Lonesome Words

The Vocal Poetics of the Old English Lament and the African-American Blues Song

By: M. McGeachy

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Hardcover | 13 May 2006 | Edition Number 1

At a Glance

Hardcover
194 Pages

Edition Type
Annotated

Dimensions(cm)
21.59 x 13.97 x 1.91

Hardcover

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The tenth-century Old English lament and twentieth-century blues song each speak the language of a distinct poetic tradition, yet the voices are remarkably similar in their emotive expression of loneliness. This innovative study juxtaposes the texts of each corpus to explore the features that characterize their vocal poetics. McGeachy examines how the texts evoke the dynamic of performance and explores the role of recording--in manuscript and on 78 rpm record--in establishing the distinctive formulas of each genre. Featured are a study of blues artist Robert Johnson’s work and a comparison of two anthologies: the Exeter Book and the Folkways Anthology of American Folk Music.

Industry Reviews

'Lonesome Words makes a strong contribution to comparative poetics in the typological rather than the genetic sense. McGeachy successfully explores a hierarchy of comparisons from verbal formulae to social and historical contexts for production in the Old English lament and the African-American blues song. In both corpora she examines themes of wandering, of exile and imprisonment, and of a lost but happier past, and the conclusions she draws from these comparisons are salient and comprehensive.' John Lewis, Associate Professor of English, Southern Methodist University

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You Can Find This Book In

Non-Fiction Literature, Poetry & Plays History & Criticism of Literature General Literary Studies Literary Studies from 1500 to 1800 Arts & Entertainment Music Music Styles & Genres Western Classical Music & Opera Early Music up to the Year 1000 20th Century & Contemporary Classical Music Literary Studies of Poetry & Poets

History General & World History Regional & National History European History

Introduction : don't the world seem lonely...	p. 1
Captivated performance	p. 9
Recording the formula	p. 27
Blues and trouble...sorg ond slaep (sorrow and sleep)	p. 61
Anthologizing sorrow	p. 99
Conclusion : strange yet familiar	p. 117
A formulaic analysis of Robert Johnson's recorded blues	p. 121
Table of Contents provided by Blackwell. All Rights Reserved.

Lonesome Words

The Vocal Poetics of the Old English Lament and the African-American Blues Song

At a Glance

Hardcover

Industry Reviews

Shipping

How to return your order

Defective items

You Can Find This Book In

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