Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 16, 1905.djvu/150

 128 Reviews.

as well as domestic servants of the old school, especially nurses. Inmates of workhouses will also be found to know many old songs, and dwellers in towns may best be able to carry on the work of collecting traditional music by applying to such." Then come the practical directions; when making enquiries to use the local vocabulary, which in many places differentiates a folk-song as a " ballet," to draw out the informants' stores by giving illustrations of what is wanted, to note name, address, and occupation, of the informant, and all possible particulars as to the source whence he obtained the song, to give words and notes exactly as sung, without attempting correction. Then as to technical matters ; v/e are advised to let two persons if possible take down the songs, one acquiring the words, the other the music — otherwise, to secure the tune first, and then the words ; not to ask for the repetition of parts of the tune, as this is apt to lead to mistakes, but not to be afraid to ask to have the whole tune many times repeated ; to give the attention to the time, the key-signature, and the intervals, at different repetitions ; and so on.

But we are sorry to see that the Society in its publications does not in every case follow the excellent rule laid down for its col- lectors. " It is desirable that the words of a ballad should be given exactly as they were repeated "... To be of value to scholars, songs must be published whole ; whether in the text or in an appendix is immaterial. Omissions, however well-meant, give a sense of insecurity.

L. M. Eyre.

Books for Review should be addressed to THE EDITOR OF

"Folk-Lore," c/o David Nutt, 57-59 Long Acre,

London.