Jackson Berkey

Sacramento - Sis Joe

SACRAMENTO - SIS JOE is a wiry, spiky combination of two American folk songs, one very well-known, one somewhat obscure. The better known of the two is "Camptown Races," attributed to Stephen Foster. Its appearance here, however, is with a completely different text that captures the excitement of a mid-1800's trip to California in search of gold! Sacramento, of course, was the very heart of the "mother lode" country. Quite a few years ago, I came across "Sis Joe" in an elementary school music book. Along with "John Henry," it was placed in a group of American work songs. I was astounded to see that the complex, shifting rhythmic structure I had always attributed to Aaron Copland was present in the original version, even in this elementary music book! I was only too pleased to join Copland in the further inclusion of this great American folk tune. It is certainly my hope that singing SACRAMENTO - SIS JOE will lead to listening to Copland's famous RODEO. - Jackson Berkey.