New York City 5/48

This session of oral history and songs represents the only time that Vera Ward Hall left her home state of Alabama. She was invited to New York by Alan Lomax to perform in the Fourth Annual Festival of Contemporary American Music at Columbia University in the City of New York, May 10th through May 16th, 1948, sponsored by the Alice M. Ditson Fund of Columbia University. Vera performed on Saturday, May 15th, 8:30pm, at the McMillin Theater. The concert was entitled "Ballads, Hoe-Downs, Spirituals (White and Negro), and Blues," with performances by Texas Gladden, Hobart Smith, Jean Ritchie, Brownie McGee, Vera Hall, Dan Burley, Pete Seeger, and narrations by Alan Lomax. These recordings were made not at the concert, but during the remainder of Vera Hall’s stay in New York with Alan Lomax. Lomax is joined by his wife Elizabeth, their daughter, and an unidentified couple, who can be heard throughout the session. This session is comprised of tapes recorded at 15 IPS, probably used as working sequences for a possible LP. Alan Lomax used an echo box to produce the effect heard on Vera Hall's voice. These recordings have been compiled into an individual session because they were not recorded as candid interviews, but as conscious attempts at professional recording for commercial release. One of the tape boxes is given a date of Sunday, May 23rd, and this date has been assumed for the entire session.

Commentary by Vera Hall on courtship games and riddles

Young Speckled Lady

Commentary by Vera Hall on Young Speckled Lady

Riding In A Buggy

Yes Ma'am / Interview with Vera Hall about Yes Ma'am

Interview with Vera Hall about dance steps and patting

Ain't Gonna Rain No More (fragment)

Commentary by Vera Hall on Ain't Gonna Rain No More

Rosie Baby

Commentary by Vera Hall on Rosie Baby and her mother

Railroad Bill (I)

Railroad Bill (II)

Interview with Vera Hall about Railroad Bill and Stagolee

Stagolee

Riding In A Buggy (I)

Yes Ma'am (II)

Rosie Baby (II)

Come Up, Horsey (I)

I Got A Home In That Rock

Commentary by Vera Hall on her mother's songs and her siblings

All Hid

Commentary by Vera Hall on hide and seek

What Is The Soul Of Man?

Mean Old Bedbug Blues

Trouble In Mind (I)

Trouble In Mind (II)

The Black Cat (The Black Cat And The White Cat) (fragment)

Commentary by Vera Hall on interracial relationships

Wild Ox Moan (I)

Last Month Of The Year (I)

Last Month Of The Year (II)

Boll Weevil (I)

Boll Weevil (II)

Wild Ox Moan (II)

Wild Ox Moan (III)

Commentary by Vera Hall on becoming a Christian (I)

He That Believe Have An Everlasting Home

Commentary by Vera Hall on becoming a Christian (II)

All My Sins Been Taken Away

Commentary by Vera Hall on becoming a Christian (III)

Show Me The Way

Commentary by Vera Hall on becoming a Christian (IV)

Commentary by Vera Hall on her mother's death

I'll Fly Away

Interview with Vera Hall about the songs she sings when alone

When I Can Read My Titles Clear

Request by Alan Lomax for Riding In A Buggy

Riding In A Buggy (III)

Commentary by Vera Hall on her family (I)

Commentary by Vera Hall on her family (II)

Streets Of Gold

Commentary by Vera Hall on Streets Of Gold

Commentary by Vera Hall on songs learned orally versus those from books

I Can Pray

Commentary by Vera Hall on music's role in church (I)

Oh Lord, Have Mercy

Commentary by Vera Hall on music's role in church (II)

I Couldn't Hear Nobody Pray

Commentary by Vera Hall on songs for revivals and funerals

Shout For Joy

Commentary by Vera Hall on Reverend Giles, who preached himself to death (part 1)

Commentary by Vera Hall on Reverend Giles, who preached himself to death (part 2)

I Found A Way (I)

Commentary by Vera Hall on I Found a Way

I Found A Way (II)

Commentary by Vera Hall on prayer meetings, finding religion, and Rich Amerson

Commentary by Vera Hall on Rich Amerson, spiritual and secular songs, and her widowhood

Commentary by Vera Hall on remarriage and her cataracts

The Little Wooden Church

Commentary by Vera Hall on her favorite songs

Use Me Lord (fragment)

Interview with Vera Hall about old songs versus new / Old Time Religion (fragment)

Go Down Old Hannah (fragment)

Goodbye, Old Paint (I)

Goodbye, Old Paint (II)

Rocky Road

Rising Sun Blues (I)

Rising Sun Blues (II)

East Virginia (I)

East Virginia (II)

Commentary by Vera Hall on her singing ability

Commentary by Vera Hall on buying sheet music

Commentary by Vera Hall on Blind Jesse Harris and why people sing

Trouble In Mind (III)

Commentary by Vera Hall on her troubles

Commentary by Vera Hall on spiritual lyrics

John Saw The Number

Commentary by Vera Hall on John Saw The Number and maintaining a Christian perspective through adversity

Rosie Baby (I)

Rosie Baby (II)

Wild Ox Moan (I)

Another Man Done Gone (false start)

Another Man Done Gone (I)

Trouble In Mind (I)

The Black Cat (I)

Boll Weevil (I)

Another Man Done Gone (II)

Another Man Done Gone (III)

Trouble In Mind (II)

The Black Cat (II)

Wild Ox Moan (II)

Wild Ox Moan (III)

Boll Weevil (II)

Boll Weevil (fragment)

Stagolee (false start)

Stagolee

Railroad Bill

Unidentified song fragment

When I Can Read My Titles Clear

The Road Is Rocky (fragment) (I)

The Road Is Rocky (fragment) (II)

If Dewey Gets Elected (fragment)

The Road Is Rocky (fragment) (III)

I Know The Lord Will Make A Way

Down On Me

Let Me Ride

Interview with Vera Hall about playing church and singing

Riding In A Buggy

Yes, Ma'am

Come Up Horsey (II)

Come Up Horsey (fragment)

Come Up Horsey (III)

Come Up Horsey (IV)

4 Results