University of Illinois Press, $29.95,www.press.uillinois.edu
In this book, the term "folklore" is used in its broadest possible
sense to include everything from religious celebrations to folk remedies to ethnic
foods to stories and music. Also, the folklore of Polonia, the Polish-American
community which can be found within cities, towns, and villages in the United
States is compared with that of "the old country", especially that of
the peasant class which constitutes the majority of the ancestors of
Polish-American immigrants. Since all this material is covered in a scant 180
pages, this work can only be regarded as a survey of the subject.
In many areas, coverage is so brief that the result is little more than a
listing of folk practices without much discussion or analysis. In some other
areas, such as the two chapters on the polka and other Polish folk dances,
there is a more satisfying depth. There is also an interesting analysis of why
different people retain various folk customs including class differences.
Finally, it should be said that this work discusses the folklore of those who would refer to themselves as Polish-Americans or of Polish descent. This means the Catholic Poles. It does not include the Jewish population of Poland whose folklore would more properly be included in a study of all eastern European Jews.
-Bev and Jerry Praver -
University of Illinois Press, Urbana and Chicago, $32.95, www.press.uillinois.edu
This is the definitive work on railroad and railroad related songs from
"John Henry" and "I've Been Workin' on the Railroad" to
many lesser known works. The depth of the research is astounding. To put the
songs in context, the first three chapters are devoted to a history of
railroads in the United States, a history of American music, and an overview of
American railroad songs. The remaining chapters contain the words, music, and
historical background of 85 traditional songs.
Following each song, there is an incredible list of written and recorded
sources including principal versions, other published printed versions, other
unpublished printed versions, 78‑rpm recordings, 45‑ and 33‑rpm
recordings, and field recordings. For example, "John Henry" occupies
29 pages and contains nearly 125 published and over 475 recorded references.
The first edition of this work was published in 1981 and was immediately
acclaimed as the standard reference work on the subject. The second edition,
published in 2000, actually updates and expands the references to include many
re-releases of old recordings on CDs which had not been invented at the time of
the first edition.
Although it is rather pricey for a paperback, we have owned the 700‑plus‑page first edition for several years and have found it to be an invaluable reference tool.
- Bev and Jerry Praver