Lord, Albert B': The Singer of Tales' Harvard University Press' 1960'

1

• Lord, Albert B. The Singer of Tales. Harvard
  University Press. 1960.
• Chapters
• The Theme
• Songs and the Song
• Writing and Oral Tradition

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THEME Formulas and groups of formulas, both
large and small, serve only one purpose. They
provide a means for telling a story in song and
verse. The tales the thing.
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• Methodology, Analysis of Texts From
• Single singer, successive repetition
• Single singer, over time
• Single Song, multiple singers

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• Single Singer, Successive Repetition
• Song changes very little from singing to singing
• Probably never the same

5

• Single Singer, Over Time
• Begins with core repertory of themes, greatly
  influenced by teacher
• Adds themes from other singers and other songs
• Adds themes of his own
• Over time, his song becomes more and more stable

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• Single Song, Multiple Singers
• Degree of improvisation varies from singer to
  singer and depends on song itself
• Each singer will ornament song, adding
  uniqueness

7

• Utilitarian Estimation of Theme
• Theme relieves mind of much remembering
• Leaves singer free to plan remainder of song
• Ornament not simply whim of singer, reserved for
  special purpose

8

• Tension of Essences
• Themes are held together by the consequent
  force of habitual association
• Ex Return songs contain group disguise,
  deception, and recognition

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• Tension of Essences
• However, non-Return songs can contain this
  grouping as well
• Ex Song of Bagdad contains group long war,
  disguise, deception, recognition

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• SONGS AND THE SONG
• What is an original?
• Multiformity
• Transmission

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• What is an original?
• No original. Concept of original makes no sense
  in oral tradition
• Relationship between expressions of songs
  approximates original

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• Multiformity
• A song is a story about a hero, but its forms
  are multiple
• Each of these expressed forms is itself a
  separate song, authentic and valid as a song unto
  itself

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• Transmission, Scope
• Details can be changed (omitted or ornamented),
  but not the essence of the story
• Shift in order of events, sometimes in reverse
  to set up question and answer method

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• Transmission, Issues
• Themes must be maintained, causal relationships
  likely to be maintained
• Cannot fall into self-contradiction
• Moral differences between singers
• Descriptive skill
• Length of time since heard/told last

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• WRITING AND ORAL TRADITION
• Fixed Texts
• Tradition Continuum

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• Idea of Fixed Text
• Tends to be the death of oral tradition,
  especially spread among singers
• Written technique not compatible with oral
  technique, cannot combine to form third
  transitional technique

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Continuum of mans artistic expression in words
Non-Formulaic Expressions
Formulaic Expressions
Demonstrable Formulas
Literary Tradition
Oral Tradition