Customer Reviews

Honey in the Rock: The Ruby Pickens Tartt Collection of Religious Folk Songs from Sumter County, Alabama

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These are lyrics only to some extraordinary Alabama spirituals, collected by an important folklorist. Unfortunately, though the authors reference their source recordings, the melodies to the songs are not included. So the book is of little use to singers. What is included, along with a long-winded introduction, are laughably pompous, academic commentaries on the spirituals, putting each in context for us as if they did not speak clearly, directly and in no uncertain terms, for themselves. This is not a book I'll keep, and it's a shame this material was not presented, as it easily could have been, with an eye toward helping the songs live.