African Folk Songs. Book One

Folio; cloth-backed papered boards; unpaginated (but pp. 71). Boards somewhat worn and foxed; earlier owner's name signed, with date, on front free endpaper; slight trace of silverfish attention to front free endpaper; occasional fox spot. Good condition.

Uncommon compilation; although named "Book One", it had no sequel. 'This book is the result of the work of five students of St. Matthew's College, members of a choir of eight which broadcast a series of programmes of African Folk Songs for the South African Broadcasting Corporation. The five students are Khulukazi Mpati, Norauti Klaas, Joseph Maselwa, Alfred Mangcu and Sabelo Mjali. Many have heard Africans singing, and have been impressed by the resonance of the harmonies and the attractiveness of the rhythm; but few have ever regarded these harmonies and rhythmic effects as songs with clear melody, and still fewer have felt them to be beautiful music representative of a unique and valuable tradition. Prejudice based on ignorance of the music which these songs represent, and an undue exaggeration of "respectability" of their associations in non-Christian customs have been responsible for their rapid disappearance. Their use has increasingly been confined to the uneducated, wheras it should be the responsibility of the educated to purify and preserve so fine a heritage.'