Daily Worker
June 7, 1941
CAVALCADE OF SONGS TELLS STORY OF AMERICA'S PAST by Earl Warner
Earl Robinson and Will Geer are to be congratulated for the excellent "Cavalcade of American Song", which they presented at Town Hall on Wednesday evening as a benefit for the New York Committees to Aid Agricultural Workers. It was the most elaborate and the best organized folk music concert heard in many moons, involving a large number of talented singers and instrumentalists. An excellent narrative by Lee Hayes and Earl Robinson linked together the many numbers in a historical outline of America's past, lending continuity to the program.
The evening began with songs of the American Revolution, "Free America," "Bennington Riflemen" and "Johnny Has Gone For a Soldier", and continued through the Jeffersonian period into the great day of American expansion, with Kentucky songs of the frontier. Whaling songs, songs of the Indian wars, the building of the transcontinental railroad, down to the Civil War and its stirring melodies and the Cowboy songs of the post-war period.
Following the intermission, the program was dominated generally by Negro blues, work songs and a number of Okie numbers. It concluded with songs from Trinidad, Brazil and the epic "Ballad for Americans."
Several of the best known folksingers of the nation participated. Among them were Burl Ives, who sang "Haul Away, Joe," "Erie Canal," "Streets of Laredo" and several other popular old-time compositions for the revival of which he is responsible. Tony Kraber interpreted several ballads, including the famous and seldom heard "Green Grow the Lilacs," a soldier song of the Mexican War. Earl Robinson was on hand to sing "Jefferson and Liberty," "Drill, Ye Tarriers" and to assist in "Starving in Death on a Government Claim."
The Almanac Singers helped with "Old Dan Tucker," and Pete Bowers of that group rendered the solo "We Heard of Sioux Indians". Sweet-voiced John and Lucy Allison contributed several Kentucky numbers as did hearty old Aunt Molly Jackson. Negro songs of the pre-Civil War period were sung by the Starlite quartette. Joshua White interpreted blues, including a new composition. W. C. Handy played his famous "St. Louis Blues", while Leadbelly was in marvelous form, singing many pieces of the Deep South to the rich accompaniment of his 12-string guitar. Harold Ambeyen revived several of Woody Guthrie's Okie ballads. And the Latin-American part of the evening was the offering of the Calypsos and Elsie Houston. The American People's Chorus, directed by Herbert Haufrecht with Arthur Alkins as soloist, acquitted themselves well in Earl Robinson's "Ballad for Americans," climax to the evening.
The first half of the program was somewhat more satisfactory than the latter part, chiefly because the historical perspective was better maintained. Lacking in the second half were a few of the popular songs of the depression and of this current war, especially some of the anti-war ballads which are being sung by millions today. They might have taken the place of the Latin-American numbers, which did not strictly belong on the program.
The hold which folk music has upon the public arises from its expression in song of the sentiments of the people. In recent years Earl Robinson and Will Greer have done much to bring together the great troubadours of today. The Town Hall benefit performance, with its large attendance, shows that the link between the early days of the American republic, with its traditional democracy is still maintained. To Burl Ives, Leadbelly, the Almanacs, Tony Kraber and all the others who so generously and happily contributed their services warm thanks are due.