Lord, <cite>Singer of Tales</cite> [How oral epic poetry works.  Singers
do not actually memorize a fixed text, but learn conventions, cliches,
formulas and general tricks, which allow them to spin out the basic story,
in verse, in real time, with each performance.  (Admittedly, some of the
tricks, e.g. ``catalogs,'' are ways of keeping the audience occupied while
the singer thinks up the next patch of verse, so it's not quite real time.)
This material is fascinating in its own right, and there seem to be
intruiging connections with popular culture.  More details when I finish
the book.