Composer

:

John Jacob Niles

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

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Song

Average_duration

:

3:02

"The Lass from the Low Country" is a traditional American folk song that was arranged and popularized by John Jacob Niles in the early 20th century. Niles was a composer, singer, and collector of folk songs who traveled throughout the Appalachian region of the United States, collecting and preserving traditional songs and melodies. Niles' arrangement of "The Lass from the Low Country" was first composed in the 1920s and premiered in 1938. The song is a ballad that tells the story of a young woman from the low country who falls in love with a sailor. The sailor promises to return to her, but he is lost at sea, leaving the young woman to mourn his loss. The song is composed of three movements, each with its own distinct characteristics. The first movement is slow and mournful, with a simple melody that emphasizes the sadness and longing of the young woman. The second movement is more upbeat and lively, with a faster tempo and a more complex melody that reflects the excitement and anticipation of the young woman as she waits for her lover to return. The third movement returns to the slow, mournful melody of the first movement, as the young woman realizes that her lover is lost forever. Niles' arrangement of "The Lass from the Low Country" is characterized by its simple, haunting melody and its use of traditional Appalachian instruments such as the dulcimer and the autoharp. The song has become a staple of the American folk music canon and has been covered by numerous artists over the years, including Joan Baez, Bob Dylan, and Emmylou Harris.

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