche and The Shanty Crew for sponsoring this project.

The diaries will be available to access on-line from Sunday 22nd of November.

Though it does not give the website address in the release, it appears to be http://www.efdss.org/exhibits.html

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp Diaries going on-line
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 03:09 PM

Very cool!

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp Diaries going on-line
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 18 Nov 09 - 04:14 PM

I agree!

The EFDSS seem to really getting into the swing of the digital age now. This may not have the wider interest that the Take Six site has, but it will still be an interesting read.

Mick

Subject: EFDSS Launch C Sharp Diaries online
From: Willa
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 05:08 PM

Had this press release sent to me today.

EFDSS (English Folk, Dance & Song Society) release Cecil Sharp's Diaries On-line

Cecil James Sharp (1859 - 1924) was England's most prolific folk music and dance collector. The 22nd November will mark his birthdate and Sequicentinnial (150th Anniversary). In celebration of his achievements and the impact he continues to have on folk music to this day EFDSS have announced the launch of his only surviving personal diaries. Written between (1915 - 1918) they include descriptions of his collecting experiences in the Appalachian Mountains of North America.

The first of the series of diaries will be launched online on Sunday 22nd November, 2009 followed by announcements of more events and content over the coming months. It is also planned to add a full, annotated transcription in time for Sharp's next birthday in 2010.

Subject: RE: EFDSS Launch C Sharp Diaries online
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 06:42 PM

See also: Cecil Sharp Diaries going on-line.

Mick

Subject: RE: EFDSS Launch C Sharp Diaries online
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 19 Nov 09 - 06:42 PM

Sorry - posted prematurely - I was going to suggest an elf combine them!

Mick

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp Diaries going on-line
From: GUEST,Richard B
Date: 25 Nov 09 - 05:07 AM

The address of the diaries is...

http://library.efdss.org/exhibitions/sharpdiaries


Richard

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp Diaries going on-line
From: Folkiedave
Date: 25 Nov 09 - 05:20 AM

http://library.efdss.org/exhibitions/sharpdiaries

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp Diaries going on-line
From: michaelr
Date: 25 Nov 09 - 11:09 AM

Just had a look and thought, Jeez, they might have transcribed them! Pretty well useless in the man's own hand - I can decipher onnly about half his scribbles.

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp Diaries going on-line
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 25 Nov 09 - 11:19 AM

you think that's bad, you wanna see Vaughan Williams' notebooks...

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp Diaries going on-line
From: RTim
Date: 25 Nov 09 - 11:26 AM

Another great job - although, personally I am interested in the March 1919 entries, will these be added later?

But, seriously - The EFDSS is doing a great job and providing amazing resources to all, members and non-members alike.

Keep up the good work.

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp Diaries going on-line
From: GUEST,Richard B
Date: 25 Nov 09 - 11:46 AM

Transcriptions will be added by the end of next year. (All donations to the considerable cost of doing this will obviously be gratefully received.)

The diaries for 1916 will be released on 1st January 2010 and the diaries for 1917 and 1918 in March 2010. I'm not sure that diaries for 1919 exist, but a query to [e-mail] would clear that up.


Richard

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp Diaries going on-line
From: Suzy T.
Date: 25 Nov 09 - 11:59 AM

This is so, so amazing. I am awestruck. yes, it's work to decipher his writing but I am just flabbergasted that this material is available with just a few strokes of the computer keys. Wow.
Suzy Thompson

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp Diaries going on-line
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 12:56 PM

The digitized diaries now have annotated transcriptions. Beautiful.

~ Becky in Long Beach

Subject: RE: Cecil Sharp Diaries going on-line
From: Desert Dancer
Date: 04 Feb 11 - 12:59 PM

"The digitisation project is sponsored by The Shanty Crew, Britain's first dedicated sea shanty group, remembering all those who sang with it for thirty years from 1976 onwards.

"The Country Dance and Song Society is the sponsor of the transcription project, making the American diaries of our founder, Cecil Sharp, widely available to scholars, dancers, and all those interested in traditional American dance and music.

"This project is dedicated to the memory and contributions of John M. ('Jack') Langstaff.

"It has been underwritten by: The Ithaka Foundation, The Langstaff family and William L. Ritchie."