PLAINFIELD — Once upon a time, long before the invention of smartphones, gaming systems and Netflix, people amused themselves by singing songs, telling tall tales, chanting playground rhymes and playing pocket instruments like spoons and bones.
Music folklorist Jeff Warner will discuss and demonstrate some of these old-time forms of diversion in a presentation called “Music in my Pocket,” from 6:30-7:30 p.m. Friday at Plainfield Town Hall.
In his talk, a New Hampshire Humanities to Go program sponsored by the Philip Read Memorial Library, Warner will revisit 19th-century New England before electricity, when families gathered around the hearth passing down folk songs, stories and rhymes by word of mouth.
“I teach American history and culture through traditional songs,” Warner said, “talking about oral traditions and how people had fun before electronic products.”
Those who grew up in the pre-electronic age may be able to recognize some of his repertoire. For instance, “Cinderella, dressed in yellow, went upstairs to kiss her fellow” will probably be familiar to anyone who ever jumped rope as a kid.
Warner shares games and songs he’s collected from Scout leaders, camp counselors, and from his own childhood.
His parents were amateur music historians who traveled the Eastern seaboard recording folk songs. Later, Warner accompanied them on their field trips and edited his mother’s book, Traditional American Folk Songs: From the Anne and Frank Warner Collection.
“Scholars became interested in documenting traditional music during the 20th century,” Warner said. “A lot of it was lost, but some of it was saved by people who came in as early as the 19-teens to write down the songs they were hearing.”
“I know of no better way to put myself in touch with the feelings of people in those times,” he said. “Perspectives are different, but humanity is the same. People were thinking of loss and love and hope, and having fun.”
Editor’s note: The program is recommended for adults and children age 6 and older. For more information, call 603-675-6866.