While browsing the African American Newspapers database, I came across a short article talking about a Mr. Krehbiel’s recent lecture on “Folk Music. ” Published in 1897, this article caught my eye because the subject matter – folk music in general but occasionally discussed southern black folk music – present was described as “new.” The fact that Mr. Krehbiel was talking about African-American folk music in an educational setting (implied by the text of the article) prompted me to search for more about him.
Henry Edward Krehbiel.
Henry Edward Krehbiel was an American music critic and musicologist who lived from 1854 to 1923. Although he studied law, he went on to become a music critic with the New York Tribune, where he stayed until his passing. For more than forty-three years, he was considered the leading music critic in America, analyzing all facets of music composed in America, including works by Richard Wagner, Johannes Brahms, Antonín Dvořák, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (composers he supported before they became popular), and African-American Folk Music. This, in particular, is important as it indicates that Krehbiel was one of the earliest researchers to go beyond recording or transcribing Black folk music and study the characteristics in relation other folk music (Russian, Swedish, etc…).
Henry Krehbiel’s “Afro-American Folksongs.” St. Olaf Libraries call number: ML3556.K9 1914
In 1914, Krehbiel published a book entitled Afro-American Folksongs with the following intention:
“This book was written with the purpose of bringing a species of folksong into the field of study of scientific observation and presenting it as fit material for artistic treatment.”
In part, Krehbiel is acknowledging the lack of study on African American Folk Music and, by doing so, is giving it and the black community more credibility than what was not common in that era. When searching St. Olaf’s database, I was pleased to find that the school did own a copy of the (I believe) original book! As mentioned earlier, this book is one of the first scientific studies into African American Folk Music and sought to compare the characteristics (rhythm, intervals, and structure) of that music with folk music of other regions.
Returning back to the original article, Henry Krehbiel held lectures on “Folk Music” before and after the publication of this review in the New York Tribune. It is indicated in the text that this article followed the third installment of his “Folk Music” lectures. The significance of thesis lectures, articles, and of Krehbiel’s book is it provides insight into how people first viewed African-American folk music as research began on it.
Citations
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. “Henry Edward Krehbiel, 1854-1923.” New York Public Library Digital Collections. Accessed October 10, 2017. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47e2-a83a-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99
Krehbiel, Henry Edward. Afro-American Folksongs : A Study in Racial and National Music. 4th ed. New York: G. Schirmer, 1914.
“Mr. Krehbiel On Folk Music.” New York Tribune. Mar 2, 1897: African American Newspapers, Readex. 9 Oct, 2017 <http://infoweb.newsbank.com/>
YES! Great find, and great introduction to this important primary source. I would now challenge you to go further (and you might choose to do this in a subsequent post, or maybe in your final paper). Krehbiel contributed much to American musical discourse by taking Black folk music seriously, but he also did much harm. In particular, Amiri Baraka (born LeRoi Jones) critiques Krehbiel’s approach in “Blues People,” which we’ll read from shortly. Finally, pay attention to the music that Krehbiel “lifts up” and be skeptical of exactly that kind of narrative – that we owe Krehbiel for illuminating this “hidden” tradition at a time when people weren’t taking it seriously. The fact that the Fisk Jubilee Singers were out popularizing a version of Black folk music, the careers of Will Marion Cook and Noble Sisle, the simple fact that blues, jazz, and swing all came into existing and became popular – there’s plenty of evidence that Krehbiel’s “help” wasn’t needed. You might disagree with that, and it would be fine if you did, but you’d need to account for why Krehbiel deserves more acclaim than condemnation.
On a different note, you’re really killing it with these blog posts. Keep up the fabulous work!