Alan Lomax’s Haitian music collection

January 26, 2010

In 1937, American music archivist and historian Alan Lomax traveled to Haiti to capture that country’s music. He ended up recording more than 50 hours of music for the Library of Congress. These recordings were released in November on a 10-CD Alan Lomax in Haiti box set (video, 1:37), thanks to the work of University of Toronto musicologist Gage Averill, who had been chosen by Lomax’s daughter to bring the music to the public. Watch a CBC interview with Averill (7:13) and read a review of the set. The Alan Lomax estate is pledging $15 from each purchase of the box set to the Red Cross to aid in the Haiti disaster relief fund when purchased through Allegro Media Group. More background and music tracks can be found on The Haiti Box blog.

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