Tom Gone Away Aboard The Magalena

Audio file

Date recorded: May 18, 1962
Contributor(s): Performer: Rose of Sharon Singers; Performer: Bartholomew, Bethel; Recordist: Lomax, Alan
Subject(s):
Genre: work song
Culture: Caribbean, Trinidad
Instruments: voice
Location: Toco, Sangre Grande, Trinidad and Tobago
Physical form: Reel to Reel
Tape number: T1072
Track Number: 3
Archive ID: T1072R03
Note: Recording begins with a brief spoken introduction, followed by performance of work song. The setting is solo voice with handclapping and / or foot stomping providing rhythmic accompaniment throughout. Alan Lomax notes that this performance is an example of: “worksongs [sic] [for] hauling sheet steel” (Field Log).
Transcript:
Belongs to: Toco II 5/62
About the session: This session features a number of spoken and musical performance styles, including cantefables (spoken and sung stories), bongo (music and dance accompanying a wake-house ritual), shango (music and dance honoring the orisa deity of fire), and work songs. All of the songs are performed solo. The performances are either a cappella or the singers accompany themselves with handclapping, tapping, and foot stomping.
Rights: The rights to the audio, photographic, and video materials contained within the Lomax Digital Archive are administered by various publishers, record labels, collectors, estates, and other rights holders. Any uses, commercial or not, must be cleared by the specific rights holders. For questions regarding the use of any material on the LDA, please contact Permissions.
Do you have something to add, or do you see an error in this record? We'd love to hear from you.