Class Work

More ballads...

John HenryListen: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6vcvYJCkic
Read: http://www.elyrics.net/read/p/pete-seeger-lyrics/john-henry-lyrics.ht

Devil Went Down to Georgia
Words: http://www.cowboylyrics.com/lyrics/daniels-charlie/devil-went-down-to-georgia-10926.html
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgvfRSzmMoU Watch

Traditional Ballad Schemes
A
A
B
B

OR
A
B
C
B

OR
A
B
B
A


Add a chorus . . . this may be short. . . nonsense words are fine!

You need to write with a predictable rhythm. It is OK to borrow a tune from a familiar tune such as Mary Had a Little Lamb, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star, or Row, Row, Row Your Boat. Other borrowed tunes are OK. See if you can find the origin of the tune and possibly the author.


Write a ballad of at least five stanzas and a chorus.  You may work with a group. Follow a prescribed rhythm and rhyme scheme.

Ballads could:

• Tell of a real event or not . . .
• Contain mystical or magical elements
• Focus on a larger-than-life character
• Focus on someone or some event from history
• Can be work songs
• Might be love songs . . . often tragic or sad
• Tell a story

Be ready to sing or chant Today! Post in CANVAS . You may use the music from an existing ballad or song to help you along. (Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star comes to mind.)

Homework

We have not yet discussed marriage customs.
1. Select a country, religious, or ethnic group to use as the focus of the study. Tell me your choice before leaving class today. There are plenty of countries to go around. I do not want more than two people reporting on the same topic.
2. Describe the dating customs first. In some cultures the bride and groom do not meet prior to the wedding.
3. What are the engagement practices?
4. How are people invited to the wedding? Who must come? What are the preparations? Are there invitations?
5. Where do typical weddings take place? How does the place look? Are there special preparations for the wedding. For example, in some Christian American weddings that take place at a church, there are often flowers in the chapel.
6. What happens at the official wedding ceremony? Who officiates?
7. What does the bride wear? What does the groom wear? Describe. In some cultures, the bride wears red! As recently as the turn of the last century, blue was a color of choice in weddings in America.
8. Are others in the wedding party? Identify those people.
9. How is the hopefully happy couple presented to those present?
10 What are some after-wedding celebrations? Is there a reception? If so, what happens? What does the place look like?
11. How is the happy couple sent off to their "happily ever after?"

You may decide to do this report as a PowerPoint, essay, news story, or pamphlet. Be sure to include all 11 items. We will share on Thursday. A Canvas space will be available. Post there.


FYI: Our exam in one week from Thursday. You must come to class on the day of the exam- no exceptions!  I will tell you what to expect on the exam this Thursday. Bring your Folklore book to the exam. Our exam begins at 2:00 pm and runs to 3:50. This is a change from our regular 2:30 start time. Plan accordingly.