Pray, Be Upstanding ...

Well done, Queenie!

• Not a bad tune, eh?
• Is it folk?
• Is it traditional?
• Does it matter?

Being Friday the 25th of May, 2012 ...

A warm, balmy evening:

We had to keep the doors open to create a refreshing draught.

A songbird in a neighbour’s tree seemed to enjoy the music and regularly accompanied in precisely the correct pitch!

Berry knows about birds: even without seeing it, he authoritatively declared that it must be a fringilla coelebs. (That’s a chaffinch to you and me; nobody argued.)

I Could Easily Fall in Love with You: Berry & Ken

Hey Jude: Paul

Bruton Town (Bramble Briar): Colin & Laura

Rare Old Times: Lynda

Stagolee: Roland

J'ai Deux Amours: Angela

Songbird: Elayne

Waiting for the Times to get Better: Mick & Marion

Somewhere Along the Road: Laura & Colin

Grey Funnel Line: Nigel

North Country Maid: Mave

Leaving London: Ken

Hold on Tight to Your Dreams: Berry

Battle of New Orleans: Paul

My Lover's Gone: Laura & Colin

Orphan Girl: Lynda

Liverpool Judies: Roland

Geordie: Colin

Things We said Today: Berry & Ken

Gonna Miss Me When I'm Gone: Angela & Paul

The Ash Grove: Elayne

Peg and Awl: Mick & Marion

The Climber: Marion & Mick

Lord Franklin: Nigel

Waiting at the Church: Mave

Fan-Light Fanny: Ken

Crying, Waiting, Hoping: Paul

Clever Tom Clinch: Laura

Dancing at Whitsun: Colin

The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face: Lynda

Five Years' Time: Angela

Scarborough Fair: Elayne

Your Are my Sunshine: Mick & Marion

Good Old Apple Wine: Marion & Mick

Pleasant and Delightful: Nigel

Our Singing will Never be Done: Mave

Let's all hope that Mave's closing contribution is prophetic!

Addendum:
(01/06/2012)

I wrote that 'nobody argued', but Angela subsequently contended that it was a song thrush, (renowned for mimicry,) that shared our entertainment ...

turdus philomelos

If you follow this link - turdus philomelos - I think you'll agree.

Shame about that generic name: it has no relationship to vulgar Anglo-Saxon useage.
Philomela was an Athenian princess who, after being raped by her brother-law, had her tongue cut out so she couldn't tell of her defilement. Then, according to Ovid, she became a song bird. Her name in ancient Greek possibly translates as 'song-loving'.

A Tribute to Robin Gibb ...

The New York Mining Disaster, 1941 ... never happened!

However, in 1966 we were all shocked at the news of the landslide of a spoil tip in Aberfan.

Barry Gibb wrote a plaintive song that was inspired by that tragedy. The song and title do not refer to that catastrophe: perhaps because it was first released for the US market.



(There's a better video on youtube here, but embedding is disabled.)

Of course, it came to my mind yesterday upon the announcement of Robin Gibb's death.

Is this folk music?
Perhaps not, but it could be.
Just luxuriate in Robin's fine tenor voice and harmonies.
This was music of our time.
Will our grandchildren be singing/playing it in 100 years from now?
Will they know what it's about?
If not, why not?

Being Friday the 18th of May, 2012 ...

So, what did happen in Dogsbody's absence?
 ... apart from this:

Lynda and Angela took charge of infrastructure and logistics, while Mike was cajoled into being MC at short notice.
Thank you to them, and to everyone else who undoubtedly contributed to the evening's proceedings.

