Building the Archive: Fieldwork with Derek Piotr

Join us for a fascinating lecture with folklorist and researcher Derek Piotr, founder of The Derek Piotr Fieldwork Archive, a unique collection preserving over 1,500 audio recordings of folklife from around the world. Since 2020, the archive has focused on the voices of “non-singers”—individuals without formal musical backgrounds who share songs, stories, and memories rooted in tradition. In this engaging presentation, Derek will take audiences on a journey from Iceland to Appalachia, exploring how these recordings are collected and preserved, and offering insight into the development of the Archive as a digital repository. With a body of work centered on the human voice and themes of tenderness, fragility, beauty, and brutality, Derek brings a deeply thoughtful perspective shaped by collaborations across disciplines. Don’t miss this opportunity to experience the power of everyday voices and living history.

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Host or Publisher Torrington Library