Description
Book SynopsisTraces the parallel careers of the creators of the Renfro Valley Barn Dance and the National Folk Festival. This book features John Lair and Sarah Gertrude Knott, two of the most notable producers and their discovery of new developments in theater and entertainment which led them to the producing careers.
Trade Review"Williams draws on her meticulous research of primary source materials, including reams of personal correspondence, to trace the professional paths of two pivotal stagers of traditional culture. . . . This is an important work that should appeal to all U.S. folklorists, ethnomusicologists, and American Studies scholars."--
Journal of Folklore Research "
Staging Tradition adds valuable insights into the sometimes contentious relationship between folk music presenters, performers, and audiences."--
Sing Out! "An intriguing account of how grassroots culture--especially Appalachian culture--has come to be viewed, presented, manipulated, and preserved through public performance."--
GoldensealTable of ContentsCoverTitleCopyrightContentsPrefaceAcknowledgments1. Tradition, Ambition, and the Theater2. “Something Big”: The Birth of the National Folk FestivalIllustrations A3. John Lair, Student of the Origins of American Folk Music4. Tooting the Horn: The Heyday of the National Folk Festival and Renfro Valley Barn Dance5. The Changing SceneIllustrations B6. The Prima Donna of Folk7. Things Have Changed in Renfro Valley8. Staging TraditionNotesWorks CitedIndexBack cover
