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American continent as well as by its earliest connection with the mother-country. There
they expected to find a rich and living ballad tradition similar to if not better than that of the
Appalachian region, from which they had collected enthusiastically before: "I believed
Newfoundland to be virgin, if not barren soil."1 Sharp died before this purpose could be
fulfilled, and Karpeles' filial piety towards her mentor in realizing his wish must have
deepened her disillusion. She writes in her diary:
Feel it is going to be very hard to gel on to the songs. It is all so much a
case of 'have been'. .. [13 Sept. 29]
The old people do not remember songs and only new songs from the
young ones. I did not take down a single song. [20 Sept 291
... a long list of people reputed to know old songs but all a delusion.
They have either never sung, or forgotten them, and always the great
singers are the people who have died and gone away. [8 Oct. 291
. altho' I'm sorry the lime is over there is also an immense feeling of
relief. 124 OC1. 29J2
Karpeles made two expedilions. In September and October 1929, she explored
Conception Bay and Bonavista Bay on the East Coast and made shon visits to Trinity Bay
and NOire Dame Bay; in July and August 1930, she concentraled on the South Coast and
got a few songs from St. Mary's Bay and Trepassey Bay.3 Her collection, Folk SOllgs of
NewfoundlCllld, was not published unlil 1971. lis eighty-nine songs include Iwenty-three
classical ballads. Prior to this, in 1934, she published thiny songs in a songbook with
piano accompaniments by Vaughan Williams. The comparison of bOlh publications reveals
that the 1971 edition is more faithful to the SQurces. 4 Karpeles' different editing must be
owing to the differenl purposes of both editions, the fonner being directed to a more
general public.
Karpeles' approach 10 the songs was, of her own admission, oriented towards the
traditional songs, which she sought at the expense of the local compositions. These she
discarded owing to their, in her opinion, inferior musical quality:
The proportion of authentic folk songs is small compared with the general
repertory. In addition to the composed songs of an earlier generation,
songs are constantly being made up about contemporary events such as
exploilS at sea, shipwrecks, etc. These are often sel to a well-known
] Karpcles (1971) 13.
2MUNFLA ms 78-003 Field Diary #1 (20n to 29/10/1929).
3Karpeles (1971) 17.
4 Karpeles, Folk Songs from Newfoundland. 2 vols. (Oxford: Oxford UP. 1934). Quigley did
no] take this earlier publication into account as they rely on the same sources as the 1971
major publ ication.