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What do Ensembles Sound Like? What Do They Look Like?

Album Description

This is an album of photographs and sound recordings.  How do students expect an ensemble to sound when they observe the people, instruments, and other clues in the photograph?  How do they expect an ensemble to look when they hear their music?  How can students expand their knowledge by making and revising such predictions?

Mr. Franks playing an English guitar, Manuel Lemos and Alberto Mendes playing violas d'arame, group portrait, photograph

Reference note

Contributor Names: Cowell, Sidney Robertson, 1903-1995, collector.
Franks, Mr.
Lemos, Manuel.
Mendes, Alberto.
Created / Published: [1939]
Subject Headings: -  Franks,--Mr
-  Lemos, Manuel
-  Mendes, Alberto
-  English guitar
-  Viola d'arame
-  Portuguese Americans--California--Richmond
Genre: Group portraits
Photographic prints
Notes: -  Left to right: Mr. Franks, Manuel Lemos and Alberto Mendes.
-  Photograph caption: Manuel Lemos' viola d'arame has a fan-shaped tuning mechanism; Alberto Mendes' viola d'arame has guitar-type tuning pegs. All three instruments were made by Alberto Mendes.
-  Forms part of a group of field materials documenting Alberto Mendes, Manuel Lemos, and Mr. Franks performing Portuguese songs and music from the Azores on February 6 and March 3, 1939, collected by Sidney Robertson Cowell in Richmond, California on January 19, 1939.
Repository: Library of Congress Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC USA 20540-4610 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/folklife.home
Digital Id: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/afc1940001.afc1940001_p148

Pezinho

Reference note

Contributor Names: Cowell, Sidney Robertson, 1903-1995, collector.
Franks, Mr., performer.
Lemos, Manuel, performer.
Mendes, Alberto, performer.
Created / Published: 1939.
Subject Headings: -  Dance music
-  Portuguese Americans--California--Richmond--Music
-  Songs, Portuguese--California--Richmond
Genre: Field recordings
Songs
Notes: -  Inscribed on dust jacket by Sidney Robertson Cowell: "Always the first dance opening parties on St. George [Sao Jorge Island, Azores]. Sung and played as B1 [Tirana, AFS 3860 B1], except that Mr. Mendes is playing 2nd viola [d'arame] instead of Mr. Franks."
-  Alberto Mendes, vocals; Mr. Franks and Manuel Lemos, viola d'arame.
-  Recorded by Sidney Robertson Cowell in Richmond, California on February 11, 1939.
-  In Portuguese.
-  Forms part of a group of field materials documenting Alberto Mendes, Manuel Lemos, and Mr. Franks performing Portuguese songs and music from the Azores on February 11 and March 3, 1939, collected by Sidney Robertson Cowell in Richmond, California.
Repository: Library of Congress Archive of Folk Culture, American Folklife Center, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC USA 20540-4610 http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/folklife.home
Digital Id: http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.afc/afc1940001.afc1940001_a3860b2

Recording of Fleadh Cheoil, held at Bogan High School, Chicago, Illinois, part 4, singing and instrumental competition

Reference note

Contributor Names: Moloney, Mick, 1944- (Collector)
Molk, David (Performer)
Carroll, Liz (Performer)
Collins, Dan (Performer)
Cooley, Seamus (Performer)
Masterson, Tom (Performer)
Created / Published: Chicago, Illinois, May 8, 1977
Subject Headings: -  Irish Americans
-  Ethnography
-  Music
-  Illinois -- Chicago
Genre: Ethnography
Music
Notes: -  Fleadh Cheoil-Bogan High School
-  Part 4 of a 6-part recording made at the Fleadh Cheoil (singing and instrumental competition) held at Bogan High School; some recordings document the contest itself while others were made to the side; see the fieldworker's logs for more detail; this recording includes a session with Liz Carroll, fiddle, Dan Collins, fiddle, and David Molk, flute, various reels; next, the Tin Whistle Competition (recorded at about 30-40 feet distance in school gym with audience a considerable distance from the chair on which the players sat and played for the adjudicators), some humming, banging, and shuffling noises; next, Seamus Coole, hornpipe, reel, jig (a nearby cassette momentarily turned on towards the end of the reel); next, Tom Masterson, tin whistle, slow air, jig, reel, hornpipe; next, unidentified player, tin whistle, hornpipe, slow air, jig, reel; Adjudication.
Repository: American Folklife Center

Image 3 of Annual Midwest Fleadh Cheoil, Bogan High School, 79th and Pulaski, Chicago, Illinois

Reference note

Contributor Names: Moloney, Mick, 1944- (Collector)
Dovydenas, Jonas (Photographer)
Created / Published: Chicago, Illinois, May 8, 1977
Subject Headings: -  Irish Americans
-  Photographs
-  Ethnography
-  Illinois -- Chicago
Genre: Photographs
Ethnography
Notes: -  Online digital image numbers may be offset by 1 or 2 digits from the film negative frame numbers.
-  Film negative frame numbers, descriptions: 3-10, Kevin Henry singing; 11-22, David Molk, flute; Jim Thornton in center; 23-25, David Molk, flute; 26-27, Liz Carroll, fiddle, ? on bodhran; 28-30, Liz Carroll, fiddle; ? on bodhran; 31-34, Competition context; 35-37, Seamus Connolly on left; John McGreevy on right
Repository: American Folklife Center

Recording of shape note singing convention at Strangers Home Missionary Baptist Church, 1451 W. 63 St., Chicago, Illinois, open-reel version of singing

Teaching Notes

Listen carefully and you will hear the singers using solfege (do, re, mi) as a learning tool before singing the lyrics.

