In America Cecil Sharp

a sign in hot springs, north carolina marks cecil sharp collected ballads in 1916.

during years of first world war, sharp found difficult support himself through customary efforts @ lecturing , writing, , decided make extended visit united states. visit, made collaborator maud karpeles during years 1916–1918, great success. large audiences came hear sharp lecture folk music, , sharp took opportunity field work on english folk songs had survived in more remote regions of southern appalachia, pursuing line of research pioneered olive dame campbell. travelling through mountains of virginia, north carolina, kentucky, , tennessee, sharp , karpeles recorded treasure trove of folk songs, many using pentatonic scale , many in versions quite different sharp had collected in rural england. generally, sharp recorded tunes, while karpeles responsible words.

sharp struck dignity, courtesy, , natural grace of people welcomed him , karpeles in appalachians, , defended values , way of life in print.

sharp s work in promoting english folk song dance traditions in carried on country dance , song society (cdss).