After discussions with my supervisor, I have decided to investigate the use of hymns and spirituals in Paul Robeson’s repertoire. This investigation will involve diving into ethno-musicology and auto-ethnography, as well as the cultural and political values held in his music. This is currently a very broad subject area but I intend to develop an argument/focus within it as I continue to read through primary and secondary sources. For now, some examples of sources that will aid me in getting to know Robeson’s influence and character are as follows:
- Robeson Spirituals. 1945. Paul Robeson : Internet Archive. [online] Available at: <https://archive.org/details/78_robeson-spirituals_paul-robeson-lawrence-brown-h.-t.-burleigh_gbia0003363/_78_by-an-by_paul-robeson-lawrence-brown-h.-t.-burleigh_gbia0003363c_04_3.3_CT_flat.flac> [Accessed 4 February 2021].
I will be using Robeson’s recordings and performances of his hymns and spirituals as primary sources first and foremost, as well as reviews, newspaper articles, interviews, and congressional hearings to provide surrounding context. This first source is an archive of some digitized and restored recordings of Robeson and a pianist. This is a useful source as, using my bi-musicality, I can dissect these performances and analyse the choices made to portray their meaning. This is just one example archived recordings that I can use.
- Hope-Wallace, P., 2019. Paul Robeson, singer, actor and civil rights campaigner, dies at 77 – archive, 1976. The Guardian, [online] Available at: <https://www.theguardian.com/music/2019/jan/24/paul-robeson-singer-actor-campaigner-dies-1976> [Accessed 4 February 2021].
This archived newspaper originally published the day after Robeson’s death in 1976 is an example of a piece of source material that shows the reception of his music and politics on the wider world. The writer of this piece had a clear respect for Robeson’s talents in his early career and the power he held, however did not believe his strong political stances were beneficial and that he “wasted a lot of time and talent” on those who shared his views. Critically reading newspaper articles about Robeson, keeping in mind they are rarely objective, will aid me in analysing how reporters and editors, and ultimately society, perceived his actions and repertoire.
- Robson, Flora. 1957. “Paul Robeson”. The Times, , 1957. https://go-gale-com.ezproxy-s2.stir.ac.uk/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=Newspapers&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&hitCount=1415&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition=1&docId=GALE%7CCS118577316&docType=Letter+to+the+editor&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZTMA-MOD1&prodId=TTDA&pageNum=1&contentSet=GALE%7CCS118577316&searchId=R1&userGroupName=unistirl&inPS=true.
This letter to the editor of the Times published at the height of Robeson’s musical popularity, is further evidence of his wide-spread support. Although the author does not condone Robeson’s politics, much like my previous source, his fanbase in the UK was desperate for him to be able to perform here.
- Robeson, Paul, and Lloyd L Brown. 1971. Here I Stand. Boston: Beacon Pr.
I would like to use Paul Robeson’s autobiography within my research to gain insight ‘straight from the horse’s mouth’. I am currently waiting for this book to arrive and will be looking at reviews in the meantime. Although Gunn and Faire warn in their chapter on Life Stories and Historical Analysis (Chapter 7) that memory and memoirs can be unreliable when telling a life story. All stories are influenced and shaped by who the intended recipient/reader is. However, I still feel as though this source will enable me to get a wider sense of his character and the intention/context behind his performances.
- Olwage, Grant. “Listening B(l)ack: Paul Robeson After Roland Hayes.” The Journal of Musicology 32, no. 4 (2015): 524-57. Accessed February 6, 2021. doi:10.1525/jm.2015.32.4.524.
This source, along with it’s references, will allow me to dig deeper into the ethno-musicological theories of Robeson’s works and his inspirations. This will provide a good backdrop to his career.
- Todd Carmody. “MISSING PAUL ROBESON IN EAST BERLIN: THE SPIRITUALS AND THE EMPTY ARCHIVE.” Cultural Critique 88 (2014): 1-27. Accessed February 6, 2021. doi:10.5749/culturalcritique.88.2014.0001.
This source brings more information forward about Robeson’s international impacts and ideologies, specifically in Germany. I will endeavour to collate more sources that describe his visits and impacts around the world such as this one.