Chansons Populaires des Hautes-Alpes - Alice Joisten

Chansons Populaires des Hautes-Alpes - Alice Joisten

(Popular Songs of the Hautes-Alpes) Charles Joisten's survey (1950-1970)

In 1951, Charles Joisten undertook an ethnographic survey of the Hautes-Alpes region, focusing on the oral tradition: fairy tales, legendary tales, but also songs, for which the people of the Hautes-Alpes have a definite taste and talent.

As a result, 156 songs were collected in the department. They are the subject of this two-part collection. The first brings together 92 songs collected in the various regions of the Hautes-Alpes. The second is devoted entirely to the repertoire of that extraordinary singer from Saint-Martin-de-Queyrières, Mme Alexandrine Gaillard, who knew almost 70 songs.

This rich collection has been linked to Patrice Coirault's Répertoire des chansons françaises de tradition orale. It also evokes many aspects of high-Alpine mountain society, such as the events that accompany important moments in life (conscription, weddings), the customs associated with festivals, social relations... all of which this survey, carried out between 1950 and 1970, brings to life for us.

The book also contains a dozen songs in Vivaro-alpin Occitan.

Preface by Jean Guibal.

Collection Histoire et Patrimoine, editions du Fournel.

The author:
A former music education teacher, Alice Joisten was an early companion to her husband Charles Joisten in his research into oral traditions. After his death, with the help of the Musée dauphinois, she published and promoted the documentary collection he left behind.