Phonophotography in Folk Music: American Negro Songs in New Notation

Author:   Milton Metfessel
Publisher:   Tradd Street Press
ISBN:  

9781025900599


Pages:   222
Publication Date:   14 February 2026
Format:   Hardback
Availability:   Available To Order   Availability explained
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Phonophotography in Folk Music: American Negro Songs in New Notation


Overview

""Phonophotography in Folk Music: American Negro Songs in New Notation"" is a pioneering study in the field of ethnomusicology, documenting the intersection of music, science, and technology. Milton Metfessel introduces an innovative method for capturing the nuances of vocal performance through phonophotography-a technique that translates sound waves into visual graphs. This scientific approach allows for a ""new notation"" that preserves the microtonal variations, rhythmic complexities, and emotive inflections of African American spirituals and folk songs that traditional Western staff notation often fails to capture accurately. The work provides an objective analysis of various musical elements, including vibrato, pitch, and phrasing, based on recordings made in the American South. By focusing on the authentic expression of the singers, Metfessel offers a deep technical look at the structural beauty and unique characteristics of these songs. This volume serves as an essential resource for musicologists, historians, and those interested in the preservation of cultural heritage. It stands as a landmark achievement in the systematic documentation of traditional music, bridging the gap between artistic expression and empirical observation. This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Full Product Details

Author:   Milton Metfessel
Publisher:   Tradd Street Press
Imprint:   Tradd Street Press
Dimensions:   Width: 15.60cm , Height: 1.40cm , Length: 23.40cm
Weight:   0.490kg
ISBN:  

9781025900599


ISBN 10:   1025900596
Pages:   222
Publication Date:   14 February 2026
Audience:   General/trade ,  General
Format:   Hardback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Available To Order   Availability explained
We have confirmation that this item is in stock with the supplier. It will be ordered in for you and dispatched immediately.

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