The folk ballad-maker prefers to change an old song slightly to fit a new situation, making use of a tried tune and a well-loved plot formula and thus assuring himself of the favor of his audience. If these songs had composers at first, they have been largely forgotten, and rightly so, since folk composers are adapters of old material rather than creators of original set pieces. From Preface: This is a sampling of America's folk songs - homemade hand-me-downs in words and music, songs accepted by whole communities, songs voted good by generations of singers and passed on by word of mouth to succeeding generations, a tradition quite distinct from popular song (made to sell and sell quickly) and cultivated art (made, so much of it, to conform to prestige patterns). Very Good+, with slight sunning to edges. Royal octavo, green illustrated cloth (hardcover), xvi + 407 pp.
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