Reference note

Contributor Names: Robinson, Beverly J. (Collector)
Created / Published: Chicago, Illinois, May 22, 1977
Subject Headings: -  African Americans
-  Ethnography
-  Songs
-  Illinois -- Chicago
Genre: Ethnography
Songs
Notes: -  Acapella Singing Convention, part 3
-  Recording of a Shape Note Singing Convention at Stranger’s Home Missionary Baptist Church, 1451 West 63 St., Chicago; recorded on open-reel tape (same content recorded on audiocassette at call number AFC 1981/004: AFS 20625a); Ollie Gill is the song leader; singers begin many hymns “sol-fa,” i.e., pronouncing the syllables associated with the seven-shape hymnal in use at this event; then they sing the words to the hymn; selections include “I'm Gonna Walk With Him,” “As Abraham I Look for a City,” “There Is A Land,” “When The Evening Shadows Fall,” “A Closer Walk With Thee,” and “I'm Ready to Go.”
-  After completion of the fieldwork for the the Chicago Ethnic Arts Project, the staff at the American Folklife Center selected sound recordings of special interest and quality to represent the project, consisting of four reels of edited selections and three reels in their entirety. This item reproduces one of those reels. A copy of the set of seven reels was presented to the project partner, the Illinois Arts Council. Annotations to the selected recordings are provided in the manuscript at call number in AFC 1981/004: Box 11, Folder 192; this reel is described on sequence-pages 74-75.
Repository: American Folklife Center

Image 19 of Shape Note Singing Convention, Stranger Home Baptist Church, 1451 W 63rd, Chicago, Illinois; Mary Young, craftswoman, Chicago, Illinois

Reference note

Contributor Names: Robinson, Beverly J. (Collector)
Dovydenas, Jonas (Photographer)
Created / Published: Chicago, Illinois, May 22, 1977
Subject Headings: -  African Americans
-  Photographs
-  Ethnography
-  Illinois -- Chicago
Genre: Photographs
Ethnography
Notes: -  Online digital image numbers may be offset by 1 or 2 digits from the film negative frame numbers.
-  Film negative frame numbers, descriptions: 0-33, a cappella (shape note) singing convention, Stranger Home Baptist Church, 1451 W. 63rd, Chicago; 34-35, quilt made by Mrs. Mary Young, 4359 S. Oakenwald, Chicago; 36, Crocheted dog by Mrs. Mary Young
Repository: American Folklife Center

Recording of performance by Conjunto de Cuerdas Tipicas de Puerto Rico at El Romance Club, Chicago, Illinois, part 3

Reference note

Contributor Names: George, Philip B., 1946- (Collector)
Otero, Arcadio (Performer)
Valentin, Pablo (Performer)
Rios, Rafael (Performer)
Perez, Tony (Performer)
Castro, Nelson (Performer)
Created / Published: Chicago, Illinois, June 28, 1977
Subject Headings: -  Hispanic Americans
-  Songs
-  Music
-  Illinois -- Chicago
Genre: Songs
Music
Notes: -  Conjunto de Cuerdas Tipicas (Romance Club) 3
-  Part 3 of a 4-part recording of performances by Conjunto de Cuerdas Tipicas, during a rehearsal at the El Romance club, 3575 W. Armitage Ave.; elapsed time indication provided on fieldworker’s log; post-fieldwork notes identify the members as Israel Maldonado (leader), Arcadia Otero (first cuatro), Pablo Valentin (second cuatro), Rafael Rios (guiro), vocals by Tony Perez and Nelso Castro; content includes completion of the song begun at the end of part 2; discussion of how the ending was executed; animal sounds and more discussion; repeat selection; conversation; two instrumental selections, titles unknown; conversation; mazurka announced by Israel Maldonado, perform mazurka, title unknown; band members Arcadio Otero and Pablo Valentin switch instruments (Arcadio now on guitar); instrumental selection; comments; first part of a danza, title unknown, continued in part 4.
Repository: American Folklife Center

Image 1 of Rehearsal of El Conjunto de Cuerdas Típicas de Puerto Rico under the direction of Israel Maldonado at El Romance Club, 3575 W. Armitage, Chicago, Illinois