Angela diligently documented the following musical doings:

Down Where the Drunkards Roll: Mike
I'll Fly Away: Angela
All Over the World: Lynda
Off to California: Roland
Now that the Buffalo's Gone: Les
Wild Mountain Thyme: Eddie
Medieval Feast: Lorna
The Bells of Rhymney: Tony
12-String Tune: Mick
Pilgrim Song: Jane
All of Me: Berry
If had a Hammer: Mike
Why There's a Tear in my Eye: Angela
Leaving London: Lynda
Universal Soldier: Les
Will the Circle be Unbroken: Eddie
Planxty Hewlett: Lorna
Itzikel: Mick & Mike
Where Have all the Flowers Gone: Jane
I Just Want to Dance with You: Berry
I'll be Your Baby Tonight: Mike
Liza up in a Simmon Tree: Angela & Roland
Farewell, Farewell: Lynda
Blow the Man Down: Roland
People are Crazy: Les
Galway Shawl: Eddie
Waltzing Matilda/Lord of the Dance/Click go the Shears/Captain Pugwash: Lorna
Kerfunken Jig: Mick & Mike
His Eye is on the Sparrow: Paul (in sartorial elegance!)
Compline Hymn: Jane
Heart of Hearts: Berry

So, what's a 'Simmon Tree'?

The American Persimmon (diospyros virginiana) bears fruit that is quite edible to humans, provided you don't eat them prematurely. The astringent tannins in an unripe Persimmon will turn your mouth inside-out for a small eternity.
You have been warned!

How far North? ...

Mike P’s back from the Shetland Music Festival.

Mike reports as follows:

Great music at the Festival inc. some (far too) late night bodhran banging by yours truly; wonderful coastal scenery (if you like that kind of thing!); seabirds; and good food. All interspersed with sunshine, wind, snow and hail to keep me on my toes, tho' probably better than the S coast!!

Here's a sample are some of Mike's photographic record:

Ferry for Unst

Tombolo beach

Tammie Nouries

Muckle Flugga - top o' Britain

Now, here’s an interesting snippet of folklore:

Muckle Flugga and nearby Out Stack, (the most northerly of the islands of Britain,) were formed when two giants, Herma and Saxa, fell in love with the same mermaid. They fought over her by throwing large rocks at each other, one of which became Muckle Flugga. To get rid of them, the mermaid offered to marry whichever one would follow her to the North Pole. They both followed her and drowned, as neither could swim.

No, Mike didn't take this pic!

... and the lesson is: never trust a woman with a tail!

... and here's a tune from Shetland:

Being Friday the 11th of May, 2012 ...

A sparse gathering this evening, but were we downhearted?

No ...

The company, encouraged by Angela, was as enthusiastic as ever, filling the hall with glorious music.

Some performers had to explore their memory banks to find four offerings.

It went like this …

Mon pѐre m’as donné un mari: Angela

It May Take a Thousand Years: Paul

Alexandra Leaving: Lynda

Just as the Tide was Flowing: Roland

Old Durham Road: Colin

Suds in the Bucket: Elayne

Donkey Riding/Winster Gallop/Young Collins: Lorna

On the Wrong Side of Midnight: Roger

There'll be no Sorrow There: Angela

I Don't Care where they Bury my Body: Paul

Amoureuse: Lynda

Blackwaterside: Colin

You Raise me up: Elayne

Rattlin' Bog/Bricks and Mortar: Lorna

Strange Affair: Roger

Bound for the Rio Grande: Angela & Elayne

Boulder to Birmingham: Paul

Strong Enough: Lynda

Louis Collins: Roland

Musical Lovers: Colin

Banks o' Doon: Elayne & Colin

Daisybell/After the Ball: Lorna

Midnight Special: Roger

Little Darling, Pal of Mine: Angela & Paul

Like a Bird on a Wire: Paul

Love Will Keep me Alive: Lynda

Rosin the Beau: Roland

Lowlands Away: Colin

If I Only had a Brain: Elayne

Blaydon Races, followed by something else: Lorna

(Roland and Lynda were observed to gyrate with considerable physical energy to that 'something else' ... oh, for a video-cam!)

Farther Along: Roger & company

Regarding Lead Belly and Midnight Special ...

The charming legend according to the gospel of Roger is that, in an unidentified US prison, on the night before release, a prisoner would be transferred to a particular cell. Through the window of that cell the inmate would be able to watch the approaching headlight of the midnight special - a train that heralded liberty.

Huddie William Ledbetter, (1888-1949,) became known in the American folk and blues world as Leadbelly, Ledbelly, or, as he wrote it: Lead Belly.

(Perhaps his given forename, Huddie, had sinister connotations even then!)

