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Vodou religious expression in Haiti collected by Odette Mennesson Rigaud, Milo Rigaud, and Shirley Keller, 1944-1985

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Series 2: Vodou-related recordings (continued)
Sound recording, undated (continued)
Archivist's note: "Bobine" is a reel; probably a reference to the wire spool.
Transcriptions:
Box panel: a garder / Bobine II / Debut manger Hounter / 31' + 10' de 4 (B) / Manger Hountor / Bobine II / 31 10' 3 / Odette Rigaud
Written on the wire spool: III 31' Hounter (A) a garder / + 10' des grande 4 - (B)
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR024 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: WIRE 01082
Extent: 1 sound wire reel (Webster-Chicago; approx. 00:15:00) : analog
Transcriptions:
Box panel: Bobine III / 31' / a garder / 4 / Fin Manger Hountor (C)
Written on the wire spool: Manger Hountor (C) / 31' / 4
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR025 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: WIRE 01083
Extent: 1 sound wire reel : analog
Transcriptions:
Box panel: Antoinette 10' / [?] Congo [?] / Antoinette
Written on the wire spool: Antoinette / 1 [?]
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR026 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: WIRE 01084
Extent: 1 sound wire reel (Webster-Chicago) : analog
Transcriptions:
Box panel: passé vierge
Written on the wire spool: Milo 25'
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR027 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: WIRE 01085
Extent: 1 sound wire reel (Webster-Chicago; approx. 00:30:00) : analog
Transcriptions:
Box panel: [??] B[?] Guede / Banda / Malu / Famille Nada / [?] / Jodon [?] (divers) / Odette Rigaud
Written on the wire spool: Belecon [further details on the spool]
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR028 Sound recording, 1950
Rack number: WIRE 01086
Extent: 1 sound wire reel (Webster-Chicago; approx. 00:30:00) : analog
Transcriptions:
Box panel: Lorgina [??] / Guedes Lorgina 1950
Written on the wire spool: Guedes Lorgina 1950
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR029 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: RXK 3582
1 sound tape reel (acetate, 00:48:05) : analog, 7 1/2 ips, half track, mono ; 7 in.
Summary:
The content begins about 00:00:08. Singing with mixed voices. On different songs, a man (possibly more than one man) leads singing, with a sung response from mixed voices. Later in the recording conversations can be heard. The recording includes drums, a rattle, a sound like a cowbell, an unidentified wind instrument. Songs start and end abruptly. The tape was probably was dubbed from one or more wire recordings.
Transcriptions:
Information from the donor (written on the tape box): Tape 2 to cassette 2 April 1982 by Shirley Keller
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR030 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: WIRE 01087
Extent: 1 sound wire reel (Webster-Chicago, approx. 01:00:00) : analog
Transcriptions:
Box panel: Rerecording III [?] 40' / [??] / Rerecording III Tape 3
Written on the wire spool: Rerecording III
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR031 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: RXK 3583
Extent: 1 sound tape reel (acetate, 00:48:00) : analog, 7 1/2 ips; half track, mono ; 7 in.
Summary:
The content begins about 00:00:06. At times a man sings the lead (almost certainly more than one man sings lead, at different times), with a group of mixed voices. Vocal whoops, possibly by a woman, can be heard. The recording includes drums, rattles, and other percussion (both wood and metal). The tape was probably was dubbed from one or more wire recordings.
Transcriptions:
Box panel: 3A / [more details in pencil here] / Voodoo [sic] - Rigaud
Written on the tape reel flange: Head (debut) Rerecording ([?]) 4 - [?]
Information from the donor (written on the tape box): Tape 3A to cassette April 1982 by Shirley Keller
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR032 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: RXK 3584
Extent: 1 sound tape reel (acetate, 00:47:33) : analog, 7 1/2 ips; half track, mono ; 7 in.
