Simon:
Thanks for reminding me that other culture traditions may not be so similar
to the Anglo-American. It should serve as a reminder that such definitions
probably have to be qualified as pertaining to a particular tradition (if
indeed not a particular era).
Norm
-----Original Message-----
From: Simon Furey <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, September 19, 2000 3:14 PM
Subject: Re: Are Work Songs Ballads?
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "Norm Cohen
>Most clear-thinking students of the ballad accept the definition (or
perhaps
>better to call it a description) of a ballad as a narrative poem that is
(1)
>in stanzaic form (2) sung (3) to a rounded melody. (#s 1 and 3 two
>separate out epics.) Function, origin, topic, and style are irrelevant.
Of
>course, not everyone agrees.
>Norm Cohen
>--------------------------------------
>Norm,
>
>Umm...your description may be true of British (or should I say
>Anglo-American?) ballads, but it ain't true of other traditions. The
Spanish
>ballad, for example:
>
>(1) is not generally stanzaic but has assonating lines.
>(2) is sung, but the tune may be scarcely more than a chant, which means
>that the song
>(3) has a melody that may not be all that rounded (it doesn't necessarily
>resolve, for example). Indeed, the primitive repetitive nature of the tune
>may be a clue to the use of the ballad as a work song to provide the
rhythm.
>
>...and these ballads are not epics. That said, I agree that they are always
>narrative. It may be better to have a broader description (I'm with you on
>the use of the word "definition") that says that ballads have a repetitive
>textual structure and a repetitive tune, but someone will no doubt argue
>that my description while necessary is not sufficient. Otherwise we have
to
>include sea shanties like "General Taylor" as ballads. Oh well....I'm with
>John Moulden here. To hell with definitions, just sing the songs.
>However, I'm with you on all of your other points.
>
>Cheers
>
>Simon Furey
>
>
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