Alan Lomax vs. John Lomax

Attribute	Alan Lomax	John Lomax
Birthdate	January 31, 1915	September 23, 1867
Death date	July 19, 2002	January 26, 1948
Occupation	Musicologist, folklorist, ethnomusicologist	Musicologist, folklorist, collector
Notable contributions	Field recordings, preservation of folk music	Preservation of cowboy songs, folk music
Collaborations	Worked with Pete Seeger, Lead Belly, Woody Guthrie	Worked with Lead Belly, Jelly Roll Morton

Background

Alan Lomax and John Lomax were both influential figures in the field of American folk music. John Lomax, born in 1867, was a pioneering folklorist and musicologist who traveled extensively throughout the United States collecting and recording traditional songs. His son, Alan Lomax, born in 1915, followed in his father's footsteps and became a prominent folklorist and ethnomusicologist in his own right. Both father and son made significant contributions to the preservation and promotion of American folk music.

Fieldwork

John Lomax's fieldwork was primarily focused on collecting traditional songs from various regions of the United States. He traveled to places like Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi, recording songs from African American prisoners, cowboys, and other groups. Alan Lomax, on the other hand, expanded the scope of his fieldwork to include not only traditional songs, but also interviews with musicians and community members. He was particularly interested in the social and cultural contexts of the music he recorded.

Technological Innovations

John Lomax relied on early recording technologies such as wax cylinders and acetate discs to capture the music he encountered during his fieldwork. These technologies were limited in terms of sound quality and durability. Alan Lomax, on the other hand, embraced new recording technologies such as magnetic tape and portable tape recorders. This allowed him to capture higher quality recordings in a more efficient and portable manner.

Collaborations

John Lomax often worked alone during his fieldwork, relying on his own expertise and resources to collect and record traditional songs. Alan Lomax, on the other hand, frequently collaborated with other researchers, musicians, and organizations. He worked with folklorists like Pete Seeger and Woody Guthrie, as well as institutions like the Library of Congress and the BBC, to further his research and advocacy efforts.

Legacy

John Lomax's legacy is primarily defined by his extensive collection of traditional songs, which he published in books and articles throughout his career. His work laid the foundation for the field of American folk music studies. Alan Lomax, on the other hand, is known not only for his fieldwork and recordings, but also for his advocacy on behalf of folk musicians and traditions. He was a vocal proponent of cultural equity and the rights of artists to control their own work.

Impact

Both John Lomax and Alan Lomax had a lasting impact on the field of American folk music. John Lomax's pioneering efforts to collect and preserve traditional songs helped to establish the importance of folk music in American culture. Alan Lomax's innovative fieldwork techniques and advocacy work expanded the scope of folk music studies and brought attention to the social and political dimensions of traditional music.