Reference note

Contributor Names: George, Philip B., 1946- (Collector)
Dovydenas, Jonas (Photographer)
Created / Published: Chicago, Illinois, June 28, 1977
Subject Headings: -  Hispanic Americans
-  Photographs
-  Ethnography
-  Illinois -- Chicago
Genre: Photographs
Ethnography
Notes: -  Online digital image numbers may be offset by 1 or 2 digits from the film negative frame numbers.
-  Film negative frame numbers, descriptions: 1-6, group shots during rehearsal of El Conjunto de Cuerdas Tipicas de Puerto Rico under the direction of Israel Maldonado at El Romance Club, 3575 W. Armitage, Chicago; 7-8, Israel Maldonado and Philip George, fieldworker, right; 9-11, Alan Jabbour (director, American Folklife Center), Alexia Lalli (Illinois Arts Council), and Philip George (fieldworker) during rehearsal; 12-20, El Conjunto rehearses; 21-24, Edwin, "El Zumbador," sings; 25-27, Israel Maldonado and Alexia Lalli dance; 28-31, Alan Jabbour, Alexia Lalli, Philip George; 32-35, Pablo Valentin, second guitar, left with glasses; Arcadio Otero, on cuatro, right, no glasses; 36-37, "El Zumbador," "El Mucaro," and Otero's guide [he may be blind, and the woman assists him] during playback of recording
Repository: American Folklife Center

Image 28 of Jimmy Walker, Chicago, Illinois

Reference note

Contributor Names: Robinson, Beverly J. (Collector)
Dovydenas, Jonas (Photographer)
Created / Published: Chicago, Illinois, June 9, 1977
Subject Headings: -  African Americans
-  Photographs
-  Ethnography
-  Illinois -- Chicago
Genre: Photographs
Ethnography
Notes: -  Online digital image numbers may be offset by 1 or 2 digits from the film negative frame numbers.
-  Film negative frame numbers, descriptions: 1-36, Jimmie Walker, 750 E. 46th St., Chicago, Illinois, piano player
Repository: American Folklife Center

Recording of jam session with Jimmy Walker and local sit-ins, Chicago, Illinois, part 2

Reference note

Contributor Names: Robinson, Beverly J. (Collector)
Walker, Jimmy (Performer)
Created / Published: Chicago, Illinois, May 19, 1977
Subject Headings: -  African Americans
-  Ethnography
-  Music
-  Illinois -- Chicago
Genre: Ethnography
Music
Notes: -  Jimmy Walker, part 2
-  Part 2 of a 2-part recording of blues/boogie pianist Jimmy Walker, 750 East 46th Street, Chicago, Illinois; the fieldworker’s notes state that this recording is “all music with no recognizable titles,” the session was a jam with players who sat in (including the saxophone player), the bird whistling is from an audience member.
Repository: American Folklife Center

Image 32 of Various scenes in Ukrainian American neighborhood, Chicago, Illinois; Bandurist youth group, Chicago, Illinois

Reference note

Contributor Names: Klymasz, Robert Bogdan, 1936- (Collector)
Fleischhauer, Carl (Photographer)
Created / Published: Chicago, Illinois, June 9, 1977
Subject Headings: -  Ukrainian Americans
-  Photographs
-  Ethnography
-  Illinois -- Chicago
Genre: Photographs
Ethnography
Notes: -  Online digital image numbers may be offset by 1 or 2 digits from the film negative frame numbers.
-  Film negative frame numbers, descriptions: 1-2, street in Ukranian neighborhood; 3-8, fence decorated with Ukranian symbols by Eugene Wojtowycz, 2258 W. Iowa, Chicago; 9-10, bumper sticker: "Ukie Power"; 11-18, exterior of Family Restaurant, "Ukrajins' ka hostynnycja"; 19-35, Bandurist youth group in rehearsal (conductor: Alex Poszewanyk), the field documentation does not make clear if this is St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral (probably) or Sts Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church; 36-37, fieldworker Robert Klymasz at the Nagra
Repository: American Folklife Center

Recording of bandurist Youth Group, led by Mr. Alex Poszewanyck, Church Hall of St. Vladimir, Chicago, Illinois

Reference note

Contributor Names: Fleischhauer, Carl (Recordist)
Klymasz, Robert Bogdan, 1936- (Collector)
Created / Published: Chicago, Illinois, June 9, 1977
Subject Headings: -  Ukrainian Americans
-  Ethnography
-  Music
-  Illinois -- Chicago
Genre: Ethnography
Music
Notes: -  Mr. Poszewanyk & Bandurist Youth Group
-  Recording of a rehearsal of the bandurist youth group, led by Mr. Alex Poszewanyck, at the Church Hall of St. Vladimir; the field documentation does not make clear if this is St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral (probably) or Sts Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church; the selections are tailored for beginners with the bandura and include an instrumental song; song, with counting of the meter by the leader; three songs and a fragment played by the group; solo song.
Repository: American Folklife Center