Summary:
The content begins at 00:00:25. Primarily mixed voices, with occasional lead vocals by a woman and by a man. The recording includes drums and other percussion. The sound fades in and out on occasion. Hand-clapping can be heard towards the end of the recording. The recording ends abruptly. The tape was probably was dubbed from one or more wire recordings.
Transcriptions:
Box panel: Rerecording (M) 1 / [more details here]
Written on the tape reel flange: Side A: 5 1/2 signalé Agoné / 2 1/2 cinna ou cinna / 6' Fai guon [?] neve s[?] yanquilé [?] neve [?] can / 5 african [?] [?] legba Beni da o alyzan aluzan [?] marché / 4 1/2 voco atissan / 3 Coco Coco / 6 Demballah Aveddo [?] / 4 creol' o vodoines [?] Side B: 7 Rèle l.ment [?] . 1 manhaver [?] / 3 salve legba é / 3 Keke salve legba
Information from the donor (written on the tape box): 3 / Tape 3 to cassette April 1982 by Shirley Keller / Wire Rerecordings from Madame Odette Rigaud - P-au-P. [Port au Prince] Haiti year? 1950s / Bob Avedon made these / Voodoo [sic] tapes from wire Recordings
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR033 Sound recording, November 12, 1980
Rack number: RXK 4059
Extent: 1 sound tape reel (backcoated polyester and polyester, 00:19:05) : analog, 7 1/2 ips, half track, mono ; 5 3/4 in.
LC engineer's note: The tape is an edited combination of regular and backcoated stocks. The backcoated sections have sticky shed syndrome. The tape was baked before transfer.
Summary:
The content begins at 00:00:04. Michael Richards interviews Shirley Keller on Radio Metropol (Haiti). Subjects include the Appalachian dulcimer, the autoharp, Keller's family, educational, and professional backgrounds, her feelings about Haiti (as this was her second visit), her interest in preserving Haitian culture, the book she recently worked on with Diane Wolkstein ( The Magic Orange Tree, and Other Haitian Folktales ), the meaning of the book title, the publication history of the book, how the stories were gathered from various homes, the impact of television and radio on storytelling, an explanation of folk music and the meaning of songs, the difference between country music and folk music, the history of her working relationship with Paul Cadwell and Charlie Wright (a recording of "Music Is A Treat" is played at this point), kazoos, Keller's meeting with Tiroro (also Ti Roro; Raymond Baillargau, dancer/drummer); a recording of his drumming is played (but edited out of this recording), Keller's radio program ("The Folk People"), locations where she has played in Haiti and the response she received, her hope to collect more music in Haiti to present to the American people, and her invitation to Michael Richards to appear on her show.
Transcriptions:
Box panel: Imperial / 12 Nov 1980 / Shirley Keller interview / Haiti / 894 595 / Refrains de demain 80/11 / 28' 00" 7 1/2 i.p.s. Francais 28.5.1980 / Philo Anjlach [?] [?] / Tiroro died 1 year ago 1979
Written on the tape reel flange: Shirley Keller interview 2/27/81
Information from the donor (written on the tape box): Interviewer - Michael Richards 11-12-80 / Tiroro died 1 year ago 1979
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR034 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: RXK 4060
Extent: 1 sound tape reel (acetate, 00:48:00) : analog, 7 1/2 ips; half track, mono ; 7 in.
Summary:
The content begins at 00:00:07. A man sings a cappella, and soon after with drum accompaniment. One song has a chorus of children singing. One song seems to be entirely one man singing a capella, and is cut off abruptly. Singing also includes mixed adult voices. Conversations can be heard but the voices are almost unintelligible (as a result of low audio quality). There is occasional sound distortion, either from the source recording's condition, or possibly because the mic was too close to the instruments as they were being played. The recording ends abruptly. Instruments played include drums, metal percussion, and whistles.
