First published in 1975 and long out of print, “Folk Songs from the West Virginia Hills” is a major work of folklore poised to reach a new generation of readers.
Drawing upon Patrick Ward Gainer’s extensive ethnographic fieldwork around West Virginia, it contains dozens of significant folk songs, including not only the internationally famous “Child Ballads,” but such distinctively West Virginian songs as “The West Virginia Farmer” and “John Hardy,” among others.
“Folk Songs from the West Virginia Hills” stands out as a book with multiple audiences. As a musical text, it offers comparatively easy access to a rich variety of folk songs that could provide a new repertoire for Appalachian singers.
As an ethnographic text, it has the potential to reintroduce significant data about the musical lives of many West Virginians into conversations around Appalachian music — discourses that are being radically reshaped by scholars working in folklore, ethnomusicology and Appalachian studies.
As a historical document, it gives readers a glimpse into the research methods commonly practiced by mid-20th century folklorists.
And when read in conjunction with John Harrington Cox’s “Folk Songs of the South” (also available from West Virginia University Press), it sheds important light on the significant role WVU has played in documenting the state’s vernacular traditions.
Patrick Ward Gainer (1904–1981) was one of the leading scholars of Appalachian folk music in the mid-20th century. A member of the English faculty at WVU, he taught an immensely popular course on Appalachian music that frequently showcased some of the leading practitioners of traditional Appalachian music as guest artists.
He is the author of “Witches, Ghosts, and Signs: Folklore of the Southern Appalachians,” also available from WVU Press.
“Patrick Gainer used his platform as a professor at West Virginia University to advocate vigorously for the preservation and dissemination of Appalachian culture, supporting the work of leading traditional musicians by documenting and presenting their work to others. Decades after his death, his work remains vitally important,” said Travis Stimeling, assistance professor of music at WVU.
Abby Freeland is the sales and marketing director of West Virginia University Press and the acquisitions editor of Vandalia Press, the fiction imprint of WVU Press.
