First published in 1867; this landmark book represented the first systematic effort to collect and preserve the songs sung by the plantation slaves of the Old South. To ensure authenticity; the editors notated most of the melodies and words directly from the singers themselves. The result was a rare musical treasury containing complete music and lyrics for over 130 songs; arranged by geographical region.Among them are: Roll; Jordan; Roll; Jehovah; Hallelujah; I hear from Heaven to-day; Michael; row the boat ashore; Turn sinner; turn O; Nobody knows the trouble I've had; No Man can hinder me; Heave away; Charleston Gals; I'm gwine to Alabamy; I want to die like-a Lazarus die; Belle Layotte; On to Glory Jacob's Ladder; My Father; how long?; Musieu Bainjo; Lean on the Lord's side; God got plenty o' room.The book presents the melody lone and all the known verses to each song. The editors also include directions for singing; along with a commentary on each song's history; its possible variations; what some of its key references mean and other pertinent details. A new preface to the Dover edition by Harold Courlander appraises the book's importance in American musical and cultural history.
#1852810 in Books 2000-11-03Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.00 x 1.30 x 5.25l; 1.00 #File Name: 0472086820440 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. tied together by IslamBy Bob NewmanI started hearing about Jim Siegel from my fellow graduate students in the late 60s. They were quite excited about this new; young professor in anthropology. Most of them were studying Southeast Asia while I concentrated on South Asia. THE ROPE OF GOD was much bruited about and I assumed it would be a cerebral; highly difficult book. When I bought a copy in Australia; a few years later; I always put off reading it; thinking it would require a long time to absorb. Well; 41 years does a lot to you and now I see that my fears were unjustified. It is a competent ethnography with a different angle from most; but not terribly taxing. Siegel describes Achehnese society of the 1960s through examination of family; economic patterns; and religion. While in his description of 19th century Acheh; four groups existed; groups not arranged in a clear hierarchy; by the 1960s; society was more atomized. The Sultan no longer existed. The chiefs had lost power; the peasants were still close to the land; but most men had to seek extra earnings away from their villages; and the ulama or educated men of religion were trying to wean Achehnese away from local customary practice (adat) to more orthodox lives. The ulama preached self-denial and rationality over social ties and gratification of desires. While modern economic life had torn social groups apart; the power of prayer; the living of life with akal (rationality and a very Hindu idea of "renunciation"); the elimination of differences through coming together in prayer would bind men together again. This would be the rope of God. Siegel explains the evolution of how Achehnese men came to understand their roles in a changing society or; at least; how cultural leaders tried to explain it. Acheh; a former Sultanate at the northern tip of Sumatra; had its glory days in the 17th century. The first part of the Indonesian archipelago to be Islamized; it has always been the home of the most orthodox Muslims in Southeast Asia. After a long war with the Dutch in the 19th century; the Achehnese again revolted against independent Indonesia in the 1950s. The period when the research for this book was done was one of the quietest (1963-64). Soon afterwards; the Achehnese rose up again; leading to a long guerrilla struggle; oil and gas were discovered; changing the economic and political stakes; Saudi money penetrated much of Islamic Asia; and finally the tsunami of 2004 caused tremendous destruction and loss of life. How far the conclusions of THE ROPE OF GOD still hold up is not clear. However; as all anthropology turns into social history; it is still well worth reading.
