English Folk-Songs from the Southern Appalachians

work by Sharp and Campbell

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

June 26, 2026

Quick Summary

English Folk-Songs from the Southern Appalachians is a collection of songs compiled by Cecil Sharp and Olive Dame Campbell. Sharp, an English musician, was dedicated to collecting and preserving English folk songs and dances. Between 1916 and 1918, he made three trips to the Appalachian Mountains in the United States to gather songs of English origin that had been carried over by settlers. This work, published in 1917, is a significant contribution to the study of folk music, highlighting the survival of traditional English music in a diasporic culture. The collection includes songs that were still being performed in the Appalachian communities, some of which were preserved only in the United States.123

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

4 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Cecil Sharp
His other published works include English Folk-Songs from the Southern Appalachians, with Olive Dame Campbell (1917); English Folk Songs (1921); The Morris Book (5 parts; 1907–13); The Country Dance Book (6 parts; 1909–22); and Sword Dances of Northern England (5 parts; 1911–13). Cecil Sharp House was established in London in…
Read More
His other published works include English Folk-Songs from the Southern Appalachians, with Olive Dame Campbell (1917); English Folk Songs (1921); The Morris Book (5 parts; 1907–13); The Country Dance Book (6 parts; 1909–22); and Sword Dances of Northern England (5 parts; 1911–13). Cecil Sharp House was established in London in…
Read More