Transcriptions:
Box panel: [??] Congo [further details on the box panel] / Haiti - Rigaud - Voodoo [sic] / Head - (debut Rerecording (M) Lil Etudes [?] - IV
Written on the tape reel flange: Tape 4 to cassette 4
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR035 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: RYE 8034
Extent: 1 sound cassette (Side A: 00:32:30, Side B: 00:29:10) : analog, 1 7/8 ips, half track, mono
Summary:
Side A: The content begins at 00:00:09. A man sings to drum accompaniment. In another song, men sing lead vocals, to mixed chorus accompaniment. Instruments played include drums, a stringed instrument (possibly a guitar)
Side B: The content begins at 00:00:09. This side seems to be a continuation from Side A, with a man singing to stringed instrument accompaniment, with at least one extended solo on the instrument. Instruments played include a stringed instrument (possibly a guitar) and drums.
Transcriptions:
Written on the cassette housing: IIA #6 / Voodoo [sic] ceremonies recorded on wire by Odette Rigaud / put onto digital master - made by Bob Avedon - Park Ridge, N.J.
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR036 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: RAA 66287
Extent: 1 sound tape reel (polyester, 00:11:00) : analog, 7 1/2 ips; half-track, stereo and mono ; 10 in.
Archivist's note: This tape was received without an individual tape box.
Summary:
Shirley Keller records herself speaking into a tape recorder, and uses another recorder to play back music performances and parts of Vodou ceremonies. She talks about Haitian drumming and her first experience attending a Vodou ceremony, in 1975. She mentions Diane (probably Diane Wolkstein) and Marie (otherwise unidentified). At 00:06:56 she mentions Milo Rigaud.
Transcriptions:
Written on the tape reel flange: Voodoo [sic]
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR037 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: RYF 1129
Extent: 1 sound cassette (Side A: 00:42:00, Side B: 00:45:34) : analog, 1 7/8 ips, half track, mono
Summary:
Side A: The content begins about 00:00:13. People are speaking while instruments are being played. For more than one song, a man leads the singing for a chorus of mixed voices. A dog can be heard barking. There are instances of hand clapping. The recording ends abruptly. Instruments played include drums, metal percussion, and rattles.
Side B: The content begins about 00:00:20. One man and sometimes two men lead a group of mixed voices in song, accompanied by rattles and drums. At one point a chicken can be heard clucking. The recording ends abruptly. Instruments played include drums, rattles, and metal percussion.
Transcription:
Box panel: Side A: I #3 / Side B: #4 #5
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR038 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: RYF 8606
Extent: 1 sound cassette (Side A: 00:32:30, Side B: 00:18:00) : analog, 1 7/8 ips, half track, mono
LC engineer's note: SR038, SR039 , and SR040 have identical content.
Summary:
Side A: The content begins about 00:00:15. Vocal performances. Musical instruments include drums and metal percussion. The recording ends abruptly.
Side B: The content begins about 00:00:05. Mixed voices, sometimes with a leader, perform songs. Conversations can be heard. Musical instruments include drums, rattles and other percussion, and whistles. The recording ends abruptly.
Transcription:
Box panel: Side A: III #7 / Side B: #7, continued
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR039 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: RYH 8997
Extent: 1 sound cassette (Side A: 00:32:31, Side B: 00:18:00) : analog, 1 7/8 ips, half track, mono
LC engineer's note: SR038 , SR039, and SR040 have identical content.
Transcription:
Box panel: Side A: III #7 / Side B: #7, continued
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR040 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: RYL 4397
Extent: 1 sound cassette (Side A: 00:32:36, Side B: 00:18:00) : analog, 1 7/8 ips, half track, mono
LC engineer's note: SR038 , SR039 , and SR040 have identical content.