From Wikipedia:

'Ledbetter's volatile temper sometimes led him into trouble with the law. In 1915 he was convicted "of carrying a pistol" and sentenced to do time on the Harrison County chain gang from which he escaped, finding work in nearby Bowie County under the assumed name of Walter Boyd. In January 1918 he was imprisoned a second time, this time after killing one of his relatives, Will Stafford, in a fight over a woman. In 1918 he was incarcerated in Sugar Land west of Houston, Texas, where he probably learned the song Midnight Special.'

Who wrote the song?

It is widely regarded as traditional, although lyrics appearing in the song were first recorded in print by Howard Odum in 1905. It was probably not written by Lead Belly, as John and Alan Lomax once attested, although Lead Belly seems to have added a few stanzas of his own in various recordings.

Being Friday the fourth of May, 2012 ...

Who has heard of Frank Crumit?

Frank Crumit, 1889-1943.

Steve treated us to two of Mr Crumit’s compositions followed by an impromptu rendition of Abdul Abulbul Amir, that I only knew as a rugby song.

Barry, sporting some new facial hirsutes, made one of his occasional visits to the club and sang a song that alluded to a leaky nose.

That’s not all … Greg, accompanied by a charming newcomer, Kelly, sang his self-penned composition that included the verb ‘osculate’.

You have to admire such poetic erudition!

Otherwise there were several songs about walking out in May that led to folkie-metaphorical ‘sport and play’, two deaths and only one song that mentioned a train.

Believe me, it was all good clean fun …

Grenadier and the Lady: Colin

Girl from the North Country: Paul

Towersey Fair: Laura

Piper to the End: Lynda

Spotted Cow: Roland

Beard Song: Angela

Sloop John B: Les

Lover's Heart: Elayne

Blowing in the Wind: Margaret

Repeat after me: Greg & Kelly

Tower Bridge Song/Two Brothers: Tony

Angelina Baker: Barry

I'll Find Out on my Own: Melanie

Man Who Sells Insurance: Steve

I'd Sooner Go Hedging: Mave

Feet Don't Touch the Ground: Kelly & Greg

The Night I Appeared as [the Scottish play]: Ken

May Song: Colin, Ken & company

I Don't Wanna Be: Paul (citation needed)

Black Jack Davey: Laura

Butter and Cheese and All: Roland

The Parting: Lynda

No Telephone in Heaven: Angela & Paul

May it Be: Elayne

Bill Cheatham: Les

Long Live Love: Margaret

Lovely Big Lips: Greg & Kelly

Education: Tony

Cindy: Barry

Everybody's Talking: Melanie

Song of the Prune: Steve

I've Never Seen a Straight Banana: Mave

Indian Tea: Ken

On the Rock Where Moses Stood: Angela, Paul & company

Be warned:

Do not google-search that word 'osculate'!

Apart from some very unsavoury images it provides this mathematical equation about an osculating circle ...

So, that's how it's done!

Radio Folk ...

I rarely listen to Mike Harding’s Folk on 2 on Wednesday evenings. Often I find the material he presents is a bit too modern/contrived/over-orchestrated for my personal taste.

I had a delightful surprise yesterday evening.

Mike featured the Irish Band, The Chieftains, and interviewed Paddy Maloney throughout the broadcast.

Paddy’s Irish brogue and spontaneous laughter were so engaging that I went to ‘listen again’ on R2’s website.

There were some brilliant songs and tunes, and Paddy’s commentary was both erudite and entertaining.
(I want that recording of Dolores Keane singing Bonaparte's Retreat, but I can't find it on Amazon.)

The programme is essential listening for any 'folkie': well produced, great music and it is how ‘radio folk’ should be.

So, did you miss it?

You can hear it again at http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/b01glx4s  but hurry -  it’s only available for download until next Wednesday.

Happy May Day ...

So, you thought The Floral Dance was traditional?

Now, hasn't Sir Tel aged well?

Lyrics and tune were composed in 1911 by 'Katie' Moss, (1881 - 1947,) although she acknowledged a nod to an old Cornish melody.
Otherwise this is known as The Furry Dance, annually performed to celebrate spring in Helston, Cornwall.