Songs of Christmas, Midwinter & New Year is a a group of historic recordings from the Alan Lomax Collection recorded by Lomax between 1950 and 1967. It was compiled by Anna Lomax Wood and Nathan Salsburg, as well as mastered by Steve Rosenthal. It’s currently available on Bandcamp just in time for the holidays.
These songs of the season hail from the Caribbean, Italy, Spain, Scotland, the American South, and Harlem, bring a wealth of perspectives and sounds together.
More about Alan Lomax:
Alan Lomax (1915–2002) was a documentarian, ethnologist, cultural activist, and arguably the foremost folklorist of the 20th century. Over his seven-decade career he collected thousands of audio recordings of folk and traditional music from around the US and the world, and dedicated himself to the pursuit of what he called “cultural equity.” 100% of proceeds go to the Assoc. for Cultural Equity.
Track Listing:
01. Vera Hall – Last Month of the Year
Livingston, Alabama, October 1959.
02. United Sacred Harp Musical Association – Sherburne (186)
Fyffe, Alabama, September 1959.
03. Stephen Wright – Jingle Bells hambone
Harlem, NYC, 1950.
04. Joy Bells – Jingle Bells
Gingerland, Nevis, July 1962.
05. Group from Sangonera la Verde – Aguinaldo (En tu puerta está la Virgen)
Monteagudo, Murcia, Spain. December 1952.
06. Group from Nus – A la sante de Noel
Nus, Valle d’Aosta, Italy. October 1954.
07. Georgia Sea Island Singers, Hobart Smith, and Ed Young – Yonder Come Day
Williamsburg, Virginia, May 1960.
08. Alice Gibbs and friends – Today, Today is Christmas Day
Place unknown, Sint Eustatius (Statia), January 1967.
09. Brígido Mora and group – Abreme La Puerta
Place unknown, Dominican Republic, January 1967.
10. Marigolds band – White Christmas
Gingerland, Nevis, July 1962.
11. Kate Nicholson and group – Tàladh Chrìosda (Christ’s lullaby)
Daliburgh, South Uist, Scotland, June 1951.
12. Miquel Bonet and group – Caramelles (The Seven Joys of Mary, part 1)
Sant Josep de sa Talaia, Ibiza, Spain, July 1952.
13. Norman Edmonds and the Old-Timers: Breaking Up Christmas
Hillsville, Virginia, August 1959.
14. Paramin bélè group – Bon bon bon (Bon Nouvelle)
Paramin, Diego Martin, Trinidad, April 1962.
15. Bartolomeo Angelitti – Venite Adoremus
Aielli, Abruzzo, Italy, December 1954.
16. Vera Hall – No Room at the Inn (story)
17. Vera Hall – No Room at the Inn (song)
Livingston, Alabama, October 1959.
18. Maria Capó – Fum fum fum
Sóller, Mallorca, Spain, July 1952.
19. Group from Positano – Capo d’anno (New year’s song) > tammuriata
Positano, Campania, Italy, December 31, 1954.
20. Banda Putipu – Capo d’anno marzo (New year’s march)
Capri, Campania, January 1, 1955.