Transcription:
Box panel: Side A: III #7 / Side B: #7, continued
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR041 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: RYL 4476
Extent: 1 sound cassette (Side A: 00:47:00, Side B: 00:41:40) : analog, 1 7/8 ips, half track, mono
Summary:
Side A: The content begins about 00:00:23. Mixed voices, sometimes with a leader, perform songs. Hand clapping can be heard. At 00:33:19 a woman says "chants des travailleurs" (worker's songs); this may be Marie Rigaud. At 00:41:34 a horn honks twice (possibly a car passing by). The recording ends abruptly. Musical instruments include drums, metal percussion, and rattles.
Side B: The content begins about 00:00:06. Mixed voices, sometimes with a leader, perform songs. Hand clapping can be heard. There are occasional, brief conversations. The recording ends abruptly. Musical instruments include drums, rattles, and metal percussion
Transcription:
Written on the cassette housing: 100 / [Side] B
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR042 Sound recording, undated
Rack number: RYL 9619
Extent: 1 sound cassette (00:30:30) : analog, 1 7/8 ips, half track, mono
Summary:
Content begins about 00:00:08. The first two songs are sung by two different men, possibly with one woman singing in the background. The balance of the recording has mixed voices, sometimes with a leader, who perform songs. From about 00:10:48-00:12:17 a woman sings solo and a cappella. Conversations can be heard. Audio distortion from the source recording towards the end of the tape. The recording ends abruptly. Musical instruments played include drums, rattles, metal percussion, and whistles.
Transcription:
Written on the cassette housing: Voodoo [sic] - Rigaud tape - #? [sic]
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR044 Sound recording, April 21, 1972
Rack number: RXK 4061
Extent: 1 sound reel (acetate, 00:55:00) : analog, 3 3/4 ips, full track mono ; 7 in.
LC engineer's note: Aircheck date: April 21, 1972.
Archivist's note: The recording has commercial breaks, editorials, and other parts of the recording unrelated to the interview from about 00:00:05-00:05:10, 00:11:50-00:15:10, 00:24:24-00:31:41, 00:41:52-00:43:45, and 00:52:03-00:55:00 (end).
Summary:
Bruce Lee interviews Odette Rigaud about various topics related to Vodou. She talks about her association with Vodou, Vodou as a religion and not black magic, her interest in African sculpture and religion, the exhibit of her photographs at the Elma Lewis Center, Vodou in Haiti, the perception of Vodou as black magic, the role of missionaries in developing this perception, Haiti as a colony and the perception of colonists about Vodou, elements of Christianity in Vodou, lwa (spirits) as emanations from God. Rudy Robinson (a professional photographer) and Barry Gaither are introduced. Barry's connection with the Elma Lewis Center exhibition was to work with Odette Rigaud for two weeks to select images for the show, and the time and effort involved in discussions and the selection process. Barry Gaither, the director of the art teaching program at the center, and is also the curator and director for the museum program of the National Center of Afro-American Artists (which includes the Elma Lewis School of Fine Arts) talks about "Ah-Haiti: Glimpses of Voodoo [sic] " (the exhibit's title) and the focus on Vodou as a series topic, details about the exhibit, plans for a traveling exhibit, publication of the book Secrets of Vodou in English, and access to the center. The guests respond to questions called in by listeners. Part 1 effectively ends at 00:52:03.
The show spans three recordings in the collection (regardless of the documentation that accompanies the tapes); this is part 1. See SR046 for part 2 and SR045 for part 3. See SR047 for a dub of part 1.
Transcriptions:
Box panel: Rigaud / Bay St Forum / 1
Information from the donor (written on the tape box): 12 / 12-1 Boston, Mass. Radio station WEEI Interview of Odette M. Rigaud on the Bruce Lee Show. 1 Hour - 3 3/4 speed / transferred to cassette #12 by Shirley Keller 5-9-82
Item_ID: AFC 2019/041: SR046 Sound recording, April 21, 1972
Rack number: RXK 4063
Extent: 1 sound reel (acetate, 00:59:46) : analog, 3 3/4 ips, full track mono ; 7 in.
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