Link to the Library of Congress: 'John Henry'--What Can We Learn from Different Historical Versions of a Popular Folk Song?

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  • Author(s): Apfeldorf, Michael
  • Language:
    English
  • Source:
    Music Educators Journal. Sep 2019 106(1):16-20.
  • Publication Date:
    2019
  • Document Type:
    Journal Articles
    Reports - Descriptive
  • Additional Information
    • Availability:
      SAGE Publications. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: [email protected]; Web site: http://sagepub.com
    • Peer Reviewed:
      Y
    • Source:
      5
    • Subject Terms:
      Cultural Context; Music; Singing; Folk Culture; African American History; African Americans; Government Libraries; Library Materials; African American Culture
    • Accession Number:
      10.1177/0027432119864261
    • ISSN:
      0027-4321
    • Abstract:
      The story of John Henry, dating back to the late nineteenth century, is one of the most enduring folktales of American culture. As the legend goes, John Henry was an African American "steel-driving man" whose job was to drive spikes through rocks in the construction of a railroad tunnel. So powerful was John Henry that he defeated a steam-powered drilling machine in a one-on-one competition, only to die in the process. John Henry's heroic accomplishments as well as his tragic death have been immortalized in countless songs and stories. The Library of Congress holds multiple, freely accessible versions of the song "John Henry" in its collections--the result of multiple field-recording efforts undertaken with the goal of capturing authentic folk music throughout the United States. By analyzing these different versions, students can reflect on how musical elements, composition, and performance are used in different expressive ways as well as how they relate to diverse genres, cultures, and historical contexts.
    • Abstract:
      ERIC
    • Publication Date:
      2019
    • Accession Number:
      EJ1227077